DROYLSDEN ARE THE BEST TEAM WE HAVE PLAYED, WARNS BAKER
LEEK Town hit the road to Manchester tomorrow and a second meeting with Droylsden this season.
The two teams met at Harrison Park in August, the match ending in a 1-1 draw and manager Neil Baker says if the Bloods play anything like they did in the first meeting, then they are in for a tough afternoon.
Droylsden were one of the teams Baker tipped to do well at the start of the season and although their results have not backed him up, he still thinks they are the best team Leek have played this season.
He explained: “Droylsden are the best team we have played this season, they were excellent at our place. Their results are not as good as what I expected, but we will go into the game remembering the way they played at Leek and if they play anywhere like they did that day we are in for a tough time. I certainly hope we see more of the ball than we did when they played at our place, they were excellent,” added the manager.
Leek go into the game looking for their third consecutive league win, having beaten Mossley (2-0) and Kendal Town (3-0) in their last two league games.
They kicked off against Colwyn Bay at home last Saturday, but that game only lasted 16 minutes because the referee abandoned the game due to a waterlogged pitch after a heavy rainfall.
The score was 0-0 at the time and Baker says he had no issues with the decision.
“The weather was atrocious. There was standing water on the pitch, there was a strong wind blowing heavy rain all around the stadium. I don’t think there was a dry area inside the ground,” he said.
“The referee came over and asked both managers what they thought, but there was no way we could have carried on. The pitch was saturated.”
Asked if the two teams could have tried again in 30 minutes, Baker added: “The pitch was coping well with the water, but the problem is the players, they are back in the changing room cooling down. If we were to go back out again, then that’s when you start picking up injuries, so I think it was sensible to call it a day.”
On Tuesday night, Leek went out of the Staffs Senior Cup when they lost 2-1 at home to Stoke City under-23s.
Gabriel Kyeremateng put Stoke ahead on 10 minutes, but a Scott Wara own goal levelled the game by halftime.
Leek were awarded a penalty two minutes into the second half when Wara brought down Rob Stevenson, but Dan Trickettsmith’s spot-kick was saved by Dan Gyollai and Trickettsmith put his follow-up over the bar.
Ollie Shenton popped up with a 90th-minute winner for Stoke.
“It was another game we should not have lost,” reflected Baker.
Trickett-smith was making his first start since recovering from a groin injury, while Lee Wilshaw was handed his debut. Ben Chapman started in goal and brought up his 200th appearance for the club and made way for Danny Roberts at half-time.
Central defender Scott Lycett could be available tomorrow after resuming training following a hamsting injury, but Darren Chadwick (calf ) and Lewis Short (hamstring) are still a week away.
Leek have extended the loan deal of Crewe Alex teenager Billy Sass-davies for another month, although the Alex do have a 24-hour recall clause.
Sass-davies has been partnering Jack Sanders in the centre of defence and Baker says he’s pleased the loan deal has been extended.
“Billy has been playing very well. He’s come on a long way since I last saw him at Crewe and he’s looking a good defender at this level,” said the manager.