Dan's the man for Gee

Rainworth Miners Welfare manager Kevin Gee hailed new defender Dan White’s belated debut for the Wrens after helping them to a 2-0 win over Carlton Town in their New Year's Day derby and a rare clean sheet, writes Gordon Foster.

Gee has been keen to secure the experienced defender's services from Belper since November and is delighted with his signing's first performance after White was named Man-of-the-Match in the Evo-Stik NPL First Division South clash.

The Wrens snatched defeat from the jaws of victory in a 3-2 reverse at Brigg in their last outing of 2012 and Gee said: "It was a great way to start the new year. The win put the loss at Brigg into some perspective and there isn’t a manager in the division who would not have been delighted to score two and keep a clean sheet against a good side like Carlton.

"He [White] wasn’t fit when we signed him from Belper, but he has worked hard over several weeks and, with a few players out for the Carlton game, I made the decision to bring him in although he still felt he was not quite ready. He’s big, strong and solid, but alongside that he also has great organisational skills and slotted in alongside Mark Camm in the heart of defence superbly.

"As a team we controlled the match and looked solid as a group. The front two – Ian Holmes and Conor Higginson – are showing that they are as good a strike force as any in the division, not only because they are scoring goals, but also through the work they are getting through for the team."

Gee's side are at home on Saturday again in the second of a run of five successive home games when they'll be looking to complete a league double over in-form Belper Town. The Wrens won 2-1 at Belper in a fiesty encounter in November before the Nailers went on to their current winning run.

Gee couldn't be taking his next opponents more seriously but insists his side are ready to pull off a few surprise still this season.

He said: "I said in advance of that game, when they were struggling a little, that they were the best side I had seen to date. The momentum they have gathered has borne out that opinion and I will be very surprised if they do not figure in this season's play-offs. And if they do, who knows what will happen because play-offs are always a bit of a lottery.

"But we are showing week in, week out, that we can compete with the best teams in this division. There is always one club who will prove a surprise package by putting a run together in the second half of the season and there is no reason this year why that should not be Rainworth.

"Our run of home games in January has the potential to provide the ideal launch-pad for a run of results, and it’s nice to be able to look at things in that light rather than in previous seasons looking over our shoulders at a relegation scrap.

"As I have said before, this season is, for me, more about profiling the club. A lot of players now know who we are and see us as an option for next season. We are still learning but we are making far fewer mistakes than we were when I first joined and I have a squad of players around me who I can trust 100 per cent. I can’t ask for more than that at this stage in the club's development."

Gee hopes to have three players who missed the Carlton game back in contention to face Belper – Lee Cooksey from a holiday, Callum Lloyd from suspension and Danny Bacon after a family bereavement - could all be added to his squad.

The Wrens' home run continues next Tuesday in the Third Round of the Doodson Sport League Cup when they entertain Premier Division Buxton.