Having aced their UCL Premier Division opener, Holbeach United are hungry for more points ahead of an exciting Carter’s Park double this week.
The Tigers, who did nothing to dispel their tag of title favourites in a 6-1 trouncing of Peterborough Northern Star last Sunday (see page 38), welcome Desborough Town on Saturday (3pm) and Deeping Rangers on Wednesday (7.45pm).
Most will expect early leaders Holbeach to dispatch Desborough with minimal fuss, but Deeping should provide them with the first genuine test of their credentials.
Joint boss John Chand knows exactly what it takes to win the UCL title, having guided the Tigers to glory in 2013. But he’s warned his side to take nothing for granted against Ar Tarn this Saturday in what is the first full weekend of fixtures in the division.
“I’ve not heard or seen a lot from Desborough over pre-season,” admitted Chand, who is sharing managerial duties with Graham Drury. “I know they’ve got a settled side and good players.
“The likes of Michael Byrne have been top UCL players for a long time now.
“People will expect us to win and we’re in that position were we’ve been, rightly or wrongly, labelled as favourites.
“A bit like King’s Lynn Town and Spalding United before us, that means we’ll have no easy games. Every team will want to perform well against us and we’ll have to be prepared for that.
“But it’ll be nice to come back to Carter’s Park after such a good result on Sunday and we are obviously targeting maximum points.”
Whatever happens on Saturday, Deeping will offer a massive threat in Holbeach’s first midweek game of the season.
Always one of the best teams in the UCL, Tuncay Korkmaz’s Deeping finished fourth last term.
Players have come and gone at Outgang Road over the summer, but Chand insists it’ll be one of the Tigers’ toughest tests of the season regardless.
He added: “Deeping will be fighting for honours this season, make no mistake about that.
“Tuncay Korkmaz is a top bloke and a brilliant manager. His teams are always strong.
“We’ll set our stall out to get the win as always, but small margins normally decide these kind of games.”
Striker Tommy Treacher is Holbeach’s only injury concern ahead of the home double-header.
Fellow frontmen Lee Dube and Gary King are also pushing for starts after impressing as subs against PNS last weekend.
Follow @Andrew_Clucas on Twitter for updates from both Carter’s Park clashes.
SATURDAY’S FIXTURES (all 3pm)
Kempston Rovers v Boston Town
Deeping v Long Buckby
Harrowby v Wellingborough
Holbeach v Desborough
Newport Pagnell v PNS
Oadby Town v Eynesbury
Thurnby Nirvana v Cogenhoe
Wisbech Town v Harborough
Yaxley v Sileby Rangers
