Sport Goal-shy, but Danby remains positive
TWO BLANKS in front of goal in the Vikings? last two pre-season games, but manager Nigel Danby remains positive about his side?s chances ahead of the new season.
Goole drew 0-0 with Armthorpe Welfare in a poor game at the Victoria Pleasure Grounds last Saturday, and then lost 1-0 at Garforth Town on Tuesday night in a game spoiled by a strong wind.
And if you were a Goole supporter, there are reasons to feel concerned about their lack of goal power at the moment, and although Danby agreed, he did rightly say: ?So long as we are ok by two weeks on Saturday.?
Despite the lack of goals, Goole are creating chances and Paul Palmer had a couple of efforts close on Tuesday at Garforth, and Lee Dawson should have equalised in the second half as Goole dominated possession with the wind at their backs.
True, they had struggled in the first half against the elements, and trailed to a direct free kick after 32 minutes, and whether Jack Robinson would have got to it, had he not heard the referee?s whistle as the kick was taken, is anyone?s guess.
Apparantly, the referee would have given a penalty for pushing had the ball not gone in direct.
Whatever, Garforth created little else with the Goole defence minus Lee Harper and Liam Chapman, comfortable enough in the conditions.
Against Armthorpe, Goole came to life in sticky conditions after the introduction of assistant manager Mike Norbury.
Although the veteran striker is not planning to play on a regular basis, he was at the centre of Goole?s best things late in the game, with Rob Constable firing inches over after Norbury knocked down a cross, and then Andy Gill, who also came on with Norbury, fired at the impressive keeper Lee Graves from 25 yards.
In both games Goole had good chances, with Lee Dawson wasting that chance at Garforth, and Steve Davey failing to connect with a Kieron O?Brien cross in the first half against the Doncaster side.
Manager Danby admits he is still looking for new players, and told the Goole Times: ?We need one more player, and then I will be happy with what I have, and it is a matter of gelling. Looking at the various areas of the field, we have competition for places, and for Tuesday at Selby everyone is available bar Rob (Constable).?
That means Chris Hill, Lee Harper (who missed Garforth injured) and Liam Chapman (who has completed his course) will play.
Danby is pretty sure of where his defence and midfield are, but he rules nothing out and nothing in at the moment.
Goole?s game at Selby next Tuesday will be played for the Otisdale Cup, put up by the estate agents who are sponsoring Selby Town in the forthcoming season.
A sum of ?150 has also been donated by Otisdale to a charity of the winning team?s choosing, and the Vikings have nominated Yorkshire Cancer Research.
Reserves first game at Wakefield
Goole?s first reserve game in the Lancashire League will be at Wakefield on Friday, August 18, kick off 745pm, that a day before the start of the Unibond League campaign.
Ironically Goole?s first away league game is also on the dame ground three days later.
The new Lancashire League (East) has ten clubs with seven from Yorkshire, and the longest trip will be to Conference side Altrincham, bringing back memories of trips there in the Northern Premier League.
Published on 3rd August 2006 in Sport.
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