Rothbury host Whitley Bay SC in Amateur Cup opener

Rothbury face a tough test in the First Round of the Team Valley Carpets Amateur Cup when they host Whitley Bay SC at Armstrong Park this Saturday (15/09/18, kick-off 2.00pm).
The Bay have only been beaten once so far this season in Division Two and sit two points behing the Coquetdalers with a game in hand.
Reds Joint Player/Manager Tom Macpherson has done his homework on the visitors and expects the Tynesiders to provide stern opposition.
"They have pace and a real danger on the flanks and are solid at the back. They have made an excellent start to the season, as have we, so we expect it to be another entertaining game down at Armstrong Park," he said.
Macpherson has been a linchpin in the Rothbury backline and he doesn't feel that the side need to change anything around for the Cup tie as their shape has worked well.

Heads you win: Reds joint player/boss Tom Macpherson.

"We won’t necessarily be making any tactical changes this weekend because I think it has worked well for us so far this season. However, we shall be working to erradicate a couple of errors that we identified in the Jesmond game this week, as we feel that the goals we conceded were poor from a defensive point of view." 
"We have identified the Amateur Cup and the NFA Minor Cup as competitions that we can have a really good go at - for example, if we win on Saturday, we are in a quarter final at home which would give us a massive chance. Saying that, we will be trying to win all cup competitions that we are entered in, as winning is a good habit," the former Alnwick Town man continued.
Macpherson also praised the strength in depth of the squad and said that some changes to the starting line-up could occur on Saturday.
"We will be making a few changes due to holidays and players carrying knocks but players who haven’t had loads of game time should also be getting some more minutes in the next two weekends. We have a strong squad this year so we have to use it to our full advantage. There are players who were main-stays last year who have struggled to get a game so far this season, and we will look to rotate where necessary."
Macpherson praised those that have turned out to support the side so far this season, and asked for another bumper turn-out to cheer on the side on Saturday.
"The club officials, and especially the players, would love another big crowd down on Saturday, it really makes a massive difference," he said.


MATCH SPONSOR: THE VALE CAFE, ROTHBURY