Emirates FA Cup
Ossett Albion manager Richard Tracey
Richard Tracey has given his Ossett Albion squad a warning: give a good performance or some of you will be going home on a tractor.
Albion are facing a difficult Preliminary Round test at Bamber Bridge, a week on since Bridge hitched a ride on a tractor to a pub after their coach broke down on the way back from Scarborough Athletic.
“Some of the lads might be coming home on a tractor if we don’t improve our performance,” Tracey joked.
@BamberBridgeFC coach broke down. Team, manager and fans got a lift in back of a farmers trailer to nearest pub 🍻 pic.twitter.com/AbRvPv3gfX
— Alan Bateson (@Alan_Bateson) August 13, 2016
On a serious note, Tracey knows his side face a big test.
“It doesn’t get any easier and it was Bamber away, Bamber at home and possibly Bamber at home sandwiched in between if we were to get a draw tomorrow,” he said.
“We can’t perform like we did against Tadcaster. We have to improve massively. It is a really tough place to go and we haven’t got a great record there.
“In my time at Ossett, I don’t think we have got a point there, let alone a result yet. That has to change this Saturday because I’m not happy with the way we have started.
“We have to go and get a result. You don’t have to win it on the day, we can get them back to ours. We are going to go there with the intention of trying to win the game though.”
Tracey has been unhappy with Albion’s displays in their opening two fixtures. Ossett had to come from behind to draw 2-2 with Clitheroe on the first day before the 3-0 collapse at newly-promoted Tadcaster Albion.
“I’m bitterly annoyed and disappointed at our last two performances because we set off pretty well and created chances, but not taken them,” he added.
“We then concede silly goals. Against Tadcaster, they dominated the game, but we allowed them to by giving them the game too early.
“When you look on reflection, we created five or six chances, we hit the post, the hit the bar, Bordy (Rob Bordman) should have scored a header.
“If you don’t take your chances against a side like Tadcaster, away from home, they’ll punish you.”
Stef Holt is a doubt after going off injured against Clitheroe. New midfielder Jack Stockdill has been ruled out for a few months because of a knee injury.
Pat Lindley also left for Sheffield FC last week.