REDDITCH skipper Jason Spyer backed the club decision to field a weakened side in the HA Cup on Sunday despite seeing his young charges crash 5-0 to Market Drayton.

Redditch visit Market Drayton in the DTZ Debenham Thorpe League on Saturday (3pm start) but Spyer denies giving their opponents a psychological advantage.

The committee took the decision to enter the cup this year to get an extra fixture so we could give some other players a first team run out, he said.

There will be changes to the side on Saturday but the cup match was useful experience for our fringe players.

But the defender has been left facing at least a fortnight on the sidelines after breaking his index finder and a bone in his hand during the 5-0 reverse.

Player-manager Rob Allen, sweeper Grenville Rose, keeper Alistair Shute, midfilder Alex Robinson and striker Mat Davies were all rested with youngsters Andrew Preston, 14, Anthony Brooks, 15, and third teamers Steve Andrews, 17, and Matt Carrol, 19, promoted to the first team.

And former first team keeper Mark Jarrett returned to the fray from social team duty.

The defeat came on the heels of a morale-boosting West Midlands One win over league leaders Stafford a day earlier.

Spyer is the only absentee for Saturday's revenge mission and is set to promote seconds midfielder Ian Willmot to the squad with Robinson switching to central defence.