SALTMEN joint-boss Wayne Oliver is worried that his side will go into their weekend fixture at home to Barnt Green Spartak cold due to a lack of game time.
Come Saturday’s Midland League Division Two game against 12th place Spartak, the Saltmen will have gone three weeks without competitive football.
And for Oliver, the fixture poses a real challenge knowing that his side have faced a lengthy break.
“We would have preferred to play Spartak without the lengthy break from football so I am slightly concerned we are going in cold” he said.
“Obviously we are disappointed that our fixture away at Fairfield Villa last Saturday was postponed but it was their call.
“However we did have a contingency plan. As Dudley Town’s fixture was also called off, they had a three-hour slot available on a 3G pitch and they invited us down for some training sessions and a practice match.”
The last time the two sides met, the Saltmen claimed a narrow 2-1 victory but despite Spartak’s poor league position, Oliver maintains nothing must be taken for granted as his side go in search of their ninth consecutive league win.
“We cannot take their current league position seriously,” he said.
“We need to be on our own game and of course, we will be looking to win so we can keep ahead of the field.
“It will be a tough test especially as they beat us at our ground last season in the league.
“I’ve known Spartak’s boss for a long time and he always puts out a decent squad so I think it will be a good challenge for us, especially as we have gone a couple of weeks without a league game.”
With title chasing Chelmsley Town involved in the Coventry Evening Telegraph Cup, the Saltmen have the chance to move five points clear of their rivals.
And Oliver maintains that his squad can keep the pressure on their title rivals.
“The three points are important as we would like to keep our position at the top of the table,” he said.
“In-form Sutton United lost at Coton Green last Saturday which helped our cause, but Chelmsley will have a serious backlog of fixtures as they have been involved in plenty of cups so we need to get the points to keep us in the mix.”
