Stocksbridge Park Steels manager Chris Hilton has described the visit of Tividale as a must-win game
Chris Hilton is demanding three points from Stocksbridge Park Steels’ clash with basement side Tividale at Bracken Moor tomorrow.
That is because Hilton believes the next few weeks can provide a further platform for the Steels to have a good season in the Evo Stik Division One South.
After an exceptional opening month, results have stalled for the Steels as they are currently on a three-match losing run in the league.
A win tomorrow could propel Stocksbridge as high as fourth.
Hilton told Non League Yorkshire: “After the Shaw Lane game (in mid-September), we then won 1-0 against Rugby.
“But, then lost 1-0 to Lincoln from a penalty, 1-0 to Coalville from a penalty and then we won at Clitheroe with ten men for half-an-hour.
“Clitheroe didn’t look like scoring and we looked solid.
“The performance on Saturday at Carlton was something out of the blue. I don’t know if we went there thinking it would be easy.
“We didn’t deserve anything, we were poor end-of.
“It is now a must-win game tomorrow. We have lost our last three league games on the bounce so we now need to get out of the habit.
“We are only three points off fourth place, but we are three points off 14th or 15th place which shows how tight it is.
“Teams who now win three or four games on the bounce can set themselves up to push for the top ten spots in the league.
“With the football we play and with a couple of additions, I think we are good enough to be in that top ten.
“If we lose a couple more we will be taking a couple of backward steps so that is why tomorrow is a must-win game for me.”
A positive this week for Hilton and Stocksbridge was the hard-fought Sheffield & Hallamshire Senior Cup victory at Hemsworth Miners Welfare.
The Steels surrendered a 2-0 lead, but Corey Gregory managed to score the winner for them.
Hilton was pleased with his side and also reserved praise for lower league Hemsworth.
He added: “I thought set off really in the first half-hour and we moved around really quickly.
“We went 2-0 up and it could have been a lot more. After that, all credit to Hemsworth.
“They moved the ball around, attacked us and caused us a lot of problems.
“We managed to get back in front and then it was a bit cat and mouse with each other. We attacked, they attacked.
“All in all, we got the win we wanted. It wasn’t as comfortable as we wanted, but I would say all credit to Hemsworth because I thought they were really good.”
Stocksbridge are without Lee Garside (injured) and Richard Patterson (suspended) tomorrow.
Hilton has confirmed that a couple of new signings are likely in the next week.
Non League Yorkshire’s charity tournament takes place tonight (Friday). The event is scheduled to finish at 10pm and you can pay on the door. Email info@nonleagueyorkshire.com or click HERE for further information.