Rilo's Season Review

Last season as a whole was a major disappointment to me. We fell at the last hurdle when we looked destined for promotion. I was also gutted to go out in the Vase to Whitehawk as if we'd had a bit of belief I think we had the beating of them!
Our ambition this season is the same as last season - PROMOTION! We seem to be favourites to do it this time but its going to be difficult. Our new signings will take time to bed in and we have lost two very valuable players from last season - Ledge and Skelly. I think it will be wide open this year and I expect Newton Aycliffe, Guisborough, Chester-le-St, Team Northumbria, Whitehaven and ourselves to all be challenging for the three promotion places.
The Vase will also be on our agenda as it helps to bring in much needed funds to the club.

As I have said previously the loss of a top keeper in Ledge and the skills (and banter!) of Skelly will be a loss. However we have high hopes of the new signings;
Danny Dixon (Keeper) - Looks to be an excellent shot stopper and good talker
Lee Donachie - Very solid centre half who has settled into the squad very well
Micky Dalton - Tough tackling midfield ball winner
Dale Mendum - versatile skillful left sided player
Lewis Wood - very skillful play-making midfielder
Anth Ormerod - brings in loads of experience from the pro-game
Mitch Morris - tenacious left footer with excellent technique
Adam Gell - great engine, tough tackler, excellent all round game

All of the squad worked hard both in training sessions and games. I never take much notice of pre-season results as usually both sides use these games to look at possible new systems of play or new players etc.

As I write this we have just drawn our opening game with Hebburn and we are preparing to take on Washington away tonight. The performance against Hebburn was very disappointing.
We looked disjointed and I cant remember a game where we created so few chances! In the end I was happy with the point that perhaps was undeserved. We have a chance to forget that performance and show what we can do tonight at Washington. Burto is on holiday and I am keen to keep my undefeated record in his absence! That goes for next Saturday's FA Cup tie at Hebburn too! We will have to greatly improve in both of these games to come away with the results that we want and I am sure that the lads will be up for it!

If we can overcome Hebburn in the FA Cup and Guisborough beat Armthorpe then that will produce a massive game for the club!