Evo Stik Division One South
Shaw Lane Aquaforce manager Craig Elliott
Shaw Lane Aquaforce manager Craig Elliott believes Coalville Town are the “favourites” ahead of the crunch of the Division One South play-offs final.
The biggest game in Aquaforce’s history is taking place at the Shaw Lane complex with them and Coalville competing for a place in the Premier Division. Shaw Lane won 3-2 against Lincoln United in Wednesdays’ semi-final.
“It is going to be a different game (compared to Wednesday) on Saturday because Coalville have some great players,” Elliott said.
“I would probably say they are the favourites because of the way they have played in the last few weeks. But we’re at home and it is a game to look forward.”
This week has been one of the toughest in Shaw Lane’s history because of their dramatic decision to withdraw from the Sheffield & Hallamshire Senior Cup, 24 hours before the final with Frickley at Bramall Lane.
This was because they were going to be forced to play the Cup final and semi-final on consecutive nights, a situation club chairman Craig Wood described as “unreasonable”.
The decision has divided opinion, but Aquaforce have received quite a lot of criticism.
“It has been horrendous and I have seen some of the comments,” Elliott said.
“I have known about the situation for a couple of weeks and it has been difficult on-and-off-the-pitch.
“There must have been a lot of people at the Lincoln game hoping we would lose. That goes without saying because at Shaw Lane Aquaforce we have a fanbase of people that love to see us not do well.
“Some of the comments I have read are disappointing, but that’s for other people to talk about. I’m a football manager and I deal with wanting to win games.”