Baker expects big test of Leek’s cup credentials at Whitchurch
LEEK Town manager Neil Baker says his players can’t afford to take their foot off the pedal after opening their season with five straight wins.
Blues, who just missed out on promotion last season, are sitting top of the early Betvictor South East Division table with four wins out of four and are through to the first qualifying round of the Emirates Cup following a 1-0 win at AFC Wulfrunians.
They were in action last night at Market Drayton Town and on Saturday face a tricky tie when they travel to take on Whitchurch Alport in the next round of the FA Cup.
Baker says it’s so far so good. “Any manager would take our position right now, even at this early stage of the season. We’ve made a good start, but we have got to keep it going,” said the manager.
Blues moved to the top of the table on Saturday night following a 2-0 win at home to Sutton Coldfield Town, thanks to two goals from the club’s all-time leading scorer Tim Grice. The first was a closerange finish and the second was a quick piece of thinking by three players.
Billy Reeves won a challenge in the middle of the park, fed Rob Stevenson out wide, he took two touches and chipped a delightful ball over the top of the Sutton Coldfield defence for Grice to run on to, round the keeper and score.
Baker says it was a great move. “Three players involved and it all happened so quickly. As for Gricey, well he just seems to get better and better and took both his goals well,” said Baker who believes the striker is probably fitter than he has been for some time.
He explained: “Tim had his injury problems last season and he had to be nursed through some games. But pre-season went well for him, he’s looking after himself better and he is listening to the advice of our medical people.
“I rested him when we went to Wulfrunians in the FA Cup, because there’s a lot of football to be played in the next few months and it’s important we keep him fit. He’s a very important player for us,” added the manager who was also impressed with defender Josh Agbozo who was named the sponsors’ man of the match.
Agbozo was at Liverpool as a junior and was at Chorley during the summer, but didn’t figure in their first-team plans. Baker was alerted to the player by an agent he knew from his days at Crewe Alex.
He said: “I got a tip-off about Josh, so I invited him along. He trained with us and fitted in well. He’s a centre-back really, but with having Darren Chadwick and Ollie Harrison in there I have been playing him at right-back and he’s not let us down. He also adds a bit of height.” Leek head to Whitchurch on Saturday looking to make progress in the FA Cup, but Baker says it’s going to be a tough test for his players.
Whitchurch are managed by Luke Goddard, a Crewe Alex fan, and Baker knows him well. They have made a good start to their season in the Hallmark Security League Premier Division, sitting second in the table with four wins and a draw from their five league games.
Baker says they are a club going places. “They have a great little set-up at Whitchurch. They have a good set of players, a good manager, and a lot of good people working behind the scenes. They are a go-ahead club who are going places.”
Baker is expecting a decent following from Leek which should push the gate up to the 500 mark. He said: “I think there will be a lot of interest in this game. They have decent home support and I expect a few to travel from Leek, so it should be a great occasion and a great atmosphere. But as usual, we will set up to try to win the game, because I want us to do well in this competition.”
It will be the start of another busy week for the club. Next Tuesday night Leek welcome Ilkeston to Harrison Park for a South East Division game and then the following Saturday, it’s off north to Cleethorpes Town. “They are coming thick and fast now, but you can expect that at this stage of the season. Hopefully I can keep most of the players fit, that’s always the worry,” said Baker.