WOODHOUSE Grange captain Andrew Bilton is putting his side under no pressure ahead of tomorrow’s game against York.

Victory over the ‘big boys’ would, of course, be a feather in the cap for his side but Bilton is a realist.

Challenging for honours at the top of Yorkshire Premier League North is unlikely.

Winning the ‘mini-league’ at the opposite end of the table is what it is all about.

“Our aim this season is the same – to avoid relegation and stay in the division,” said the experienced opening batsman.

“We don’t ‘pay’ anyone to play and we are in a mini-league with a few other clubs.

“If we win the mini-league, we could end up around sixth – which would be great – but if any team in this league goes on a bad run, they can be sucked into trouble – apart from York, Harrogate, and the Yorkshire Academy!

“So our real aim is to simply finish outside the bottom two.” he said.

“And I would think that’s the same for all ex-York Senior League clubs including Easingwold, Acomb, and Clifton Alliance.”

With 10 points from their opening four games, Woodhouse Grange are currently ninth in the table.

Their only victory came against bottom club Easingwold and they were beaten last week by champions Harrogate.

“We are winning the games we expect to be competitive in – and that’s very important,” said Bilton.

“It doesn’t get any easier for us this week,” he quipped.

“York are covered in just about every position.

“They can call on Yorkshire players and have two very good spinners in (Daniel) Woodsy and (Tom) Pringle.

“It is always a tough game when we go there.”

Bilton admits that Woodhouse were unable to strengthen their side this winter, saying: “We haven’t changed much although not through the want of trying.

“I just don’t think players were moving about as much this winter. But we got a couple of young lads in from the second team – Nathan Saltmer, Tom Stubley, and Ben Burdett.”

York will be seeking a rapid return to winning ways after suffering their first defeat of the season, last weekend, against Yorkshire Academy. That result saw York replaced at the top of the table by champions Harrogate who maintained their winning start against Woodhouse Grange.

“We were obviously very disappointed to lose but congratulations to Yorkshire Academy who were excellent,” said York captain Daniel Woods.

“We are pleased with how we bounced back against Driffield on Sunday in the National Club Championship (for a full report – see right) and we must look to maintain our good home record against Woodhouse.”

Tom Friend and Matty Bell return at the top of York’s batting order.

Joe Ashdown is injured and Peter McDermott is unavailable.Tom Brooks will keep wicket.

Leaders Harrogate are expected to make it five wins out of five when they visit Easingwold.Third placed Scarborough, who also lost for the first time last weekend against Stamford Bridge, host fourth placed Yorkshire Academy.

Fifth-placed Clifton Alliance host Driffield Town and Stamford Bridge visit struggling Hull. Acomb host Sheriff Hutton Bridge.