BLUES FACING KEY PERIOD IN THEIR CAMPAIGN, SAYS MANAGER BAKER
LEEK Town manager Neil Baker says his side is heading into a pivotal part of their season.
Blues have nestled in the play-off places in the Northern Premier League West Division, eight points behind leaders Marine, having played two games more.
That represents a fine return for Leek after playing the majority of their league matches away from home while they waited for their new 3G pitch project at Harrison Park to be completed.
They are on home turf this weekend when they entertain Colne, before a testing-looking December awaits them.
Leek have home games against fellow high-fliers Marine and Warrington Rylands and also face trips to Trafford and Kidsgrove Athletic before the year is out.
“December has some very tough games - they are all hard - so if we are in the same position we are now when the year ends, I’m sure everyone will be delighted,” said Baker.
“Every week is a challenge in this division, but I hope that we are hitting some good form at the right time.
“But we’ll have to play well to win the game on Saturday.”
Leek continued their impressive away record last Saturday with a 3-0 win at Bootle.
That was their eighth league win on the road, and Baker is now looking for this players to bank plenty of points at home.
Since returning to Harrison Park to play on their new surface, they have beaten Kendal, but been held to draws by Prescot Cables and Newcastle Town.
“Saturday was an excellent result and in the last game-and-a-half we have started to look like ourselves,” added Baker.
“I’ve said all season we were picking up results but not playing as well as we can, but in the second half against Castle and last week at Bootle, we played very well.
“We feel we’ve played well at home in all of the games and have had the majority of the play.
“We just couldn’t finish Prescot or Newcastle off, despite having opportunities, and their goalkeepers probably picked up the man-of-the-match awards.
“So the form at home doesn’t concern me at all, but we do want to win as many at Harrison Park as we can.”
Baker reports a clean bill of health for Saturday’s clash, which will see attacker Dan Trickett-smith make his 100th appearance for the club.
Striker Tim Grice is also closing in on an appearance landmark, needing just two more matches to reach 400 games for the club.
· LEEK TOWN are hosting a ladsandads tournament at Harrison Park tonight.
The evening, which is being s;onsored by Leek United, starts at 6pm.
Admission is free, all spectators are welcome and refreshments will be available.