Vikings must push on in race

Published on 31st January 2008 in Sport

Goole AFC face three home games in succession as their chase for end-of-season honours continues to intensify at the Victoria Pleasure Grounds.

Home league games with Warrington Town and Gresley Rovers are sandwiched with a President's Cup quarter final with UniBond One North side Wakefield next weekend.

Saturday's opponents Warrington have proved one of the Vikings' bogey sides, and although Nigel Danby's side did prevail at the VPG last term, their last two visits to Cantilever Park have been frustrating.

The latest was a 3-3 draw before Christmas, when in all truth, Goole should have been out of sight long before it ended that way.

At long last the management have a full squad to select from, with Liam Chapman and Chris Jenkinson returning from suspension: "Someone will miss out on Saturday, I haven't decided who, but it is a nice headache for a change." manager Danby told the Goole Times.

On the Spalding win, which was completed with 10 men for the majority of the match, Danby had no sympathy with Craig Marsh, who saw red for a headbutting offence.

"Yes he did it. I don't think it was a head butt in the true sense, but the heads were together, and he had to go," Danby said.

Marsh will start a three match suspension on Saturday week. Meanwhile, at long last there is a clean bill of health to be reported, with Craig Robinson back in action at Glasshoughton, where, in the words of manager Danby, "he needs games to get his match fitness, and then we can consider him for the run-in."

Kids for free continues

The Vikings are set to continue their policy of letting kids in for free, if accompanied by an adult, until the end of the season.

The response has not been as positive as one ccould have wished, however with the club fighting for a play-off place at the very least, there is good football to come at the Pleasure Grounds between now and April. Goole, particularly the players and management, would welcome more support.

Manager Danby told the Goole Times: "We could do with a few more through the turnstiles, young or old. It would be the perfect tonic for the lads on the field."

In fairness, the reaction from the people through the gate this season so far has been good, with the standard of football getting better week by week, if the last home game with Nantwich Town is anything to go by.

Colwyn Bay trip looks set for a Sunday

The Vikings' scheduled trip to North Wales, originally set for a Tuesday night, March 4, has now been changed and looks set for a Sunday date.

Nothing has been made official as yet, but Goole told the UniBond League that they were prepared to do that after it became clear that the Welsh side's backlog of games was making an alternative out of the question.