ROVERS AIMING TO PILE ON MISERY
3pm kick-off at Merseyrail Community Stadium
ANDY PREECE may well be facing up to life in National League North, but the Southport boss is determined to end the season on a high after their relegation fate was sealed on Good Friday with defeat at Dover.
Although it has long seemed a question of ‘when’ rather than ‘if ’ for Port in their battle to beat the drop, Preece could not hide his emotions when he spoke to
The NLP following his side’s 3-0 loss to the Whites, saying: “Today is tough for everyone. We will have to pick ourselves up and go again for our final three games. “The National League North is competitive, but if we get the spine of the team right and have the right blend of experience and youth, then we can compete at the top and come back stronger.” Port face the daunting task of welcoming high-flying Forest Green Rovers to the Merseyrail Community Stadium tomorrow, and while Preece admits his side are down to the bare bones with a number of injuries, he is hopeful he will have a couple of players back for the visit of the division’s big spenders. But with Mark Cooper’s men still clinging onto the faintest hopes of winning automatic promotion and the National League title, the task will not get any easier. Although realistically, Cooper will look to build on his side’s recent momentum to find his best XI for the looming play-offs. “It’s a case of trying to see these three games out and to win as many games as we can,” said Cooper, whose side sit two points adrift of second-place Tranmere and seven off leaders Lincoln. “We want to keep clean sheets and to ensure we keep the momentum going. “I’m looking for a group of players who are desperate to play for me and this football club. I think we’ve had that in the last three games. “I’m pleased Liam Noble is back from injury and he gives us added quality.”