Craig Elliott admits that it is the biggest week in Shaw Lane Aquaforce’s history
Craig Elliott admits the season has come to an exciting conclusion as he prepares for the “biggest week” in Shaw Lane Aquaforce’s short history.
The 1-1 draw with Nostell Miners Welfare has put Elliott and his players on the brink of clinching the Toolstation NCEL Premier Division title.
Worksop Town and Tadcaster Albion could still take top spot, but one win from their last final two games – against Cleethorpes Town and Glasshoughton Welfare – will secure Shaw Lane their place in the Evo Stik League.
Cleethorpes are first up at Shaw Lane tomorrow night.
Elliott told Non League Yorkshire: “You want it to be in your hands and it still is.
“That’s the important thing. Other teams would love to be in our position so that’s how we have to look at it.
“We have two games to do it, both difficult games for different reasons.
“It is going to be an exciting week and I suppose from a league point of view it is a fantastic end to the season.
“It has been a great race with Tadcaster and Worksop and for it to go to the last week, I think it deserves to.
“It is a week to look forward to and if you had said at the start of the season that we would need one win from the last two games you would have took it.
“We are in the hardest league to get out of in the Non League pyramid in my opinion and to have the chance of getting out of it, of course it is the biggest week in the club’s history.”
Shaw Lane will have to put in a better performance than the one in the Nostell draw if they want to beat Cleethorpes.
Elliott watched Cleethorpes’ destruction of Tadcaster in the NCEL League Cup semi-finals last Thursday and is well aware of their threats.
He said: “It is not an easy game.
“I went to watch Cleethorpes last week and I think they’re a fantastic team.
“I was so impressed with them against Tadcaster and they beat them again on Saturday so it shows how good a season they’re having.
“There is going to be a huge crowd and that brings pressure.
“But, we have to handle the pressure and rise to the occasion because no-one is going to hand us the win.”
Aquaforce have their captain Sam Denton suspended.
Stefan Holt is back along with midfielder Grant Darley, but Matt Thornhill is likely to be injured.