Toolstation NCEL Premier Division
Penistone Church defender Brett Lovell has hurt his back
Ian Richards admits that he urgently needs some of his injured Penistone Church defenders back playing.
Four of his key men – Brett Lovell, James Young, Tom Brennan and goalkeeper Adam Rhodes – were behind the hoardings watching on as Church lost 4-3 to Staveley Miners Welfare on Wednesday night.
All four are injured and Richards says his side are really stretched.
“We’re missing four of our first choice defensive players in Brett Lovell, James Young, Tom Brennan and Adam Rhodes,” Richards told Non League Yorkshire.
“When they are all big players for you, it is always going to make it hard for you.
“We’re creating lots of chances going forward so I have no problems with the attacking sides of things.
“I just need some defenders back playing. Tom Brennan has hurt his ankle, but we’re hoping he’s out for four weeks maximum.
“Brett’s done his back. He felt in the last 20 minutes at Litherland and he couldn’t walk on Sunday and Monday. He’s knocking on a bit so we have to look after him.
“There is positives from our recent performances, but we want the best squad to pick from.”
The reverse to Staveley was FA Cup heroes Penistone’s third league defeat on the spin.
Whilst disappointed, Richards saw positives.
“Football is a great game, but also a frustrating game,” he said.
“I have no qualms about the attacking performance because I thought it was the best football we have played this season, especially in the first half.
“We moved the ball around really well and created numerous chances against a very good Staveley side.
“We sat there at 2-2 at half-time and we had an injury to Ash Ellis and that’s on top of Brett Lovell, James Young, Adam Rhodes and Tom Brennan being injured.
“We were stretched anyway at the back and because of that we had to go more attacking. We went 4-3-3 and did well, but then we gave them a soft goal to go 3-2 up.
“The fourth goal has killed us. It was a soft free kick and we should have really cleared it. We had a right go at the end. We chucked on strikers Andy Ring and Ryan Smith and we hit the bar, had one cleared off-the-line.”
Penistone make the short journey over to Rotherham tomorrow to face Parkgate, a side who are also in need of a morale-boosting victory.
“It would be great if we can get a win at Parkgate,” Richards added.
“Staveley are a well-established NCEL Premier side and they’re looking top six and beyond.
“We’re not quite there yet. Yeah maybe after Christmas we want to be there, but Parkgate are very similar to us and on par with where we are at the moment.
“It will be a real measure of where we are. It will be great to go to Parkgate. It is a bit of a South Yorkshire derby.
“They have been playing ok, but haven’t been getting the results so both teams go into it needing a result.”