Toolstation NCEL Division One
Date for the diary: Emley boss Darren Hepworth wants his side to win promotion in April
Darren Hepworth believes second spot is firmly in AFC Emley’s sights as the promotion heads towards its climax.
Hepworth said on Christmas Eve that his side had an “outside chance” of capturing the runners-up trophy. That is now a real possibility as Emley are four points behind AFC Mansfield with a game in hand after continuing their unbeaten league run. That could be extended to 17 if they are undefeated at Winterton Rangers tomorrow.
Hepworth is convinced Hemsworth will clinch one of the promotion places and is backing his side to take the other.”
“There’s lots of fixtures in March and a lot of the top teams have to play each other,” Hepworth told Non League Yorkshire. “It is a real battle now and every week is going to throw up a cocktail of interesting games.
“It is a Division that you can’t take your eye off. It sounds like a cliche, but we have to take care of our own business and we’ll see what will happen.
“We’re in a great position now and on a great run. We’re 16 games unbeaten in the league which is great and it is that type of form that puts you in with a great chance in the final third of the season.
“I think we have a stronger chance than last season when we ran out of steam. I don’t see that with this team. On Saturday against Westella, you saw young Sam Scrivens and Alex Hallam come off the bench and that shows the depth we have in the squad.
“We have players that can change things. We are really positive and we stand a good chance of second spot. That’s what we are going for.
“Hemsworth got another great win last week and I hope they go on and do it. They’ve been the most consistent side and they’re up there on merit. In a way, I’m looking at Hemsworth as one of the two, but we’re after that second spot.”