“We can do it” stresses Gall

Ade Olorunda, pictured here closing down an Arundel opponent last weekend, is likely to start for Rye United against East Preston tomorrow. Picture by Liz Pearce

The Quarterboys are preparing to visit an East Preston side which lies 16 places and 24 points above them in the Sussex County Football League Division One table.

Rye joint manager Gall said: “The pressure’s on East Preston to be fair. Do I think we can win the game? Yes I do. It’s a one-off game and anything can happen.

“They’re hot favourites and we’re going to have to be right on cue, but I’m more than comfortable the players I’ve got here can turn it on. It’s a matter of finding the right formula to beat East Preston.”

Although we’re only in early December, EP already appear to be well on course to clinch the league title having carved out a commanding 11-point lead with 13 wins and two draws from their 15 league fixtures to date. During that run, they’ve scored 41 goals and conceded just seven.

In fact, EP have lost only one of their 25 matches in all competitions this season and that was against higher grade Chatham Town in the FA Cup. They’ve come through their two FA Vase ties so far without conceding a goal, scoring five in the process.

Rye have the players to trouble just about any side at step five of the non-league pyramid if they click on the day, although they will have to show a huge improvement on the midweek league defeat to Horsham YMCA if they’re to trouble EP.

Ade Olorunda is set to come back in and Ben Billings will return from suspension, while Andy Atkin is rated 50-50 because of a rib problem and Andy Hales is struggling with the back issue which forced him to drop out of Tuesday’s match in the warm-up.

If you fancy a flutter on tomorrow’s game, Rye are available at odds of around 4/1. See today’s Rye Observer for the full article.