HOLKER boss Gary Fawcett is looking for a reaction after Old Boys suffered a 7-1 FA Vase drubbing at Bishop Auckland last week.

The Stags return to North West Counties Division One action when they host the visit of Irlam tomorrow and, while another tough game is on the cards, Fawcett hopes to see a positive outcome.

Big performances are anticipated from Holker goal threats Dave Swarbrick, Mike Rushton and Jamie Pattinson.

Martin Grundy is back from a nasty muscle injury which kept him put for a couple of weeks and he will join an in-form Brad Hubbold in the centre of midfield.

However, the side will be without striker Jordan Brough, who is expected to be out for a fortnight.

Brough had returned to the team from a slight muscle injury and featured for 30 minutes against Bishop Auckland, during which he had no reaction to the problem.

But while playing for the reserves, he took a heavy knock towards the end of the game which left him with a swollen ankle.

“He is definitely going to be a big miss,” said Fawcett.

Also missing are Craig Redhead, who has a pulled hamstring, while Phil Combes is unavailable because of work commitments.

Fawcett is looking to see his side bounce back after the Vase exit in the north east, and said: “It was very disappointing last Friday night at Bishop, to be fair they deserved the win.

“We switched off for 20 minutes and they punished us. It really was just one of those games.

“But I asked for a reaction from the lads at training and to take it into the game on Saturday.

“We are still in a good position in the league, we still have a lot to play for.”

He said of Hubbold: “Brad is absolutely flying at the moment, he is scoring goals, and creating them. He is the standout player for us at the moment – we are glad we have got him.

Irlam sit sixth in the table, five points ahead of ninth-placed Holker, but the Rakesmoor Lane outfit can close the gap with victory.

The visitors are very much in form having won their last four games unlike the Stags who have recorded just one win from four.

Fawcett added: “They have always been a tough side, we have had some real games with them. We have beaten them a couple of times, they have beaten us a couple of times, so we are going to have be on our mettle to get a result out of these guys. But I would rather have it that way – another tough, tough game and let’s see what the boys have got.

“We just need something to spark with, the luck has not been there over the last couple of weeks, we have missed a few players and it is hurting us at the moment.

“But the lads have got to go out there and understand they have to work hard for the full 90 minutes.”