29/03/2023
By Chris Gibbs
There’s no two ways about it – last weekend was immensely disappointing just as it was surprising. Scratch that, shocking. After the high of the incredible come from behind win at Colne the week before, we were expecting more but it didn’t pan out that way.
But that’s yesterday’s news – well not literally but you get the drift. Our opponents on Saturday, Glossop, are scrapping for league survival and currently sit in the second automatic relegation position and are starting to run out of games to pull themselves away from the dreaded drop zone. Which makes them a dangerous if maybe desperate opponent.
We need to keep our heads and go back to the type of performance that earnt that superb 1-0 win over Clitheroe and show the never-say-die determination that got us over the line at Colne.
A win for us on Saturday – barring a hugely improbable four wins for Glossop in their last four games and four losses for us – means we will have avoided automatic relegation with plenty to spare and our first target will have been achieved. Keeping away from those relegation play-offs is the second objective but as the saying goes, let’s take one game at a time.
Training went well this week and the team are keen to get out there and show their true colours. Although last Saturday was a day to put behind us, it was also notable for Tommy Van de Laan coming off the bench, scoring and generally showing what we’ve been missing. Jake Lovatt made a welcome return after injury too and both are in the frame for a return to the starting eleven on Saturday.
Between the sticks, Joe Slinn is available again after serving a two-match suspension and will be vying for a place in the starting line-up. Another player to be in with a shout is Patrick Mazurkiewicz, who has impressed in recent spells from the bench.
So, it’s time to ‘press delete’ – as Robin described it to me last weekend in his post-match interview – and look ahead to another big game. Let’s do this.