HAVING found himself out of the team for the first four fixtures of the season, Ian Watson now has the opportunity to retake the Darlington left-back spot.

Three weeks ago Terry Galbraith started the campaign as manager Martin Gray’s choice having wrestled back the position from Watson, who was first-choice for most of last season.

However, Galbraith sustained a calf injury last week at Workington which will keep him out for at least another week, handing an opportunity to Watson and he is making the most of it.

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He started both matches last weekend – a 4-2 win at Colwyn Bay and the 2-1 victory over his former club Blyth Spartans on Bank Holiday Monday – when his contribution when attacking down the flank did not go unnoticed.

“There’s no doubt about it, he did a great job,” said Gray. “Him and Anthony Bell had a good understanding straight away, even though they hadn’t played together before.

“Playing against his old club, there’s always a bit of pressure to do well because he’ll have wanted to do well against his old team-mates as well as for the team.

“He dealt very well with their left-winger, Arran Wearmouth, who’s a good player and it’s Ian’s place to lose now.”

Having been unavailable for the last two matches, Galbraith will also be out of contention for today’s game at Halesown Town as well as Tuesday’s game at Heritage Park versus Ramsbottom United.

He could be available in seven days’ time for the FA Cup home tie against Hyde United, though Watson will by then hope to have swayed Gray’s thinking.

“Pre-season wasn’t what it should’ve been, he knows that,” added Gray. “The message to him is to be consistent in his performances and that’s always how I look towards the squad.”

Asked if the same message applies to winger Adam Mitchell, who has found himself on the bench for the first time since he signed just over a year ago, Gray said: “100 per cent, and he’s been told.”

Mitchell has lost his place to new signing Bell, who has started the last two games after coming off the bench at Workington, a game Quakers lost 2-1 during what has been a testing but productive start to the season.

They have won four of their six games, though conceded twice in each of their three away fixtures, typical of the step up in quality Quakers are facing following promotion.

“Last season we ran away with games and would sometimes win by five or six goals, or the game would be won early,” said Gray. “You’ve only got to look at Spennymoor the other day, they put five past Ossett Town.

“That’s not going to happen in this division, those games are going to be few and far between, because every team scraps for every point until the last minute, and so they should.

“The organisation is better, the management of the teams is better.”

Halesowen are 20th and on Monday lost 3-0 at Sutton Coldfield Town, for whom former Quakers striker Mor Diop scored twice. Last Halesowen Saturday won 2-0 at home to Workington.

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