North Ferriby United

Evo-stik Northern Premier League
Premier Division

North Ferriby United v Scarborough Athletic
Saturday  22 September
Kick-off 3.00pm

Ferriby face high-flying Scarborough Athletic at The Chadwick Stadium on Saturday just 18 days after the first league meeting at Scarborough. The game was originally scheduled to be played in December but with both sides having a blank date on Saturday, the NPL has brought the game forward.

Scarborough have started the season well and are in sixth position in The Evo-stik Premier Division. They have won four, drawn two and lost one of their seven league games. They have scored 13 goals and conceded eight. Three of those goals scored came in the reverses fixture at Scarborough when the home side ran out 3-1 winners.

That game saw Ferriby more than hold their own in the first-half but Scarborough upped the tempo and pressure in the second and scored three times in the last 20 minutes to win the game. Ferriby boss Chris Bolder will certainly be hoping his team can re- produce their first-half performance that evening for the whole game on Saturday.

Ferriby skipper James Piercy shows some optimism for the Scarborough fixture.
 

 “We  host  Scarborough  again  after  only playing  them  a  few  weeks  ago,  so  we know  that  we  can  cause  problems  for  them  and  really  stifle  them  as  a  team. That  said,  we  need  to  make  sure  we  do  this  for  the  full  90  minutes  and  not  just  45.”

Looking at the last three games, Piercy sees positives for the team.

“Against Grantham  we  showed  the  togetherness  that  we  have  in  this  group  to  stick  together  and  stick  to  the  way  we  were  playing  and  we  got  our  rewards  in  the  end. We  probably  deserved  all  three  points  if  I’m  being  honest,  but  that  wasn’t  to 

be.

“The  Lancaster  City  game  was  a  game  where  we  just  didn’t  make  the right  choices  at  times  when  we  were  presented  with  good  opportunities  in  the  final  third. However,  the  performance  on  a  whole  wasn’t  too  bad  and  again  it’s  another  point  on  the  board, 

“There  were  a  few  changes  made  for  the  midweek  game  with  Marske,  but  that  lads  that  went  out  there  did  well  and  deserved  to  go  1-0  up  in  that  game.  After  Marske  equalised,  we  struggled  to  regain  our  shape  and  maintain  possession  of  the  ball,  but  it  was  a  totally  new  team  out  there  that  haven’t  played  together  much  at  all  and  it  was,  for  some,  a  first  experience  at  this  level,  so  I  wouldn’t  read  too  much  into  that  result.”

Scarborough had a good 3-1 home win over highly rated  Basford United last Saturday. On Tuesday they beat Tadcaster Albion 3-2 in the Integro League Cup.

Ferriby were also in League Cup action on Tuesday with a much-changed side losing 1-3 at Marske United. It was disappointing result but The Villagers could have no complaints about the outcome on the night.

Bolder was forthright in his view of the game,

“Marske were far superior in every department from start to finish. Even so,   Marske  game  on  Tuesday  proved  to  be  a  very  useful  exercise. We  made  wholesale  changes  and  that  allowed  us  to  give  some  lads  valuable  minutes  as  well  as  being  able  to  cast  our  eye  over  a  couple  of  them,  too.  The  introduction  of  two  reserve  team  lads  showed  that  we  are  looking  and  there  will  be  opportunities  which  is  important  for  them  to  see. 

They  managed  to  experience  the  level  required  and  see  what  is  needed  in  order  to  make  that  step  up.

 “We’re not going to be too harsh on these lads and say they’re miles away [from this level of football] and that’s their chance gone. Are they ready yet?No. How will they get ready? More time and games with us against higher opposition than they’ve been used to.”

Bolder is right to be optimistic for the future. There is a lot of ability within the squad and as fitness levels continue to improve and the players learn more about game management performances and results will improve.

The players have the right attitude and with Bolder and  assistant Paul Robson guiding them they ought to develop as a team. It has been a hectic start to the season with 10 games in the first five weeks. That is an intensity that most of the squad have not been used to. It also means that there is little time for Bolder and Robson to work with players during the week. Normally, the players would train on a Tuesday and a Thursday with the main work being done on Tuesday followed by a lighter session on Thursday. Obviously, the Thursday session has had to be modified due to this.

As far as Saturday is concerned, Bolder says,
“We  are  coming  into  the Scarborough game  game  on  the  back  of  two  league draws  and,  hopefully,  that  is  a  step  in  the  right  direction  in  terms  of  a  little  more  consistency.

“I  thought  the  lads  were  excellent  against  Grantham  Town  and  I  felt  we  were  unlucky  not  to take  all  three  points.

“Although  the  finishing  touches  were  lacking  against  Lancaster  City,  there  were  still  lots  of  positives  to  take  from  the  game,  especially  our  defensive  shape  and  the  work  ethic  of  the  lads  once  again. 

Our  final-third  decision  making  was  questionable,  but  the  majority  of  the  approach  play  was  pleasing. 

“Scarborough  are  an  excellent  team  led  by  a  very  well  respected  manager  and  good  friend  of  mine,  so  we  know  it  will  be  another  very challenging  game.  We  know  a  lot  about  their  team  and  how  they 

play,  but  sometimes  being  able  to  stop  their  threats  is  easier  said  than  done.
 

“I  think  the  lads  can  take  a  great  deal  from  our  first  meeting  and,  hopefully,  we  can  repeat our  first-half  performance  with  the  view  to  extending  that  for  longer  periods.  We  have  shown  that  when  all  things  fall  into the  right  place  for  us  we  can  match  teams  and  be  very  competitive.”

Ferriby are hoping for a large attendance given that Scarborough do have a large fan-base and it’s a fairly short journey. The small snack bar in the corner in the far corner of the ground will be open in addition to the main food bar. The clubhouse bar will open at 12.30.

James Nicholls turned his ankle at Marske on Tuesday but is the only injury doubt. So Bolder should have is full squad to choose from on Saturday. Jordan Windass, Ben Bassett , Jake Martindale and Scott Lofas have all been registered by the club. The first three played at Marske but they may well miss out against Scarborough as Bolder will probably  revert to the more familiar squad

Ferriby’s squad: Lewis Exall, Ben Clappison, Ben Leyland, James Willliamson, Jack Smith, James Piercey, Jack Mail, Paul Robson, Jamie Forrester, Joe Lamplough, Dan Nichols, Danny Norton, Charlie Dunkerley, Kent Bannister, Alex Knox, Luke Lofts, James Nichols, Josh Walker, Eddie Rogerson