FOOTBALL

Paul Hollerans Brakes face midweek trips to North Ferriby and Hyde.

A festive double-header against Oxford City failed to raise the pulse but it is the midweek trips to far-flung Hyde and North Ferriby which have raised Holleran’s ire.

Last season’s fixture at Church Road produced one of Brakes’ poorest performances of the season as they slipped to a 4-1 defeat.

That midweek trip came as a result of rearrangements due to cup games, but Holleran believes that a Tuesday return could easily have been avoided.

“Some things just baffle you and I struggle to work the fixtures out,” said Holleran.

“There are enough teams around us to keep the travelling down yet we have to go away to Hyde and North Ferriby on Tuesday nights.

“Plus we’ve got Lowestoft on a Bank Holiday Monday and I know how hard it is to get to a holiday destination over the holidays.”

Brakes open their second season in the Conference North with a home fixture against Guiseley on Saturday August 9.

The West Yorkshire side are one of the favourites for promotion after an agonising play-off final defeat to Altrincham last time out and Holleran said the start could not have been much tougher.

“It’s a competitive start.

“Guiseley, for long periods, were the best side in the league and should have gone up through the play-offs.

“They’ll be a real threat again this year.

“But every game is tough. It’s a really competitive league and the standard has stepped up a notch again this year. We’ve just got to deal with it.”

Brakes start their pre-season campaign tomorrow with a trip to Stafford Rangers, which will be followed by the visit of Birmingham City under-21s on Wednesday evening (7.45pm).

Holleran will run the rule over a couple of trialists tomorrow, but says the opening few friendlies are all about getting back into a familiar routine.

“We’ve got most lads available and we’ll try and give everyone a runout.

“Some will need more minutes than others as they go away in the kids’ holidays.

“It’s all about getting them back into good habits and working hard again.”

 Meanwhile, Leamington’s friendly at Racing Club Warwick has been rearranged for Thursday July 31 (7.30pm).

It will be the final pre-season game for Racers, who also have home games against Coleshill Town (July 15), Coventry United (July 19), Bedworth United (July 26) and Rugby Town (July 29).