BASHLEY goalkeeper David Elm could be back in the team for their tough league trip to Chippenham today (3pm) despite being forced to go to hospital through injury on Saturday.

The strapping custodian took a heavy knock to his shin in the 20th minute of the New Forest outfit's defeat against Halesowen.

Initially, it was feared Elm had suffered a hairline fracture that could have sidelined him for a lengthy period.

But he was released from hospital later the same day suffering from heavy bruising.

Bashley manager Steve Riley, whose side have only picked up one point from three matches, said yesterday: "We're relieved Elmo's injury isn't anything worse.

"He went to punch a ball away and their fella has gone straight into his shin.

"It was a painful injury. He had to go to hospital but, thankfully, there is nothing broken.

"Our physio was worried about a hairline fracture but it was just heavy bruising.

"Steve Hollick went in goal and he didn't have a lot to do for his first game this season.

"He had to pick the ball out of the next twice after two opportunist strikes from them but it wasn't his fault they went in.

"I'm not sure whether Elmo will be fit for our match against Chippenham. We'll talk to him ahead of the game to check it out and see how he feels and go from there."

Riley saw his side, who have surprisingly dipped to fourth bottom inside the relegation zone, waste two early chances when Aidan Sainsbury and Charlie Knight failed to convert.

Halesowen, who turned up late because of heavy road traffic, took advantage to take the lead through Jay Denny in the 12th minute.

Justin Rowe doubled their advantage on the hour before Mark Danks got a third for the visitors.

Joe Fisher bagged Bashley's consolation by heading home Chris Ferrett's corner in the 78th minute.

Riley, whose side were one of the pre-season promotion favourites, said: "We created a lot of chances but just didn't put them away, and it seems I keep saying that.

"The lads played well but we're just not getting the rub of the green. We need to start converting our chances because we're making enough of them.

"I'm not making excuses, but Halesowen arrived late, the game kicked-off at 3.35pm and we warmed up four times.

"They didn't get to the ground until 3.15pm. We were told the game would start at four different times and I don't know whether it's just me or not, but that's not good enough.

"When I was playing, I can remember turning up at a ground at 2.55pm and being made to start at 3pm.

"There shouldn't be any leeway. You have to kick-off at 3pm, or straight away if you arrive later.

"Our preparation was absolutely shocking. Halesowen ambled in as though they didn't have a care in the world.

"It was poor preparation that didn't help us. It's not an excuse. It was just a miserable day for me."

Bashley use the same squad at Chippenham today.

Bashley: Elm (Hollick 20), Fisher, Ferrett, Castle, Middleton, Knowles, Finlay, Sainsbury (Fairbrother 70), Tarr, Gillespie, Knight (Keeler 75). Unused subs: Parnell, Gazzard.