Twelve point plan

Sat 02, 2010 12:04

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With six games remaining, Whitley Warriors know a dozen points will see the English National League trophy back at Hillheads for the first time since 2002, but coach Simon Leach concedes there are still some difficult games to be played before his side can even contemplate success.

“To be honest, we can’t afford to look that far ahead, our aim is to take things game by game and not even look at the league table just yet,” he said.

“That means focussing on this weekend when we have two hard games, going to Coventry on Saturday night and following that up with the visit of Blackburn to Hillheads.

“Coventry is a difficult place to go,” he added, “but I thought we should have done better than draw 2-2 the last time we were there.

“We had a bad first period, but once we put that behind us I thought we dominated the game and did everything in the last 20 minutes but score the winner,” he continued.

Blackburn Hawks and the Warriors have already produced three outstanding games this season, with Whitley having to recover from 5-2 down with 12 minutes remaining the last time the sides met at Hillheads; Paul Windridge scoring the Whitley winner 28 seconds from time.

“I’ll be hoping it won’t be that close this time,” confessed Leach, “and that we have the game won before then, but Blackburn are a very talented team and I can’t see anything hut anther great game of ice hockey between the sides.

“For our part it is now all about getting the results to keep the pressure on league leaders Nottingham before they come to Hillheads for a crucial game next month,” he added, “and as long as we stick together and work hard for the whole 60 minutes every game, we are very capable of stringing the wins together.”

Leach has some injury doubts ahead of the weekend, with Bryan Dunn and Nathan Taylor waiting to see if they have shaken off injuries picked up last weekend, while Mark Good (illness) and Garry Dowd (work) are also doubts.

However Ritchie Thornton is available after missing the draw in Telford and Ryan Sample has now completed his two match ban, so both come straight back into the side.

“We  are blessed with plenty of forwards, so I will be able to put out enough even if Bryan and Nathan don’t make it,” continued Leach, “but we could be a little short on defence, so I may be in the line-up again this weekend.”

The Blackburn game gets underway at 6.30pm (doors open 6.00pm) with tickets available on the door at £7 for adults and £5 for children & concessions.

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