Scarborough Athletic boss Kelly keen to take derby day bragging rights ahead of Whitby Town clash

Scarborough Athletic take on east coast rivals Whitby Town at the Flamingo Land Stadium and Boro boss Darren Kelly is relishing the contest.
Boro v Whitby previewBoro v Whitby preview
Boro v Whitby preview

Boro go into the clash on the back of a 1-1 draw at home to Nantwich on Saturday, while Whitby Town, under new management duo Lee Bullock and Nathan Haslam, had the weekend off due to their game against Hyde United being postponed.

The hosts still have injury worries heading into the derby clash, but Kelly remains confident of picking up a positive result.

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"There are still a few niggles and knocks in the camp along with the long term absentees, but we're confident if we perform to our best we will pick up three points," said Kelly.

"Whitby are a good side and obviously have new managers, which usually creates a good feeling around a club and a bounce in results.

"They also have the benefit of having had the rest over the weekend with their game against Hyde being off, but we'll go into what should be a great derby game full of confidence.

"I have a great group of players who I have faith in and I know fine well they will always work their socks off for the side, but you'd expect that from a derby match anyway."

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Kelly is keen to see his side focus on the gameplan rather than get drawn into a derby battle.

"It's incredibly important to play the match and not the occasion," added the Boro boss.

"Hopefully there will be a great atmosphere in the ground and I'm sure the fans we're allowed to have in the ground will back the players.

"I hope we can turn up, put in a performance and give the fans something to cheer."

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Boro boss Kelly will cast his eye over skipper Michael Coulson and wing-back Josh Barrett ahead of tonight's contest after both were unused subs on Saturday.

"There's a risk attached with both of them every time you ask them to play," said Kelly.

"We will see how they pull up tonight and go from there."