NPL Division One East
The ten-day break in July has contributed to the mixed start Pontefract Collieries have had.
That’s the view of Colls chief Craig Rouse whose side have lost two and won one of their opening three league games.
Ponte were enjoying a fantastic pre-season until an outbreak in mid-July blew a hole in preparations for the new campaign and Rouse pinpoints the subsequent break as a reason for the indifferent results in the past two weeks.
“It is only pre-season but I thought we were starting to look like things were coming together,” Rouse told Non League Yorkshire.
“When we came back from the break I think we won one in four so straightaway you’re not on the back-foot and the momentum has gone.
“The break has affected us.
“You schedule your pre-season to be full-on and you schedule it to be timed right so you are at peak-fitness when you come to the season.
“Unfortunately we had a ten-day break.
“You may say it is only ten days but then people were contracting the virus later and that was another ten days from the test date.
“So we had players out for two or three weeks and when you take two-or-three weeks out of a pre-season schedule it is a massive loss.
“I think we’re taking a bit of time to get to where we need to be.
“We need to get there quickly.
“I said to the players that it is a problem if we know people are going to fade after 75 or 80 minutes.
“They need to take care of their own situations and make sure they are fit.”
Their most recent result was the 2-1 defeat to Cleethorpes Town on Tuesday night at Beechnut Lane.
Ponte also lost on the opening day at home against Ossett United before winning away at Pickering Town in midweek.
Rouse thought Ponte had turned the corner on their pre-season difficulties after winning at Pickering but that has proved not to be case.
“It is not ideal two defeats in three league games,” he said.
“Because of the one win away from home in the league and the win in the FA Cup (at Goole AFC) it made us feel we were starting to build some momentum.
“With having three games in eight days we had to make six changes (on Tuesday night) and we faded a little bit (towards the end).
“It is not an ideal start but we have to dust ourselves down and get on with.
“There’s no hiding from it.”
In the run-up to the opening weekend, many managers spoke of their excitement about the league and how competitive it is.
No-one was able to identify an outright favourite – but Rouse believes even after just two weeks, the runners-and-riders are starting to emerge.
“I think you’ve seen two or three who are going to be up there,’ he said.
“It is going to be nip and tuck and covid could play a part if players go into isolation and because we haven’t played for so long players could pick up muscle injuries.
“It is too early to see if anyone is going to run away with it but I think we are starting to see signs of who could put a run together.”
Pontefract visit Dunston this weekend.