Whitby Town face a tough task as they host unbeaten second-placed Warrington Town in the NPL Premier later this afternoon.
Whitby thumped the Cheshire side 4-0 in the corresponding fixture, at the Towbar Express Stadium, last season. However, the Wire have begun this season as one of three unbeaten sides from their opening four fixtures.
Three wins and a draw sees them sit second. Warrington won 2-1 at Ilkeston, on Tuesday, while Whitby were beaten 2-0 at Ashton United.
Denny Ingram, Whitby’s assistant boss, said players trained on Thursday night to get the Tuesday game “out of the system”.
He added: “We need another big reaction, which I’m sure the boys will produce. We should have everyone available and raring to go.”
Warrington drew 1-1 with leaders Cleethorpes, last week. Alex McNally’s second half strike had put them ahead only for the Lincolnshire visitors to level in injury time.
Cleethorpes are Whitby’s next opponents, away on Tuesday.
The Seasiders currently sit 14th with two wins and two draws from their first four games.
Stuart Rose, Whitby Town captain told The Anchor: “It’s going to be a trappy game, whichever way you look at it. They have come off a great win away from home and we are coming into it off a disappointing result at Ashton.
“They are unbeaten and joint top [on points] after four games but we seem to love the bounce back and, at The Turnbull, what better place to do it.
“We will have things in place for Saturday and know what’s needed to deliver, then it’s up to us on the pitch to stand up and be counted as a collective. If we do that, man for man, I’ve no doubt we can halt their progress.”
Whitby announced yesterday lunchtime they had signed centre-half, Michael Hodgson, on a short-term deal. He has just returned from a seven year spell in America, both playing and coaching.
He is originally from Scalby, but went to Illinois, and will go straight into the squad facing Warrington
Former Boro Rangers player, Cal Hickman, is available again for the clash, though left-wing-back Stan Hewitt is expected to miss out through injury.
Hickman admitted in midweek that he’d been “glued to Twitter” while away to keep up with the Blues’ progress.
Kick off on Saturday is 3pm. Admission is £13 for adults, £9 for concessions, and £5 for under-18s.
With the Preliminary Round of the FA Cup taking place over the weekend, the Blues will find out their First Qualifying Round opponents on Monday at the draw.
