NON LEAGUE
GATESHEAD head to Wetherby Road today to face a Harrogate Town side which has recently turned full time.
This will prove to be another good test as the Heed’s pre-season draws to a close, with only a week until the opening day of the season. A player who has impressing in the Jekyll and Hyde preparations has been summer signing Jordan Preston, who netted his first goal for the Heed in a 1-1 draw with Darlington on Wednesday night under the watchful eye of former manager Adam Lockwood. Heed boss Neil Aspin said: “Jordan has deserved a goal this pre-season and he did well first half.
“He gave us a spark against Darlington and looked good.
“I was pleased with his performance but he sustained a kick across the top of his foot so it made sense to take him off at half-time.
“I was pleased with his performance and it will do his confidence the world of good.
“I have a good idea what sort of side I want to play but we have a few experience players missing so it will be hard for me to say at the moment which side I will put out at Harrogate.
“I have to take into account their pitch and which players are carrying niggles as I want to get everyone through Saturday and have a fully-fit squad for the opening day of the season.”
The Heed head to Yorkshire having won just once in the last six meetings between the two clubs.
The most recent of those being a 3-2 defeat in Danny Johnson’s debut, where the striker scored both goals in the 2015-16 pre-season fixture.
The Heed look set to be without Wes York, Scott Barrow and Luke Hannant as Aspin aims for them to return for the curtain- raiser against Woking.
Harrogate will be no pushovers with close neighbours Hartlepool already a pre-season scalp for Town.