The Hunter River Times

BY ALEX TIGANI

Singleton Strikers first grade coach Mick Jarvis has confirmed his men have returned fitter and with more intensity ahead of their season opener against Cessnock.

The Northern League One contender will play two more trial matches against NPL side Lake Macquarie and Mid North Coast premier Forster.

“I’d like to think that if we get it right and our attitude is right hopefully people will take notice of what our intentions are for the year,” Jarvis told The Hunter River Times.

“We don’t want to win 6-0 and 5-0 in the pre-season with our chests hanging out, we want to know where the holes are and what we need to fix and work on.”

The Strikers’ will travel to Turner Park to open their season against Cessnock on Sunday, February 26.

The season will go for 27 rounds with three byes per side following the promotion of New Lambton to the NPL.

The Strikers have already lifted the pre-season standard with 12 sessions before Christmas and trial matches against NPL sides Valentine and Cooks Hill.

Both were tight 1-0 defeats at first grade level while Julia Weir’s reserve grade side celebrated a 2-1 win against Valentine thanks to a long-distance Brock Hanson goal.

“I want to keep the players accountable and myself accountable and it shows in those clashes against NPL clubs that nothing changes on our end,” Jarvis concluded.

“Joel Barner is looking fantastic, last year he had the injury the year prior so same with Coxy he came back ginger to pre-season last year.

“Now this year he is doing the extras and starred in our intraclub match on Saturday.

“I said to Julia that it is really encouraging to hear them talking about wanting to win the Cup again.”

The Strikers’ first grade side will play Lake Macquarie at 5pm this Saturday after their reserve grade go to battle at 3:30pm.