Daisy Hill make the trip across the Pennines to face Route One Rovers at the Marley Stadium in Keighley, for a North West Counties League First Division North clash tomorrow (Saturday), writes Ian Templeman.

After last weekend’s scheduled fixture at home to AFC Blackpool fell foul of the weather, Daisy now resume their search for a first win in 2025, and are looking to complete a league double over their West Yorkshire opponents who fell to a 1-0 defeat at the Plumb Factory Stadium in September thanks to a last minute goal from Ryan Lockett.

The Marley Stadium has a 4G surface, and having had a free Saturday last weekend, Daisy manager Lee Hill explained that preparations this week have taken both of those factors into account.

“We trained at Bolton Arena last Saturday to get some minutes in the legs”, said Hill.

“Then during midweek, we have been working on some specifics, getting the ball moving and working on some patterns of play on a fast surface.

“Although having a break can be good at times, it’s important that we kept everyone and just to try and get some consistency in what we are doing”.

The season has not gone as well as many would have expected for Route One Rovers, who had a good first season in the North West Counties League last season, narrowly missing out on a play off place in the closing days of the campaign.

However, they currently sit third from bottom of the table, although they ended a run of four defeats without a goal scored with two good wins in the past week, the latest being a good County Cup win away from home on Monday evening.

Daisy boss Hill is wary of the threat that Saturday’s opponents can pose..

“It’s crazy to see Route One where they are in the league, but I always say when you are winning, winning comes easy, and when you are on a losing streak it’s hard to get out of that”, said Hill.

“They are inconsistent, although they are missing some players through suspension, and they lost one of their better players to Darwen last week.

“They might be a bit of a wounded animal, and in a way we can’t be sure what to expect from them.

“We know the way the play, they move the ball quickly and you have to be sure to track their runners, but it’s not something you can easily prepare for, we just have to make sure the lads are aware of it.

“We haven’t fared well in games this season where on paper we look favourites, and it’s time to make sure we don’t slip up again.

“It’s a game that has the look of one that will be good for a neutral to watch, it’s likely to have goals in it, both teams need a win and the first goal is going to be important.”

He added: “Route One have got goals in them, they play high, pass the ball well and if you don’t cope with that you get punished.

“We have to be ready for that, but at the same time we have to also concentrate on us, and make sure we play to our strengths”.

Kick off at the Marley Stadium is at 3 pm.