Duncan Bray believes that his and Nick Handley’s (right) Pontefract side are in better shape than it was in September
Duncan Bray claims Pontefract Collieries are a completely different proposition to when Worsbrough Bridge beat them twice in eight days earlier this season.
Worsbrough beat Pontefract twice – first in an August Toolstation NCEL Division One clash and then in the FA Vase at the start of September.
Weather-permitting, Worsbrough are due to host promotion-chasing Pontefract and joint manager Bray said: “They’re our bogey side and we have never had an easy game against them home or away.
“They have beat us twice this season, but our side then compared to now is completely different. We have probably only four or five lads from then and we’re certainly stronger in every department.
“I couldn’t even pull a squad together so we are in much-better shape than we were to face them earlier on.
“I even went on as a sub because we were using kids from the under 19s who I had never seen before and I was literally struggling to field a side.
“Thankfully we sorted it out early enough to be near the top of the league now.”
If the game goes ahead, a win for Ponte would plant them into top two. Victory and if leaders AFC Emley’s crunch match with Hemsworth finishes in a draw or is postponed then Collieries will go top.
Looking at the prospect of top spot and why Pontefract have been successful this season, Bray said: “I think we have kept a lot of the lads together and they have all gelled and they know each other’s game.
“We have goals throughout the side. The midfielders are all capable of scoring and our two wide players are our top-scorers.
“We have four strikers all capable of scoring goals. Our platform all season has been our solid defence.
“Getting into the top two would be a testament to how well we have done, especially considering the amount of lads we have kept.
“It would be good (going top), but the main thing is keeping going like we have been doing.
“If we are in the top two, it looks good, but the league isn’t going to be decided tomorrow.
“It is going to go right to the last four or five games. I think there is going to be six or seven teams fighting it out until the last month.
“I always thought the line was below Mansfield. Mansfield and Shirebrook are definitely going to be in the mix.
“They are both good sides who can put a run together of five or six wins.”
Phil Lindley and Craig Robinson are suspended.