GRESFORD ATHLETIC must expect a reaction from Conwy Borough’s players, according to Steve Halliwell.

The Colliers head to Y Morfa on Saturday, where newly-appointed Borough manager Warren Gibbs will take charge of his first game.

Gibbs succeeded former boss Gareth Thomas after a dip in form saw Borough fail to win in their last seven league outings.

But, with his own side just below them in the table with the same points tally of 16, Halliwell expects fine margins to prove decisive.

“It’s going to be a tight game with both sides looking to pull clear of the teams just below them.

“The new manager coming in will give them a lift and we have to be ready for them to produce a big performance.

“That’s nothing new for us though - we played Denbigh and Prestatyn just after they’d appointed new managers and won both of them, so hopefully we can do the same again.

“They were in a sticky patch in terms of their form , but you’d expect their players to have a point to prove now.

“No doubt they’ll up their games to impress the new boss, so the timing of this game isn’t the best for us but we’ll just have to deal with that.

“Both clubs have got ambitions to improve their league positions quickly this season.

“It’s a game that could go either way and it could be that one bit of class settles the game on the day.”

A lack of goals has caused concern for Halliwell this term, but he has so far been frustrated in his attempts to recruit a new striker.

“We’ve been looking to see what’s out there, but nothing’s come of it yet, he added.

“But we have strengthened by adding a defender and goalkeeper in Liam Langford and Reece Airey."

Both new signings will come in to the squad for tomorrow’s game, though midfield pair Josh Griffiths and Tom Freeman are both out.