City aim to get back on track
hsb Ripon City v Boroughbridge. Number 3 (Ripon). (121201M5c)
Ripon City boss Paul Vincent hopes his team can build momentum when they get their stop and start season back on track.
The West Yorkshire Premier side missed last week as other teams caught up on fixtures.
They host in-form Brighouse Old Boys on Saturday, a side who have played seven less games this season.
City have not played Brighouse this season and Vincent said they were an unknown quantity.
He said: “It will be a tough game. To some extent we will just worry about ourselves. If we can compete like we have, we have a chance.
“There’s no easy games in this league and there are no whipping boys. League positions mean nothing.”
Ripon sit fourth in the table but lost ground on leaders Bardsey last week as they beat Carlton Athletic 2-0.
They have only been able to play three league matches so far in 2013 and drew 2-2 to Pool in their last game.
Vincent added: “It will be good to get back into action. Hopefully we can get back on the pitch and build up some results.
“We just have to concentrate from one week to the next. If we keep winning we won’t be a million miles away.”
The manager turned out alongside other first team players for the reserves last week as they suffered an extra time 2-1 defeat to Knaresborough Town in the Hulme Cup semi-finals.
The result left him downhearted but he said the performances of the club’s young players was encouraging.
He said: “We missed a number of chances and we hit the crossbar a couple of times. From a club’s point of view it was really disappointing.
“But there are four or five really good youngsters that stepped up to the mark.
“We are trying to get the balance of older players to help nurture them in the reserves.”
The game helped Tom Leeming on his return to match fitness and Vincent said defender James Mason was available again for the Brighouse match.
Only Liam Gaffney and James Charlesworth remain on the sidelines for City and Vincent welcomed the squad’s clean bill of health.
With the reserves having a free week, Vincent said he plans on taking a full squad.
He added: “It is match fitness as much as anything. I wouldn’t usually do it but I will take five on the bench this Saturday for purposes of the squad.
“It gives us a few options. As a club it is important that everybody is wanting to fight for places.”
Email to a friend
Print this page
Looking for...
Featured advertisers
Jobs
Search for a job
Motors
Search for a car
Property
Search for a house
Weather for Harrogate
Saturday 25 May 2013
Today
Sunny
Temperature: 4 C to 17 C
Wind Speed: 10 mph
Wind direction: North
Tomorrow
Sunny
Temperature: 6 C to 18 C
Wind Speed: 12 mph
Wind direction: West
