WORSBROUGH Bridge have turned their season around dramatically in October and are not ruling out catching up with the three other Barnsley sides who are currently in the top five.
The Briggers did not win any of their first nine league games, scoring no goals in their opening four and just four times in their first eight, while they were seven points adrift of safety at one point.
But they have won all four games in October, scoring 14 goals, including a 3-2 success on Saturday at South Leeds who had just won at high-flying Wombwell Town.
They have 16 points from 13 games so are four points and five places clear of the three-team relegation zone in 15th.
Manager Lee Morris said: “We had a very difficult start to the season, with a lot of players leaving in pre-season and three broken legs, other injuries, and the season starting so early that a lot of people were on holiday.
“It was one of the most frustrating times I have had in management.
“But we all kept believing. I knew, once we got players signed and back, it would turn but I probably didn’t expect four wins in a row. I am not sure when the last time was that Worsbrough did that.
“We were losing to Nostell but came back to get the first win which was a turning point. We’ve been scoring loads of goals and showing a lot of resilience to come back after going behind a few times.”
Bridge are 13 points behind the current top five, which contains their Barnsley neighours Athersley Rec, Wombwell Town and Dearne and District.
But they have games in hand on most teams above them with 29 to play.
Morris said: “We gave ourselves a mountain to climb but it’s a long old season with a lot of points to play for.
“The team we have shouldn’t be looking down, we should be looking up. That’s what the lads have been told.
“We just want to climb that table as fast as we can and see where it takes us.
“Rec, Dearne and Wombwell Town all doing really well, which is great for Barnsley.
“We want to be part of that.
“We will try to get as close to them as we can and try to get ourselves in the race for the top five.”
At South Leeds, Lewis O’Connor and Lloyd Smith put Bridge 2-0 up at half-time then Keelan Grist netted seconds after the interval. The hosts pulled two back.
Morris said: “I watched them against Wombwell and they looked a really really good team.
“We came up with a gameplan which the lads executed brilliantly.
“We went 3-0 up then lost two of the back four to injury within five minutes which unsettled us. We conceded two but showed good mental strength to get a massive win.”
Wombwell Town bounced back from their first league loss of the season by winning 2-1 at Swallownest on Saturday.
After a goalless first hour, Joshua Nodder and Daniel Youel put Town 2-0 up before a late consolation.
Town’s home game with Selby Town – abandoned earlier in the season due to a serious injury with the visitors 2-0 up on 78 minutes – is due to be replayed on November 5.
Wombwell are second, six points off leaders Horbury, with two games in hand, and above third-placed Dearne and District – who have played three extra games – on goal difference.
Dearne won 5-2 at home to Ilkley, having stormed into a 5-0 lead on 47 minutes.
Brandon Burke scored three with Jamie Austin and Justin Circuit also on target.
Athersley Rec drew 0-0 at home to third-bottom Nostell MW on Friday night in front of a crowd of 262.
The Penguins are fifth with 29 points from 15 games.
