Evo Stik Division One South
Stocksbridge Park Steels manager Chris Hilton
Chris Hilton has hailed his Stocksbridge Park Steels players for remaining unbeaten during October – a run that has put them firmly in contention for the play-offs.
The Steels won twice in the league, while drawing the other two matches 0-0. They also progressed through two rounds of the FA Trophy.
Stocksbridge had to play catch-up last season in their bid to reach the play-offs, whereas this season they are in the mix – which pleases Hilton ahead of the visit of Leek Town tonight and then AFC Rushden & Diamonds on Saturday.
“Everyone has done their job in October which was a hard month, but November is a hard month too,” Hilton told Non League Yorkshire.
“October couldn’t have gone any better. If you say you’ll go a month undefeated you would take that straightaway.
“It is definitely the strongest position we have been in since I’ve been at Stocksbridge.
“We said we wanted to be in or there abouts towards Christmas. We haven’t got a backlog of games either.
“We have also played more away games so we have a lot of home games to come which is a slight advantage.
“If we can turn the next two home games into wins, it will put us in a very good position.”
Stocksbridge beat Lancaster in the FA Trophy first qualifying round on Saturday, which sets up a tie away at Kidsgrove Athletic.
Under former Worsbrough boss Hilton, the Steels have developed a love affair with the competition having got the first round proper last season.
“I don’t know why we seem to do well in it, we can’t win an FA Cup game which might be because the game comes too early in the season,” he said.
“For some reason we seem to like the FA Trophy. The chairman’s happy because the club has earned a few quid out of it.”