Graham Nicholas believes Garforth Town can rank this season as a success
Graham Nicholas believes Garforth Town can rank the 2014-15 season as a “success”.
West Riding County Cup finalists Garforth have two more Toolstation NCEL Premier Division matches to secure a 12th place finish – starting tomorrow against Pickering Town at Wheatley Park.
Garforth have fallen well short of Nicholas’ pre-season target of winning the title, but for the club’s resources, the Miners have done well.
Town have won at Heanor Town twice, as well incredibly winning at Conference North side Harrogate Town in the County Cup semi-final.
Nicholas has been proud of Garforth’s efforts alongside the league position.
“Finishing 12th would not be a disappointment, but it depends on how you look at it,” said Nicholas, whose future as Garforth manager is set be more clear after the County Cup final at Valley Parade next Wednesday.
“If you look at my statement at the start of the season then it is disappointing.
“But, I’m learning and being realistic. Finishing 12th is mid table and you look at the teams above us and look how much other teams are spending in comparison to us.
“If you take the top ten they’re all paying more than we are so you look at the bottom half and we’re top of the table of the teams who are not paying much money.
“I would say that is a success. We will finish the season strong performance-wise and everything we do is building up to the final.
“For me if we can finish 12th or 13th it is a positive season on from last season.
“There has been inconsistency in the league form and we tend to turn up against the stronger teams and don’t perform against the lesser ability teams.
“I know why it has been inconsistent. We have to get regular training sessions because we have the togetherness with players who are playing for the club and myself.
“I’m privileged to be their manager and privileged to work with them
“We have a final to look forward and we’re concentrating on that.”
Garforth once again gave a top side a fright in midweek in the 3-2 defeat at Shaw Lane Aquaforce.
The Miners led twice and were only beaten by a Danny Frost goal in the second half.
Nicholas said: “We knew Shaw Lane were going to throw everything at us and they did.
“We did deserve a point and reflecting on Saturday against Tadcaster we worked hard enough for a point and at Shaw Lane the same has happened.
“We worked extremely hard in the first half and then come out for the second half and worked and competed.
“The second goal has gone in and we have tried to react by breaking quickly. It was a mistake by an injured player Jack McCarthy, who I was about to pull off.
“The ball got played to him and when he’s injured he’s going to lose that quality and he dwelled on it and they went through and scored.
“That’s what you get with the money they spend. They get prolific strikers who when they get half a chance they pull the trigger and score.”
Nicholas is expected to rotate his squad against Pickering as a few players are carrying knocks ahead of the County Cup final with Bradford (Park Avenue) next Wednesday.