MANAGER Andy Ritchie, below, is hoping the bug which has swept through his squad passes as quickly as it arrived.
Wingman Malvin Kamara was the first to fall victim, missing training on Friday because he felt below par.
He started Saturday’s match, but according to the manager, was feeling drained when he made way for Danny Cadamarteri in the 53rd minute.
So too was Richard Keogh, the on-loan Bristol City centre-back who was replaced by Frank Sinclair on 73.
Meanwhile Aaron Hardy, who came off for Danny Racchi in the 80th minute, had been sick at half-time.
“Aaron and Andy Holdsworth both had their heads down the toilet when they came back in after the first half, and Matt Glennon was sick after the game,” said Ritchie.
“David Mirfin was also feeling off colour on Friday, and to add to that, he woke up on Saturday morning with his back in spasm, so didn’t figure.
“I don’t want to use the illness as an excuse, because there were other deficiencies in our game, but it didn’t help, certainly in terms of our fitness levels.”
Despite the concession of three goals for the second game running, Ritchie was pleased with the performance of Clarke, who had missed the previous two games with a knee strain.
Sinclair was back after three matches out with hamstring trouble.
Although, like Clarke and Sinclair, he played for the Reserves last Wednesday, skipper Jon Worthington is still troubled by a groin injury.
Danny Schofield was ruled out because of an ankle strain.
l Town Juniors suffered a first defeat in five FA Premier Academy League matches this season when they went down 1-0 at Manchester United.
The hosts struck midway through the second half of a match shown live on MUTV!
Town coach Graham Mitchell fielded eight first-year Academy players.
