Shaw Lane Aquaforce boss Craig Elliott expects the promotion race to go to the wire
Shaw Lane Aquaforce manager Craig Elliott expects a repeat of the dramatic finish to the 2012 Toolstation NCEL Division One promotion race next month.
Third-placed Aquaforce can go top tomorrow evening if they beat Grimsby Borough at Shaw Lane, but the race for promotion is so tight and similar to when Elliott led Glasshoughton to the Premier Division two years ago.
In 2012 Glasshoughton appeared out of the reckoning with four games to go before the Castleford-based team ironically beat Grimsby 9-1, infamous champions Handsworth (twice) and then AFC Emley on a see-saw final day.
At Emley, Glasshoughton were losing 2-0 until an own goal on 68 minutes gave them hope and before Steven Bennett popped up with a sensational double strike in the last five minutes to send Welfare up.
Elliott, who has signed right-winger Matt Outram from Maltby Main, said: “I’m not taking anything for granted because we have taken our eye off the ball in a couple of games.
“It’s Grimsby on Tuesday as far as I’m concerned and I can see it going to the last game. We have a couple of difficult games and so have other teams.
“When I was at Glasshoughton we got promoted with almost the last kick of the last match and I said to my assistant Daz (Smith) that I can see it going the same way.
“That day at Emley we were 2-0 down and then pulled it back before winning the game late on.
“With Glasshoughton four games earlier, we had a bad result because we got beat 4-0 by Rossington and we looked a little bit dead and buried.
“I can take a lot from when we promoted with Glasshoughton because it is about getting your head and staying calm. You have to remain patient and hold your nerve.”
The visit of Grimsby is three days after Shaw Lane’s last gasp 1-1 draw with leaders Cleethorpes Town.
John Cyrus was the hero with his header and Elliott hopes his side take full advantage of the opportunity that has presented itself.
“We’re still in it and we’re going to keep taking each game as it comes,” he said.
“The draw on Saturday gives us another great chance tomorrow night to go top of the league.
“We have had a couple of chances to go top over the last couple of weeks and we have failed to.”