Pritch: Conwy test is a mental one (From Northwich Guardian)

Witton Albion manager Brian Pritchard expects tough friendly test against Conwy Borough

4:34pm Friday 27th July 2012 in Sport By Andrew Simpson, Senior Sports Writer

WITTON’S players must pass a mental test when they play Conwy, says manager Brian Pritchard.

Albion cross the border tomorrow, Saturday, to take on the Cymru Alliance League outfit at the end of a week in which they have held two higher-ranked opponents to draws.

“We’re going into the unknown a bit,” said the Albion boss.

“It’s an opponent that we don’t know, so we’ll have to adapt out on the pitch. I expect it to be a competitive game, which is exactly what we need at this stage of our development.

“As a player, it’s easy to rise to the occasion when a bigger club comes to town.

“I’ll be able to learn one or two things from how those same individuals respond in this game, and the one at Trafford next Tuesday.”

Pritchard will look again at triallists – Sam Aspinwall, Rory Fallon and Jermaine Steele – that figured in the second half of Tuesday’s 1-1 draw with Stalybridge Celtic.

Full back Anthony Gardner returned to training last night after a holiday, but captain Anthony Sheehan, stopper Paul Booth and midfielder Steve Connors are away.

Newcomer Joe Shaw plays for the last time before surgery on his ankle on Tuesday.

Conwy have lost only one of six friendlies to date – their first, against TNS – drawing the past two at home to Llandudno and Bangor City.

Kick off tomorrow is 2.30pm.