Let’s get this show on the road: That’s the message from Penistone Church manager Ian Richards
Ian Richards wants Penistone Church to re-ignite their Toolstation NCEL Division One campaign tomorrow.
Penistone have had a difficult start having only collected one win from their opening five matches.
Although some would argue that the Barnsley-based side have faced some of the top team in the Division in Shirebrook Town, Hull United, Hallam and AFC Emley.
Church have now have an ideal chance to get themselves back on track with a home match with struggling Grimsby Borough – a statement that Richards agrees with.
He told Non League Yorkshire: “It is a perfect opportunity to get back to winning ways.
“I said before the game on Wednesday that we had nine matches in September and it was the perfect chance to get some points on the board.
“The great thing is that we have a great opportunity tomorrow to get three points at home.
“On paper we had a difficult start. Apart from the Hull United game the performances have been good.
“I stand by that, but it is a results business and we need to get some points on the board.
“We still have 37 games to play. We have played four or five teams who I think will finish in the top eight so there is no panic or pressure.
“There is no lack of confidence, it is just we start again on Saturday against Grimsby.”
Penistone were hopeful of getting three points from their visit to Emley in midweek until the stroke of half-time when Duncan Richards and Lewis Dickinson were sent off.
Richards said after the game that he wasn’t happy with the referee’s display, but did admit that his players should have known better.
Penistone eventually succumbed to a 2-0 defeat and Richards said he was really pleased with how his side saw out the game.
He said: “It was a respectable score-less and there are a lot of positives to be taken from it.
“When it was eleven versus eleven for the first 30 minutes I thought we edged it and played well.
“I thought it was going to be a close game and I was pleased with how we played.
“Going down to nine men with 55 minutes to play is a first for me in my seventh season in management.
“We tried to put a bit of belief in at half-time that we wouldn’t sit back and attract pressure. We went 3-3-2 and we got a few corners and other set-pieces.
“We didn’t embarrass ourselves and we kept the score respectable. I was proud of every single one of those players in the second half.”
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