NORTH Albury’s caretaker coach Craig Mannagh has played down the club’s outstanding record against Wodonga Raiders ahead of today’s clash at Birallee Park.
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The Hoppers have won their past five confrontations and last tasted defeat in round 14, 2012.
But Mannagh said previous results would count for little with both sides having dramatically different line-ups this season.
“It counts for nothing really,” Mannagh said.
“We go in with a clean slate.
“You look ahead and not back and our boys are just focused on getting the job done tomorrow.
“We just see a huge challenge ahead of us and the four points is all both clubs are after.
“History isn’t something we get caught up in.”
Although North Albury cruised to a 30-point win against Wodonga Raiders on a soggy Bunton Park in round three, both sides have come along in leaps and bounds since then.
The Hoppers are riding a six-game winning streak while the Raiders haven’t lost since they lowered their colours to Wangaratta Rovers in round seven.
Cresswell said the loss to North Albury was close to their worst performance of the season.
“It was one of our worst, probably that and the Wang Rovers game; they outclassed us and their work-rate was a lot better than ours.
“Hopefully we learnt from the loss.
“They beat us comfortably so it’s going to be another good test for us.”
Raider star Ross Tungatalum could be a different proposition on this occasion.
While he was held to a handful of touches earlier in the season, the speed machine is presently in red-hot form with successive bags of eight goals.
Hopper backman Liam Butler or tagger Ryan Polkinghorne look the most likely match-ups.
Cresswell said Tungatalum had been a revelation over the past month.
“He has the ability to lose people in traffic, hits up at the ball hard and is obviously lightning quick,” he said.
“You obviously have to be careful playing on him so close to goal because if you grab or retard him it’s easy to give away a free kick.
“He’s pretty hard to play on.”