Hemsworth manager Wayne Benn believes Shelley will want to make a big statement
Wayne Benn has warned his young Hemsworth Miners Welfare players not to under-estimate ambitious West Yorkshire League outfit Shelley tomorrow.
Hemsworth will host Shelley in the Sheffield & Hallamshire Senior Cup third round and Benn says his team have to “approach” the game in the right way.
He told Non League Yorkshire: “It’s a massive banana-skin.
“Any team that you play from a lower level is a banana-skin and I’m no different to other managers, you see it as an opportunity.
“We want to do well in the competition. Athersley showed last year that smaller teams can go really deep in this competition.
“Equally we need to get squad members time on the pitch as well. We are going to have to mix it up a little bit.
“I want to mix it up a little bit, but I’m also confident that although they are a club on the up with big ambitions and big plans, in my own team and have total belief in them.
“I think if we made two changes or ten changes that we could give a really good account of ourselves.
“We’re at home, we will be doing the pressing, but you’re right, if we don’t approach it properly then we could be heading for an early exit and that’s not what we want.”
Shelley are currently eighth in the West Yorkshire League Premier Division table, but the Huddersfield-based club have big ambitions of reaching the NCEL.
Shelley are led by former Huddersfield Town chairman Graham Leslie and ex Bridlington Town manager Ash Berry.
Benn admits that Shelley will be looking to make a statement.
“For any team from a lower Division, you’re a scalp,” he added.
“It’s no different to us in the FA Cup or Vase. If you’re playing a team from a higher league, it is a chance to prove yourself.
“Prove that you have players who are capable of stepping up at different levels. I’m sure Shelley will want to try and come and say ‘yeah we’re the lower ranked team, but this is what we’re about’.
“I have to tell that they are coming to a team full of confidence. Young kids who are full of desire and are eager to learn and improve.
“They are going to have it tough on Tuesday, we’ll make sure of that.”