Toolstation NCEL Division One
Glasshoughton Welfare joint manager Craig Wilkinson
Craig Wilkinson is delighted with how Glasshoughton Welfare have managed to turn their season around.
Four straight league victories prior to the midweek defeat to leaders Hemsworth Miners Welfare have propelled Glasshoughton away from relegation danger to a mid-table position. The highlight of the wins was the success at play-offs chasing Hallam. Welfare have received further good news as they have reinstated into the League Cup after Pickering played cup-tied Ash Hope in their third round clash.
“The first three of those wins were really good performances,” joint manager Wilkinson said. “The last one at Hall Road was no so good a performance, but we managed to grind out a result which we might not have done a few weeks ago.
“But, if you look at the league table and compare it to three or four weeks ago, it looks a lot brighter now. I think we came in with confidence that we could turn it around. We have brought in a few players. I thought we would pick up wins here and there, but four on the spin is fantastic and it is a huge confidence booster. The lads were gutted after the Hemsworth game because we didn’t make it five results.
“We have set a huge benchmark and that’s why it was disappointing to lose to Hemsworth. The confidence is up and if you are going to take a positive from Tuesday night then it is that they are top of the league and are probably going to get promoted and we weren’t a million miles away from them.
“We’re now in a funny position where we’re just lower than mid-table. What we have said to the lads is that we have to take the rest of the fixtures and build for next year. We want to move up the league table, but it is really about the building blocks for next season now.”
Glasshoughton’s poor disciplinary record, the worst in the NCEL, came back to the fore in two of those wins – against Grimsby Borough and Hallam. Andy Seed was sent off after less than a minute against Grimsby for a tackle, although the referee’s decision was very questionable. Club captain Jimmy Williams saw red at Hallam. Glasshoughton have now had over ten players sent off this season.
“Well if you look at the record on paper it doesn’t look good,” Wilkinson added. “I think we were unlucky with the first of the two sending-offs which was about 48 seconds in the game.
“They are not sending-offs that I am too worried about. If you look at the games there hasn’t been any malicious tackles or over-aggression. It is just silly little things which I think we can cut out. I’m not concerned about it. If it is something that keeps happening going forward then it is something to be concerned about.”
Glasshoughton host crisis club Hull United this weekend.