Doctor's orders, insists Gee

Rainworth manager Kevin Gee says their final preseason victory over Premier Division Matlock Town was just what the doctor ordered ahead of today’s opener with Sutton Coldfield Town, writes Gordon Foster.

The Evo-Stik NPL First Division South Wrens won 2-1 at Matlock and Gee described today’s home clash as the first of 42 cup finals.

Gee is under no illusions that two of the club’s hardest test were coming right at the start of the campaign, title-challengers Sutton Coldfield followed by Mickleover Sports next week, a team who’ll be looking to bounce back quickly after relegation from the Premier Division in April.

The Gladiators manager said: "A lot of people think Sutton Coldfield will win the division this season, and after them we go to Mickleover Sports, who have just come down from the Premier Division, so it’s a tough start.

"There will be 42 cup finals and no easy games, but we are going into a season for the first time looking like an Evo-Stik side capable of competing at this level, and not a Northern Counties East side trying to punch above its weight. It makes a massive difference starting a new season with tried and tested Northern Premier League players."

Only central defender Matt Plant, wing-back Kieran Walker and goalkeeper Alessandro Barcherini were missing from the squad which faced Matlock. After concerns at soft goals being given away Gee believes his side are now a much better defensive unit with the campaign proper finally starting.

Gee added: "We were much more organised defensively, we scored goals, and we didn’t sacrifice playing good football in order to achieve those aims.

"We also have both creativity and steel in midfield. We look like scoring goals but after the Matlock game we can also say that we don’t look like conceding many again either."