Andy Holloway “fully expects” his Old Albanian side to beat Richmond when the two sides meet at Woollams Playing Fields on Saturday, 3pm kick-off.

Both sides are recent graduates of National League Two North, having come up together at the end of the 2011/12 season. OAs finished above Richmond after the first year but they switched places at the conclusion of the next campaign.

This term, head coach Steve Hills has seen his side to seven wins from 10 games. They sit in fifth, nine places ahead of OAs, who lost their opening eight games.

The last two weeks have seen a turnaround in fortunes, though, and back-to-back wins have given OAs a head of steam.

“They’ve had a cracking start to the league, the polar opposite of us, but if we get our act together and the lads bring the same attitude that they have been then we’re more than capable of getting a result,” said Holloway.

“A win for us may look like a shock from the outside looking in but the performances of the last three or four weeks are what we’re about, rather than the five or six that preceded them.”

After encouraging displays in losses to Fylde and Blaydon, OAs dominated Wharfedale before grinding out a 14-8 win against Cinderford in their last outing.

“I knew these performances were coming. We just needed to get over the line once – that gave the lads a massive boost,” said Holloway.

“Nothing has really changed over the past four weeks except the scoreline, and that’s all down to the players. Their performance levels have gone through the roof. If they can continue that then I expect us to beat Richmond.”

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