Non-league: Club boss calls for spirit of Shaw Lane

Sheffield FC boss James Colliver has called on his side to show the same spirit on display in the draw with promotion-chasing Shaw Lane Aquaforce against relegation-threatened Loughborough Dynamo tomorrow.
Sheffield FC manager James ColliverSheffield FC manager James Colliver
Sheffield FC manager James Colliver

Club held title outsiders Aquaforce to a 1-1 draw on Tuesday evening and Colliver believes a similar performance should ensure victory over second bottom Loughborough in what he expects will be a tough test.

“They’re a bit like us in as much as they’ve got a new manager in and have just come off the back of a good result last week,” he said.

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“They will look at us and our results and think they can pick up three points.

“But if we show what we did in the second half against Shaw Lane then I think we’ll come away with the points.

“It’s never that simple though in non-league football. The players have to juggle full time jobs with playing football so you’re not going to get the lads performing consistently in every match throughout the season.

“What we need to do between now and the end of the season is approach each game in the same way by applying ourselves in the right way and making sure we stay in the game.”

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Midfielder Alex Calley and defender Lee Cooksey are Club’s only doubts for the trip after both being withdrawn against Shaw Lane.

Stocksbridge Park Steels renew acquaintances with runaway leaders Stafford Rangers just one week after being edged out in a 2-1 defeat at Bracken Moor.

Steels will be out to avoid a third consecutive defeat in what has been a difficult eight days with the 2-0 loss at Newcastle Town in midweek.

But boss Chris Hilton was buoyed by the performance against Stafford a week ago an felt his side did enough to get something from the game.

He said: “I thought we deserved a draw at least.

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“Their manager said the same afterwards which is nice but it doesn’t make it any easier when you’ve lost.

“I thought at 1-1 we had a chance to win in. We had them rattled.

“But they’re a good team, that’s why they’re up there at the top.

“We’ll go to their place and give it our all once again and hopefully this time get something out of the game this time.

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“We’ll look to change things around a little bit as we don’t want to be predictable.”

Hilton will be forced into making defensive changes with full back Josh Meade and skipper Liam McFadyen ruled out which has prompted a move to make a loan signing ahead of Saturday’s trip.

After seeing their outside title hopes dented following the draw at Sheffield, Shaw Lane Aquaforce host play-off chasing Rugby Town in a game staged at Frickley.

The Ducks know nothing less than maximum points will be good enough to keep their feint title dream alive as they sit 15 points adrift with four games in hand.