Enforced break is perfect timing

Rainworth Miners Welfare manager Kevin Gee is planning to make the most of his side's enforced break from Evo-Stik Northern Premier League action on Saturday, writes Gordon Foster.

The Wrens can put their feet up at the weekend after last Saturday's 2-1 home win over Romulus and Gee, pictured, is hoping the rest will see a trio of key players making a timely return to his Evo-Stik NPL First Division South squad after injury on the first Saturday in March.

Skipper Mark Camm, Dan White and Danny Bacon all sat out the weekend's win but they should be back to freshen up the Wrens for Halesowen Town at home. Gee has also been boosted by news that Gainsborough Trinity have agreed to extend Jonathan Williams' loan at Kirklington Road by another month but revealed he will be without another loan star, Sam Purcicoe.

Evo-Stik NPL Premier Division Grantham have told Gee they're recalling Purcicoe after the Halesowen game to aid their own run-in. Gee is already targeting a possible replacement to cope with the blow and other signings with a number of seven day approaches sent out in the last week.

Gee said: "We must respect that of course [Grantham’s decision], but Sam has been terrific for us while he's been with us, both on and off the field, and I wish him all the best when he returns to his parent club.

"But we are grateful to Gainsborough for allowing Jono to stay for another month, especially given that they are bidding for promotion from the Conference North, and are in the semi-final of the FA Trophy and due to play Wrexham in the second leg this weekend – of course we wish them good luck and every success in both of those aims.

"Our own break also gives us a chance to try and bring in a few more fresh faces if possible, as a number of seven-day approaches can be followed up this week, so hopefully we will get a few positive results from those, especially up front.

"I appreciate that the fans are really happy when Ian Holmes is available to play there. He's a top striker at this level and will always score 25 goals a season, but realistically, we couldn't afford Ian on a regular basis. However, because of my relationship with him and the sponsorship deal I've arranged for him on his teaching course in Plymouth, Ian will always travel back and help out during the holidays and half term breaks."

It was Holmes, returning for his half term break from university, who set the Wrens on their way to completing the league double over Romulus with acting skipper Callum Lloyd adding their second.

Looking back, Gee was happy with another win at home to set them up for the remainder of the season before their break and added: "We've got something of an enforced mini-break coming up with no games so it was really important for the group that we went into that on the back of a positive result.

"In the first half we played really well and going in 2-0 up was a good platform for us although it could have been more. But conceding a goal so soon after the break made us rather nervy, and having not won for a few weeks, confidence was a little fragile, which showed a little bit in our ball retention.

"But I think we deserved to have a bit of luck based upon our previous performances when we did play well and got nothing from the game. To be fair, Romulus were unfortunate to have two stone wall penalties refused, and I certainly think we got the sympathy vote from the officials on those calls, but they always even themselves out over the season.

"Our home form has been good this year and on our travels we have improved, so with 12 games to go we are two points short of last year's total and we've actually won one more game, so we have to be happy with that going into the final quarter of the season.

"We are also in the last eight of the Notts Senior Cup at Dunkirk in March. I watched them on Tuesday night against Causeway United, so I know that it will be a tough away trip for us. But it's one we are looking forward to, as it's a competition the club hasn't won for over 30 years. So that now becomes a priority along with 50-plus points which needs to be our next target going forward in our 12 remaining league games."