Margy's sympathy for Garner

Source: M.E.N.

Stuart Brennan
16/10/2008

KARL Marginson says he will not be "crucifying" left back Simon Garner for his red card in the midweek home defeat by Kendal Town.

In fact Garner - sent off for retaliating with a head butt to Lee Ashcroft's elbow, for which he was also dismissed - is set to reclaim his place in the team for tomorrow's FA Trophy "derby" clash with Radcliffe Borough at Gigg Lane.

Marginson is pondering other changes after a poor second half display against the Cumbrians left FC closer to the relegation zone than the play-offs, but says he will review the match DVD before picking his team.

Garner's likely three-match ban will not begin for a fortnight, but Marginson had some sympathy for the player, as he responded to a red-card offence.

"Simon's disappointed - it was one of those things where you just react out of instinct and regret it instantly, so I am not going to crucify him.

"To be honest, the two red cards spurred us on. We told the players at half time to go out and raise the tempo of the game. I don't know what team went out there in the second half, but I suppose you get that with young players sometimes.

"Jerome Wright ran himself into the ground, and I felt sorry for him because he had been magnificent in the first half."

The Trophy offers an outside chance of a trip to Wembley, although the big guns of the Conference are not involved in the first qualifying round.

But with prize money up for grabs - tomorrow's tie is worth £2,300 to the victors - the competition is not to be sniffed at.

Says Marginson: "It can be done by teams at our level. Burscough did it a couple of years ago."