Worksop Town boss Craig Parry expecting tough test ahead of season opener

Craig Parry is expecting a tough season ahead. Pic by Mike Holmes.

Parry’s first league season with the Tigers begins at the weekend in front of the home supporters at Sandy Lane after opening the campaign with a 2-1 away victory against Anstey Nomads in the preliminary round of the FA Cup last week.

Parry stressed that the weekend’s game will not be easy and has stated that it will be good to see what level his side are at after a tough pre-season.

“I think it will be a difficult test; I think it is a very tricky league,” said Parry.

“In the league, this year, there are a few teams that are like us in what we are doing behind the scenes and there are teams who are trying to provide similar things on the pitch.

“It will be a tough game in a difficult league, and I expect a very tough test from Loughborough.

“It is a good start for us because I know they are a good side and I know what I am expecting from them and we will set ourselves up to counteract that and hopefully put our own spin on the game.

“We cannot expect there to be fireworks from minute one, there will be a lot of nerves around the place, but we will also have excitement around the place, with us playing the first league game since the start of the pandemic and all the worldwide problems and it sets us up for a fantastic game.

“It is a good benchmark to see where we are and hopefully, we can start the league campaign with a positive opening result and then move onto Tuesday’s FA Cup trip.”

Worksop curtailed their pre-season schedule with a 5-0 victory over Ecclesfield Red Rose on Tuesday night.

Parry made six changes from Saturday’s FA Cup triumph, and the Worksop boss has stated that the performance of some of those players has given him a selection dilemma ahead of the opening day.

Parry said: “The lads that needed minutes got them tonight and they have given me a few selection problems for Saturday which as a manager, it is what I want to have.

“I was delighted with us from the start and I was pleased with that and I was pleased with the standards from which the lads set themselves.”