By Neil Winsor

HALL Road Rangers boss Bill Gill has revealed his respect for their opponents Pontefract Collieries but admits his side know their weaknesses and will be looking to exploit them when the sides meet on Saturday.

The clash will see both sides looking for maximum points for very different reasons after they battled it out in an exciting rivalry for the NCEL First Division title last season.

Pontefract currently sit third in the league table, reached the fourth round of the FA Vase and have netted 94 times in their 25 league game campaign already and still harbour hopes of catching leaders AFC Mansfield, who sit at the summit of the NCEL Premier Division table.

“I love this fixture and it has become one of my favourite places to go, it is real and their people are very passionate on and off the field.” Gill revealed.

“I have respect for the managers and they both know how to get the best out of their players and they have recruited very well this season.”

Whilst the Rangers supremo was full of praise for a club, which having dropped in and out of the division in the last few years that are now challenging for honours, he believes he has enough knowledge of the weekend opponents to spring a potential upset.

“I went to see them play Pickering last week and hopefully we have taken enough information away to help set us up right and get something from the game.

They do have weaknesses we will be looking to exploit.” Gill also added.

After a tough couple of weeks off the field for Rangers, they are boosted by a clean bill of health for the trip, as they look to bridge the gap between themselves and safety which currently stands at five points with three games in hand over Harrogate Railway.

They may look to one individual’s moment of brilliance to spark a revival which has seen them win just one game in eight matches in all competitions.

With the side having leaked eight goals in their last two outings, a more resolute rearguard display will be needed so they can then use the quality they have going forward, to give them a chance and record another memorable away day following wins on the road at Handsworth Parramore, Thackley and Barton earlier in the campaign.

Gill will be looking to choose his side wisely with the plethora of options he has available as he closed with the following statement.

“We have good headaches with everyone available, and more so that I have to select the right personnel to get the job done.

That may even mean some one coming off the bench to change the game as time goes on.”

The game at the Harratt’s Nissan Stadium begins a busy run-in for Hall Road where they face eleven games in thirty-five days, and with eight of them at home, and also a trip to winless Clipstone, five wins in this period will give Rangers a real chance of staying in the division going into the final month of the season.