ATHERSLEY Rec host Wombwell Town in a Barnsley derby tomorrow from 3pm with both sides looking to get back on track after dips in form following impressive starts to the season.
Town are third with 39 points from 18 games. Rec were in the play-offs for much of the season but are now tenth with 32 points from 21 games – the halfway stage in the campaign.
Both teams go into the derby after defeats last weekend.
Town manager Karl Rose said: “I am delighted how well Athersley are doing this season. All the Barnsley clubs are flying.
“We know Rec work their socks off, that’s what has got them a lot of joy. They have got quality to hurt teams.
“We’re in for a battle in a local derby. We have a lot of respect for what they’ve done as a club and a team.
“We will be going to see a lot of friends down there but, from 3pm, it will be hell for leather.”
Athersley manager Paul Clarkson added: “We couldn’t meet them at a worst time. They are a wounded animal after some poor results, by their standards. Not only is it a big derby, they will be really up for it and wanting to prove a point after their last few games. It’s always a good game and a tough game. There will be bragging rights at stake and probably a big crowd.
“It doesn’t get much localer for us. Some of Town’s management team and players used to play for Rec, and vice versa. We’ve got Wombwell then Worsbrough Bridge in back-to-back games. They are two great matches for us but really tough challenges.”
Town lost 1-0 at home to Armthorpe Welfare on Saturday. While they are unbeaten away in the league, they have lost three of their last four home league games, including the last two.
Rose said: “It was disappointing. We’re on a bad run at home at the minute. Since we lost the first game after being unbeaten for so long, it’s just knocked us sideways. We need to work harder and smarter.
“We’re not playing too badly, just giving away silly goals and missing a lot of good chances. There is no way we should have lost on Saturday.
“Teams get in front then sit in and cling on for dear life. We should be able to break them down.
“We’d had such a good start. It’s the hope and expectation that kills you.
“We can’t expect to turn up and win games. I don’t think we have been doing that but we had such a good run then we’ve dropped below our standards.
“Hopefully it’s just a little dip.”
The loss leaves Town 11 points behind leaders Horbury Town, who are in the only automatic promotion place but have played two extra games, and five clear in the top five play-off places.
Rose said: “It’s a long season.
“You’re not going to play well and win games week in, week out. It’s important we get back to winning ways quickly.
“We need to go on another run now like earlier in the season. We’d have probably taken this position at the start of the season but it’s been lop-sided.
“We sailed through the games against the top teams but we’ve lost to a few teams a bit lower in the league.
“We’ve had a lot of injuries and suspensions which have taken their toll.”
Rec lost 4-0 at Wakefield on Saturday, a fifth straight defeat.
Clarkson said: “It’s been tough.
“We knew we had a hard spell coming up and we’re in the middle of it.
“We’ve had some really disappointing results in games we thought we could win but we’ve had some good performances like against Barnsley in the Sheffield Cup (a penalty shoot-out defeat to the under 21s).
“It’s hard when you haven’t got a budget. People come in and pinch your talent. We just lost our goalkeeper to Dearne and District.
“We have a young squad but it sometimes means we unearth talent for other clubs. There is only so long you can hold onto them.
“We’re buzzing to be tenth.
“If someone told me that at the start of the season, and that we would have 32 points in November, of course we would have taken it. We only got 44 points last season. But when you look at the games we haven’t performed in, it could be a hell of a lot better.”
