Evo Stik Division One South
Stocksbridge Park Steels manager Chris Hilton says his team are going in the right direction
The message from Stocksbridge Park Steels manager Chris Hilton is finish the season strong and see where it takes us.
Three wins on the spin have taken the Steels to within five points of the play-offs. Stocksbridge also have two games-in-hand on fifth placed Basford United, but so do AFC Rusden & Diamonds and Lincoln United who both face the Steels in the next eight days.
“We’ve picked up nine points in the last week and results have gone for us,” Hilton told Non League Yorkshire.
“Now there’s a big chasing pack of teams who can all get in the play-offs.
“We’re not looking at that. We’re just looking at getting as many points as we can and if it takes us to the play-offs, fantastic. If it doesn’t, our hope is that we reach 70 points to get above last season’s 69.
“We’re going in the right direction. That’s three wins on the bounce and that is great.
“We finished strong last season and we’ve said to the lads ‘can we finish as strong as last season when we won eight out of last nine’?
“There’s a lot of work to do. We have the Sheffield derby on Tuesday, Lincoln on Saturday and then the short trip to Rushden & Diamonds next week. It is going to be hard, but we’ll give it our all.”
Hilton anticipates a cracking contest with Sheffield FC in Dronfield tomorrow.
He said: The derby should be a good game. Sheffield are a strong side. I know they have a bit of slump, taking out the 9-0 win (over Market Drayton last week) which was an astonishing result.
“Form goes out of the window in derbies, but the teams are evenly-matched. Jas (Colliver) has built a good, strong and mobile side.”
Josh Wright, who has lifted to Worsbrough to the brink of safety, has won praise from former Bridge manager Chris Hilton
Hilton has also praised Worsbrough Bridge manager Josh Wright, who has overseen a dramatic resurgence in the Barnsley-based club.
Worsbrough are on the brink of securing their Toolstation NCEL status for next season after a tremendous run of form, their best since the great days under Hilton who was the club’s manager between 2010 and 2014,
“Josh has done a fantastic job,” he said.
“I’m in touch with him and I’ve sent him a few ‘well done’ messages because he’s turned them around from a point where they looked doomed.
“They weren’t getting players in, the club was struggling, but he has managed to drag them through.
“When things aren’t going for you and players aren’t turning up, it is hard. I know that it can be demoralising at times so well done to him.”
Listen Again
Hilton speaking after the tremendous 2-0 win over Spalding United on Saturday