Whitby dismiss Trophy advantage

Whitby Town's player-manager Darren Williams doesn't believe their 4-2 FA Trophy victory over Ilkeston will have much bearing when the the sides meet again on Saturday in the Evo-Stik NPL's Premier Division, writes Andrew Snaith.

Fourth-bottom Town are just one point and one place above the Derbyshire outfit, who hold a game in hand and disposed of Ashton 3-0 in midweek.

Williams said: "We'll just plan it as another game. We're not thinking that we're going there with an advantage because we beat them - we'd leave ourselves open for anything to happen. It gives each side an insight into each other and it might be a situation when they're looking to get one over on us for beating them."

The ex-Sunderland defender isn't concerned either about Whitby's inability to beat Ilkeston at their New Manor Ground in four attempts, though those games were against the old Ilkeston Town club.

"We broke what wasn't a great record at Kendal this year and records are there to be broken. Despite recent results, confidence is still high," he said. "It's a massive game, they're at home and the onus is on them to beat us.

"It wont be an easy game, it never is. We didn't start well against them [in the Trophy], but we finished the game like a house on fire. Our mindset is to start properly and do things right. I'm very confident that if we do that we'll get three points."

Williams is looking forward to seeing his new striker Craig Farrell, signed from Blyth Spartans last week after scoring seven league goals this season for the Croft Park outfit, in action but has left the door open for veteran marksman Jamie Clarke to return.

The 39-year-old frontman hasn't featured in Town's last four outings but Williams said: "He does a lot of travelling up and down the country. If his workload becomes lighter, then who knows, but we've got to look after ourselves now.

"We have to get the right squad together and make sure that the lads that we have will be there, week in week out and at training week in week out. Unfortunately, that doesn't fit in with Jamie and his work."

Farrell, 29, is looking forward to Saturday's testing six-pointer and revealed he thinks his game will benefit from the way the Seasiders play their football under Williams after making his debut against Ashton.

He said: "It suits me down to the ground. They try to play the ball early into feet rather than at Blyth when it seemed to be a lot of back to front. I spent the whole time going for headers really."