Fey puts Bitton on alert to keep Osborne quiet

Bitton manager Richard Fey is warning his players to be wary of the considerable threat posed by Christchurch striker Ben Osborne when the sides clash in Bristol for an FA Vase third-round tie today.

Osborne, who began his career with Portsmouth, hit a hat-trick to single-handedly dispense of Melksham Town 3-1 in the previous round and now has Fey's Bitton on his radar at the Rapid Solicitors Ground, as he targets a fourth-round place for the Wessex League Premier Division high-fliers.

"Osborne is the leading scorer in the Wessex League and he recently had a trial with Bournemouth, which says much about his attributes," Fey said.

"Christchurch as a team are going well and we noticed they had a couple of scouts watching us last week. But we've won six out of our last six games and we're scoring plenty of goals too, so if we play as well as we have done of late, we'll give them a good game."

Skipper and centre-half Jon Crowley returns to Bitton's ranks after illness, as does midfielder Mitch Tippins after a three-match ban.

Bitton are third in the Toolstation League Premier Division, ten points behind leaders Willand Rovers with two games in hand.

Willand are in Vase action today at home to Falmouth Town, while Larkhall Athletic, who are just above Bitton in the Premier Division, go to Ilfracombe Town in the same competition.

Bitton (from): Alexander, Webb, Crowley, Knapman, Welling, Barnes, Edwards, Rhodden, Lewis, Fletcher, Llama, Pilling, Thompson, Lloyd, Salter, Tippins.