NPL Premier Division
Lee Bullock says win, draw or lose, Whitby Town’s huge local derby at Scarborough Athletic this evening will not define the race for the play-offs.
Whitby make the short journey to Scarborough knowing a victory will propel them above Jonathan Greening’s Seadogs and into the play-offs zone.
“For the fans and the two towns it is massive, for us it is just another opportunity to go and get three points against a team who are on a really good run themselves and who are another rival and competitor,” joint manager Bullock told Non League Yorkshire.
“It is similar to the FC (United of Manchester) game as it is someone who is challenging us.
“So it is about can we go and put a performance on on a good pitch, good ground and in front of a good atmosphere.
“If we do we’ll be more than happy.
“The players are aware how important it is for supporters so from that point of view they have do the basics well and the standards are right.
“The football side will look after itself.
“Which team is better on the night has more chance of winning.
“The lads are getting their heads around that every game is a big game and if we want to get in the play-offs and we want to have a bash, we have to be strong and we have to go win these games.
“They have shown they can do it.
“But it isn’t going to define anything.
“There’s 13 games left and we are not going to win 13 games, Scarborough aren’t going to either and if they did fair play to them.
“It is three points and local rivalry, bragging rights, that’s what is at stake.
“Of course for the town we want to go and get the result.”
Confidence will be fairly high in the Whitby as they are in good form.
The Seasiders began 2022 in difficult fashion but wins at Hyde United and FC United of Manchester and draws with Warrington Town and Stafford Rangers lifted spirits.
“We had a dodgy start to January,” he said.
“We lost away at Morpeth and then we lost two home league games but since then we have won two, drawn two so we’re going into (tonight) four games unbeaten.
“You can’t think for one minute that you will win every game at this level.
“One, we have never done it, and two, no-one in the league is.
“For the second week running no-one in the top eight has won.
“You’re going to lose games, it is how you put it right.
“We know we could do with a few more wins at home but we have backed it up with three unbeaten games away from home and won two of them and drawn the other.”
The latest result was Saturday’s goal-less draw at Stafford, a point Bullock was delighted with.
“(The conditions were) similar to the week before,” he said.
“It was windy and it was a bobbly pitch and against a team who are big and strong and have a player with one of the longest throw-ins I’ve ever seen.
“They also have one of the best defensive records in the league.
“If a game is going to be 1-0 or 0-0 that was probably it.
“We were over the moon with the clean sheet and we just couldn’t unlock the door.
“We did create some good chances.
“We had a goal ruled out for offside and their ‘keeper made an unbelievable save in the first half.
“Second half, both teams had chances cleared off-the-line and that was about it for the action for the day.
“It was a good point.
“People expect you to go there and win because I know (Stafford) haven’t had the best form at home but personally I look at how well our lads defended and stood up to the throw-ins which went to the back-post.
“It was a good examination and defensively we were very strong.
“When called upon Shane (Bland) in goal was very good and we tried to make chances.
“It is not like we sat back for a 0-0, we were desperate to win it but in the end we’ll take a point and we were happy with a point.”
Whitby began the New Year with an injury crisis which has eased.
The arrival of loan players from Middlesbrough were helpful too and Bullock does expect to bring further brand new permanent signings.
“We had one game where we had one sub and myself and a goalkeeper,” he said.
“Lately Middlesbrough have been really good.
“We have Malik Dijksteel and Harry Green who have been first class in their performances and their attitude.
“They have given us another dimension of energy so we’re vey thankful to Middlesbrough and those two lads.
“We have a decent relationship with Middlesbrough and through the success of these two players I’m sure they would be willing to loan us more.
“It is difficult now (with recruitment) as you’re looking at non-contracted free agent players and if they’re not with a club already there is probably a reason.
“So it will be more the summer when we look to go again (on the recruitment front).”