8:20am Thursday 8th January 2009
By Rob Iles
SLIMBRIDGE boss James Cole has said his side won’t be taking anything for granted when they host Tuffley Rovers in the County League on Saturday.
The Swans are still top of the table after all of the division’s fixtures last weekend were postponed due to the freezing weather.
Tuffley are down in 11th place but Cole said: “It’s another local derby. We were lucky to beat them at their place where we ground out a result.
“On our own turf I’d like to think we can get the three points but we don’t take any game for granted.”
Slimbridge’s derby against Berkeley Town last Saturday was called off at around 12pm as the pitch was unplayable.
Cole said: “It’s frustrating because it’s another game to fit in and if we continue to do well in the cup we’ve got a lot of games at the end of the season.”
Berkeley boss Terry Stevenson was also disappointed the game could not go ahead but hopes that will work in his side’s favour.
He said: “We would have given them a good game but we could play them at the end of the season now when we’re stronger and better. If they have to beat us to win the league it could be very interesting.”
Berkeley face a tough encounter at fourth-placed Henbury this Saturday and Stevenson is hoping the weather will warm up so that the game can go ahead.
He said: “They’re a very strong side but I’m looking forward to it. After beating Chipping Sodbury it was a shame we had that break.”
In Gloucestershire Northern Senior League Division One, Dursley Town and Wotton Rovers will do battle in a local derby at the Rec.
Town, whose game against Cam Bulldogs was postponed last Saturday, currently lie in fifth place and are looking to get back amongst the promotion pack. On the other hand, Wotton are desperately trying to get off the bottom of the table.
Fellow strugglers Cam face a difficult game at home to Longlevens who were only knocked off the top of the table last Saturday after their game against Ramblers was postponed.
The Bulldogs are just above the bottom two at the moment but will go into the game full of confidence following their recent win against Wotton.
Sharpness travel to the Forest to play Lydbrook in what promises to be a tight encounter.
The Sharks are one point and one place above their opponents in mid-table but could thrust themselves into the division’s leading pack as they have games in hand on everyone else in the league.
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