Andy Preece says injury-hit Airbus UK Broughton can’t take anything for granted as they approach a run of four Welsh Premier League home games in three weeks.
The Wingmakers boss told the Chronicle he’s pleased with his side’s start to the season, despite two losses coming in the first three games.
The Europa League qualifiers are now up to fourth in the table after following Saturday’s 1-1 draw with treble-winners TNS at the Airfield with a 3-0 victory at Newtown on Tuesday.
The results came despite the continued absence of a string of key players.
“It was a good performance against TNS and that was really pleasing given our injury problems. We were more than a match for them yet again,” said Preece, who marked his 650th game in management against Craig Harrison’s Saints.
Four of the Wingmakers’ next five league games are at home, starting when newly promoted Haverfordwest County visit Broughton on Saturday (2.30pm).
Preece is eyeing a points haul which will propel his side towards the top, but is determined to guard against complacency.
He said: “We’ve had a tough start and we’ve come through against sides you’d say are among the top teams, but we can’t afford to take anything for granted. Every team beats each other in this league.”
Andy Jones and Ryan Wignall (both stomach) will miss out again, as will former Chester duo Wayne Riley (back) and Jay Owen (leg). Club captain Ian Kearney began training with the youth team this week after almost a year on the sidelines.
Preece said: “If we can get a few back we’re going to be really strong and we’ll have more options. It’s positive looking forward, we just need to get through this run and pick up as many points as we can under the circumstances.”
Tony Gray claimed his fourth goal of the season against TNS, cancelling out former Chester FC forward Michael Wilde’s first-half opener with a glancing header from skipper Tom Field’s pinpoint free-kick with eight minutes remaining.
“We had a go at them as usual and despite being the better side in the first 15 minutes they got on top and caused us a lot of problems,” admitted Preece.
“We had to change things at half-time and went a bit more defensive, and we then had the better of the games and created the better chances. We should have had a penalty too. I’ve lost count of the number of penalties we should have had against TNS, but we got the equaliser anyway so fortunately it didn’t cost us this time.”
At Newtown on Tuesday, Gray’s first-half brace put Airbus in control before Matty McGinn added a third late on.
