Long way to go: AFC Emley manager Darren Hepworth
Darren Hepworth expects the Toolstation NCEL Division One promotion race to go to the final games.
Second-placed AFC Emley are one of the five contenders for the top two spots as the season prepares its last few hurdles.
Emley returned to winning ways against Eccleshill last week – a result that made history as they reached 76 points, the highest points tally in their ten year history.
Hepworth said: “I said to the lads last week that between now and May, we just have to find ways of putting points on the board.
“It might not be pretty, but at this stage of the season it is not about playing pretty football, it is about getting results.
“If we win 1-0 every week, we’d take it. We are now getting into a situation where teams are running out of games.
“It is so tight and that’s why it will change every week. There’ll be twists and turns to come.
“Two weeks ago we got rightly turned over at Rossington and the other teams took advantage. Then on Saturday, we got the three points and Clipstone lost and Ponte drew.
“Nobody is taking anything for granted and I think it will go right to the wire.”
Tomorrow is a potentially big weekend for the Division as leaders Pontefract host Clipstone, who still have two games in hand on Collieries and Emley.
Emley could take advantage of the pair playing each other if they win at Dronfield Town.
Hepworth added: “It is going to be a huge test at Dronfield because last time it was 0-0 on 90 minutes and we scored two during injury-time.
“It doesn’t matter who you play, Dronfield, Worsbrough, every game is a tough one.
“We have to concentrate on ourselves and in the dressing room, nobody is worried about what anyone else is doing.
“We’re focussed on our own business.”