OTLEY Town will be targetting a successful league campaign following the disruptions they had to endure in the previous two Covid hit seasons.

It was a difficult period for all non-league clubs when the pandemic hit, and for those involved in a curtailed season, like Otley, it may have hit even greater.

The Oranges had a dream of gaining promotion to the West Yorkshire Association Football League Premier Division, however their attempts were cut short due to the stop-start nature of football during these strange times.

Town will give at another go this season though, and they have started brightly.

Out of the eight games played, they have lost three and won five, their most recent victory coming at home to East End Park WMC First on Saturday, the side sitting directly above them in fourth.

And now the new season is into the swing of things, Otley manager Richard Suddes, hopes his side can reap the rewards for their impressive start, especially because of how the last two seasons have panned out.

He said: "There is confidence across the staff and players that this year we will get a full season, rather than the stop start campaigns we've had in the previous two years.

"With that, it gives players and staff the commitment to push for positive results rather than thinking what if and will this game actually matter.

"So, I think there is real positivity around the season continuing. I also think that for some teams, like ourselves, we want to do ourselves justice.

"We feel like over the last couple of seasons, we've been on the harsh end of the Covid breakdowns in the leagues and some of the decisions that have been made.

"But we've started really well this season and hopefully we can keep the momentum going.

"Obviously there was a two game period where we picked up a couple of losses in quick succession against Shelley and Aberford, but we seem to be back on track now and it would be nice to continue to push up the table."

Otley do find themselves fifth in the current league standings and face a trip to Featherstone Colliery next weekend, but this Saturday, attention will be turned to the Wes Riding Challenge Cup, where they will host Gomersal and Cleckheaton.

Ahead of the fixture, Suddes is under no illusion of the task his side will face.

He said: "It will be tough challenge, it always is when you are coming up against what is a Premier Division side and a newly promoted Premier Division side.

"We know plenty about Gomersal and Cleckheaton and they'll enjoy coming to us, I'm sure of it but we've got a good squad and we will try use our squad as effectively as possible.

"We do always look forward to County Cup days because it presents the players with an opportunity to enjoy themselves and express themselves in a different competition."

Suddes added: "Our mentality will be to win as many cup games as possible but we won't be taking this tie for granted. We won't be changing too much though and we'll look to impose ourselves on them."