Moneys boss pondering whether to bring in new forward

First-choice strikers Steve Hutchings and Ryan Pennery are both ruled out through suspension.

Unbeaten Moneys head into the match with a four-point lead over their hosts and also have two games in hand.

The Dover Road manager admits he will miss the formidable strike partnership of Hutchings and Pennery.

Their absences could lead to the Moneyfields boss bringing in a fresh face for the trip to Westwood Road.

And Carter believes the clash will be a barometer of how strong his squad is.

He said: ‘This weekend will certainly test the strength in depth of our squad.

‘We are unbeaten in the league, though, and a lot of that is down to our resilience.

‘The players are determined not to get beat and that will again be our priority.

‘It doesn’t help when you have to go into the game without your two main strikers.

‘I may bring in another forward before the weekend.

‘We have shown we are not prepared to lie down and let anyone beat us easily, however.

‘Hopefully, our league form will give us the confidence to go there and get another result.’

Moneys suffered a further blow when Brett Poate limped off with a hamstring injury in their 4-1 defeat at Cray Wanderers in the FA Trophy second-qualifying round tie on Wednesday.

The experienced defender is unlikely to be fit for the Cambridge game and his absence will be missed.

Poates’ nous has seen him marshall Moneys’ rearguard superbly this season.

Nevertheless, Curtis De Costa has been performing well at the back and more responsibility will fall on him.

Carter’s troops will be licking their wounds after their midweek defeat and they are determined to bounce back.

‘We didn’t play particularly well at Cray but the 4-1 final scoreline flattered them,’ the Moneyfields boss added.

‘The 4G surface at their stadium took a lot out of our players’ legs and we didn’t adapt to it.

‘We knew it wasn’t going to be our night when we hit the woodwork four times.’

In Hutchings’s absence Dan Wooden played up front alongside Pennery.

Carter also has Joel Jackson, Gary Austin and Nathan Paxton vying for a spot in his front line.