Aspin demands more from Harrogate

Neil Aspin has visited the Arnott Stadium to look at the astro turf pitch

Harrogate Town manager Neil Aspin has told his team they need to improve if they are to progress in the FA Trophy.

They play Unibond League side Durham City on Saturday in the first round of the competition.

Aspin told BBC Radio York: "Durham are a good side. I think they're equal to teams in our league.

"Obviously there's the added problem of going to play on artificial turf but we need a result there. We've got to keep going and working hard."

He added: "A good result could spark us off and if we get that I'm sure we could pick up."

Aspin said his team cannot allow the surface at Durham City to affect them too much.

"I've played on those sort of surfaces in my own career. It's not easy. It does give an advantage to the home side. But you've just got to face it like any other game.

We have got a few problems and we don't have big personnel numbers wise

Harrogate Town boss Neil Aspin

"The difference from playing on grass is the ball has got to be played to feet.

"You've got to pass it. It's no good putting balls in to space because it'll obviously run away.

"But we've got to go, we've got to pass that ball and impose ourselves on the game."

Town still have a number of players missing for the game.

"We're still waiting to get Danny Holland back. He's progressing well from his [knee] operation.

"Justin Whittle's pulled his hamstring so he'll be out for a few weeks and Nicky Gray is injured so we have got a few problems and we don't have big personnel numbers wise.

"But I'm still expecting more from the players."