Safety comes first, insists Gee

Rainworth Miners Welfare manager Kevin Gee is targetting Evo-Stik Northern Premier League First Division South safety by the New Year, writes Gordon Foster.

The Wrens visit Sutton Coldfield Town on Saturday looking for their first league double of the season having beaten the Royals on the opening day and Gee is hoping they can take another vital three points when they meet again.

He said: “At the midpoint of the season we are on twenty-eight points, and if we can pick up the same tally during the second half of the season that will mean fifty-six - and for ‘little Rainworth’ at this stage in the club’s development that would be a massive total.

“Looking at it another way, I think we are now four wins from safety, so it would be nice to be able to pick up those four wins by the turn of the year. And, with the pressure off, another 10 on top of that would take us close to the play-offs. But we are realists, and our target this season was always to stabilise ourselves at our current level.

“I think next season will be our big one in terms of expectation levels, but high expectations come with success, and they are quite high even now among our small band supporters. I wish we had more but all we can do is keep on with what we are doing and hope that the message eventually gets through to people."

The Wrens will be visiting the Coles Lane artificial surface for the third time this year after two earlier matches against the Royals’ ground-sharers Romulus. Gee rated the Royals as potential play-off candidates at the start of the campaign and although they've made a slow start, they're now well up among the front-runners.

Looking forward to the game, Gee said: “We have already played on their artificial surface twice and we train on one once a week, so we are not unused to it, but we know Sutton are a very good side indeed. We know, too, that they will not be making the mistake of under-estimating us. I know that they are a physically strong and well organised side, but we are also now on a new run of three games unbeaten.”

Last Saturday’s 4-2 home victory over Mickleover Sports marked the campaign's halfway point and Gee revealed he let his Wrens celebrate their success so far with a Christmas party afterwards.

Gee said: "I think we should change our name to the 'Entertainers' because we are creating a lot of chances and when we take theem we tend to win matches. The lads travelled up to Leeds for their Christmas party afterwards, and went in high spirits after the win. The togetherness within the club is fantastic and although I had to make some tough decisions in terms of personnel, we’ve got a rock solid group.

Gee included one of two new signings in his squad for the Mickleover match following trials – forward Nshindano Chisango made his appearance from the bench having joined from Handsworth. But the other newcomer, Justin Jenkins from Shepshed Dynamo, was unavailable because of a family wedding, although he could figure in the squad at Sutton Coldfield.

Gee confirmed this week that more new faces could soon arrive to strenthen the Wrens. "We still need to find a sharper cutting edge so I’m still looking to strengthen the squad. But I want players who want to come and play for us and who will strengthen the team," he said.

Following Saturday’s game Rainworth travel to struggling First Division North outfit Goole AFC next Tuesday in the Doodson Sport Cup. Gee insists the cup clash is another massive fixture and opportunity.

He added: “We aren’t going to win the league so the cups are important to us. We view the Notts Senior Cup as winnable and success in the ‘Doodson’ could see us paired with a big Premier Division club. To be in two cups and in the top half of the table at the half way point is terrific for our club – I’ve already mentioned expectation levels, and our supporters will expect us to keep that going now."