“We haven't reached the potential I know we have got” Grant Black
Grant Black says he was full of pride, joy and excitement after the weekend game at Atherton Collieries “I was proud of how the boys followed the game plan for this game and how each one of them stuck to the task set by a good young physical side that will win more than they lose at home.”
“This group have a great desire to succeed and are starting to come together and build good relationships on and off the pitch. We are getting players that were half fit at the start of season due to injuries all at nearly full tilt which excites me a lot. We haven't reached the potential I know we have got and we are already doing really well”.
However Ossett Town will take nothing for granted going into the game, on Bank Holiday Monday the Reds were in a similar position as they travelled to Ossett Albion, at the time bottom of the league without a point and were made to work hard and wait until the 93rd minute to get the winner.
Grant Black is good friends with Goole manager Karl Rose and knows the side Town face will be ready to compete “I know Karl well” says Black “it’s midweek and on their patch. I am under no illusions this will be as tough a game as we have had to face all season, if the players approach this any differently to what they have done so far this season we will make it difficult for ourselves. I will be demanding the same attitude that has got us maximum points on the road this season”.
Goole will only have to look back twelve months for confidence too, The Vikings were without a victory in their opening nine games last season before breaking that duck against Ossett Town, Black however, will have the side focused on the 90 minutes and not what has gone on before.
Goole have two former Ossett Town goalkeepers to call on in Sam Leigh and Ben Saynor as well as full backs Steven Jeff and Macca Parkinson as well as their Chairman Steve Shorthouse who was assistant manager at Ossett Town to former reserve team manager Alan Semley.
Ossett Town will be without Andy Hawksworth whose knee injury sustained in pre-season is likely to mean he will be a long term absentee, and also Nathan Curtis who has signed for Ossett Albion.
“Curtis is keen for more game time” says Black “which is not something I can offer him at this time, no player is guaranteed a place week in week out and this is something the player wants so he leaves with our best wishes”.
Nathan Curtis has had two spells at the club making 87 appearances scoring on 18 occasions.
Recent Meetings
Date | Competition | Att | Opponent | H/A | F-A |
25/08/2012 | FA Cup Prelim | 113 | Goole | H | 1-0 |
23/10/2012 | NPL First Division North | 65 | Goole | H | 0-2 |
30/10/2012 | WRCC 2 | 42 | Goole | H | 3-2 |
16/02/2013 | NPL First Division North | 117 | Goole | A | 0-2 |
11/11/2015 | Integro Doodson League Cup 1 | 166 | Goole | A | 2-0 |
20/08/2016 | FA Cup Prelim | 90 | Goole | H | 2-1 |
27/09/2016 | NPL First Division North | 93 | Goole | H | 0-2 |
21/01/2017 | NPL First Division North | 180 | Goole | A | 3-0 |
Our overall record against Goole
Venue | P | W | D | L | F | A | Pts | GD |
At Town | 7 | 3 | 0 | 4 | 7 | 9 | 9 | -2 |
At VPG | 6 | 3 | 0 | 3 | 9 | 5 | 9 | 4 |
Overall | 13 | 6 | 0 | 7 | 16 | 14 | 18 | 2 |