No expense has been spared as Shabba, by his own admission, has had to sever the "BG regulars only" links to bolster his squad.

 

At the back, he has sorted out the leakage of goals. This was vindicated by the stats that only Ashby FIne Arts managed to breach Shabba's skinflint defence more than twice.

 

Le Devlin arrived last November and is expected to form a formidable partnership with either Pete Gardner or Mick Cope.

 

Having built from the back, goals were hard to come by last season so no prizes for where Shabba has been strengthing his squad during the mid-winter break? He used the Christmas period to land two proven goalscorers in Rod Mansfield and Dicky Waldrum.

 

It's Rod's second spell here, having previously signed in 1989. He won the player of the year in his second season. Now very much at the veteran stage, he is still very highly rated in Ashby footballing circles.

 

Waldrum has teased and tormented the BG defence down the years whilst with Marlborough and Oasis, from where he was signed.

 

Shabba clearly hopes that his new acquisitions can provide the team with the goal they need if they are to be realistic contenders for honours this season.

 

"We need goalscorers to take the pressure off Bobby Page" Shabba said of the 1994 Player of the Year!

 

Page, according to his manager, is not an out and out goalscorer - he is a hard player to play against, hence Shabba's nickname for him "the snake". However, Shabba feel's he is not a goal-poacher.

 

I would only partly agree. After waching Pagey against Crofters last season in the cup defeat (who ironically are their Division Two opening night opponents when the new season kicks off) I felt he was unlucky not to get a hat-trick at least.

 

In contrast to pursuing big, established names, B-Team boss Mark Monk seems content with adding young lads to his squad - who will kick-off in Division Three a week later than the seniors.

 

The exception to youth is Mick Twigger, who Monk snapped up when he was shown the door by the seniors. Monk raised a few eyebrows by insisting that "Le Twigg" nicknamed due to his often brilliant and often frustrating form at the BG in his first season, will switch from the left-side of midfield into defence.

 

However many, including his ex-boss Shabba feel's that MIck will be a revelation in his new role and in some respects a cornerstone to the side. His vast experience will hopefully rub off on the youngsters.

 

Two youngsters who have come in are Dean Homer, a goalkeeper and older brother of Steg and Liam Parker, a 14-year-old ex Northampton school's player.

 

Monk has retained most of last-seasons squad, including Wayne Russell who looked at one stage to be on his way out. Those who have left are Duncan Stewart (by mutual consent) and Dave Padgett (retired through injury).

 

On the whole, the B-team are not as spectacular as Shabba's side, but nevertheless interesting. Their open style needs to be tightened up a lot more if they are to do themselves justice and win matches. They must build on last-season's notable results, when they beat the seniors 2-0, outplayed the Champions Ashby Fine Arts in a memorable second-half display and earned useful draws with Wainwrights and Oasis.