League season kicks off with visit from Mossley
After our excellent FA Cup replay win over Evesham United on Tuesday evening, we go into our league opener against Mossley in very good spirits and ready to take on the challenge of some tough looking fixtures in the early weeks of the season.
August could see us playing as many as seven league games although it is likely to be fewer with FA Cup replays and further rounds of the competition almost certain to reduce that figure.
Come what may, it’ll be a busy start to a season which is already extended as the number of teams competing in the league this season has gone up from 20 to 22.
Our gaffer Neil Baker was able to name a completely unchanged squad on Tuesday from the side that came back from Evesham with a 1-1 draw. And there’s every chance that Bakes will be in a position to stick with the same squad for tomorrow’s game too.
Speaking before training with the squad at Roe Lane yesterday, Bakes was in a very positive mood ahead of the season opener: “I was very pleased with our performance on Tuesday, I thought the players responded well to what I asked of them after the draw last weekend. I’m still looking at bringing in a player but we’re in a good place.
“As for the challenge that Mossley pose, I’m expecting a slightly different challenge from them this time, but they are always a decent side. They are normally on the fringes of the play-offs and it wouldn’t surprise me at all if they’re up there again this season.”
We did the league double over Mossley last season with Pat Mazurkiewicz scoring his only goals for the first team in a 2-1 home win last August before Bakes secured his first three points as our gaffer when Kyle Stubbs netted a late winner in the reverse fixture in January.
While we were in replay action on Tuesday, Mossley had a free week after thrashing Colne 4-0 in the FA Cup last week, so there is an argument to say they may be a little fresher. But the reality is that at this stage of the season, it shouldn’t make a jot of difference.
Starting our league season at home provides a great opportunity to get off to a winning start and we hope you can join us at Buckmaster Avenue tomorrow to cheer the boys on to our second win of the week.
Come on Castle!