Holbeach United boss Phil Barnes admits that this weekend’s derby game with Pinchbeck United doesn’t carry much extra significance for his side.
The Tigers, whose traditional derby games have been with Spalding United, Boston Town and Wisbech Town over the years, face South Holland neighbours Pinchbeck at Carter’s Park on Saturday (3pm).
The Knights have only been an Uhlsport UCL Premier Division rival for Holbeach over the past three seasons after the impressive rise up the divisions, but have struggled at the wrong end of the table in recent years.
Barnes, who has yet to see his side win in five games so far this season, has struggled with player availability so far this campaign and isn’t expecting to be at full strength on Saturday, either. But he’s still confident there will be enough ability in his squad to break that winless run this weekend.
“Of course you always want to win local derby games,” said Barnes. “It’s not really one of our traditionally big derby matches, though.
“Perhaps because we’ve only been in the same league for a few years and they’ve traditionally been at the bottom end, while we’ve been a lot higher.
“The bigger games for us were always Spalding and Boston Town or even Wisbech.
“Maybe that rivalry will come, but for now it’s just another game for us if I’m honest.
“What we do want to do is get that first win of the season on the board.
“The UCL is much tougher this year and you don’t want to be going too long without a win.
“We don’t want to get stuck down towards the bottom early on, it can have an adverse effect on your entire season.
“We’ve suffered all season with selection problems and I don’t think I’ve really been able to name a full strength side yet. I’ve spoken to other managers and they are having the same problems, it has just been a tricky start to the season for lots of different reasons.”
Holbeach had hoped to tie up a deal for Peterborough Northern Star’s Calum Madigan, but that deal won’t be going ahead after talks with the player.
