Evo Stik Division One North
Ossett Albion manager Richard Tracey
Ossett Albion manager Richard Tracey is closing on completing his summer recruitment drive.
Tracey has been very busy in the transfer market as he has signed nine new players – Joe Walton, Danny South, James Hurtley, goalkeeper Liam Flynn, Brad Dockerty, Cameron Rigby, James Kay, Ryan Farrell and Sam Robinson.
The only downside is that some of them have been unavailable – including South who is bizarrely banned after getting sent off in a recent six-a-side match.
“We’re trying to get two more over-the-line,” Tracey told Non League Yorkshire.
“Then that’s it for us. Part of the problem at the moment is getting some of the lads we have signed fit.
“Joe Walton is not fit, Danny South is currently serving a short suspension.
“We have lost five or six players due to holidays at the moment. We are happy with what we have got, we just want to get those two signed up.”
Ossett’s busy pre-season schedule continued with the 1-1 draw at Hemsworth Miners Welfare on Friday night. Tracey was content with the overall display which he saw.
“It was a good workout,” he said.
“We knew Hemsworth would be good and they would work hard and press us.
“We looked at two systems. One which we have used when we have played so-called tougher opposition in our league and I think we went into autopilot and allowed Hemsworth to have a lot of the ball in the first half.
“I would have preferred us to be more on the front foot. It was a bit of a stalemate.
“We changed the system in the second half to 4-4-2 and we could have scored three or four goals in the first ten minutes.
“We looked positive, got the first half. I also believed the header was over the line, but the linesman didn’t give it.
“We made a few changes and we got picked off at the end when we were tired. I think that showed. But I was pleased. It is always nice to come to Hemsworth because we get well looked after. Wayne Benn is a good friend of mine and we always enjoy coming over.”