Whitby Town has a tough trip to the North West tonight as they face the team they sit alongside in the league table.
Hosts Ashton United, near Oldham, are sixth and Whitby seventh in the early NPL Premier Division table.
The Blues will be buoyed by Saturday’s 2-0 win over Ilkeston, while United lost on their travels at the same time.
A consistent run is key to pushing on says Whitby’s assistant boss, Denny Ingram.
“We need to back up a really positive performance”, he said. “Time to kick on and put back-to-back results together. If we perform like we did Saturday, then it gives us a great chance of coming away with the points.”
Skipper, Stuart Rose, netted his second goal in three games at the weekend and told The Anchor his confidence is high.
He said: “I’ve been around a while now and, as a striker, you just need to get off the mark early doors, especially when goals are what you are judged on. Confidence is high and I’m hungry for more.”
Of this midweek battle with Ashton at their Hurst Cross home, Rose added: “It’s two teams that have got six points out of a possible nine and will be going toe-to-toe Tuesday night.
“We know what we’re going to be up against and we know the test we have in store, we are going into it full of confidence after a great showing and clean sheet Saturday.”
Ashton, like Ilkeston, also known as The Robins due to their colours, suffered their first defeat of the season at the weekend.
A late goal was enough to clinch a 1-0 victory for hosts Bamber Bridge. Ashton had thumped Lancaster City 4-1 on the opening day. They edged to victory 1-0 at Stockton Town in-between.
Whitby and Ashton have met 32 times since the Blues were promoted to the NPL in 1997. Town have 14 wins to Ashton’s 12 with six draws.
However, The Seasiders have have won just one of the sides’ last six meetings, albeit a 4-1 success on their last visit to Hurst Cross, in October last year.
Midfielder Lucas Reed says there’s a good vibe about the club currently.
He said: “Yeah the boys were absolutely delighted with the three points [on Saturday] bouncing back from Tuesday night’s display. “The togetherness and spirit we showed, especially at half-time when we had to turn it up a gear to go and win the game, was just what we’re all about. In the second half we dominated from back to front.
“Ashton have got a strong side, and they’ve recruited really well over the summer, so we know it’ll be a tough one. We’re all looking forward to the challenge though, and battling it out with them on their own patch. Should be a proper test, but one we’re all looking forward to.”
The Blues are likely to be again without absent midfielder Cal Hickman and left wing/back Stan Hewitt remains an injury concern after hobbling off on Saturday after 20 minutes.
Ashton United general admission match ticket prices at Hurst Cross are typically £14 for adults, £9 for seniors (over 65) and students, and down to £5 for juniors aged 12–16.
Kick off is 7.45pm.
