‘Sedge boss targeting Trophy upset with rotated squad 

FA Trophy 

Jonathan Rimmington plans to rotate his Liversedge squad for the showpiece FA Trophy third qualifying round tie with Scarborough Athletic at Clayborn but he’s still hoping his men can cause an upset.

The unstoppable NPL Division One East leaders have a few injuries and Rimmington has one eye on the forthcoming league fixtures.

But he feels his ‘Sedge side will be capable of knocking Scarborough out.

“As any manager would say, the league comes first but for the club the (prize money) funds come first,” Rimmington told Non League Yorkshire.

“I only have 16 or 17 men and we are rotating them quite a lot at the minute because we have a few injuries.

“We have a big week because we are away at Cleethorpes next Tuesday and we’re away at Frickley next Saturday so we have two massive games in the league.

“We are going to go for the win (against Scarborough) and we’re well entitled to say we’re in with a chance.

“I’ll be honest, they should really come and beat us because they have been at that level for a long time and they know what it is about.

“I know the players and I know the style of play and I know they’ll pass because Jonathan Greening will want them to pass and pass and pass.

“Will it cause us problems? Not if we are in our shape and we get back and do our jobs properly.

“We have things to hurt them with as well.

“I think it will be nip and tuck and exciting.”

‘Sedge have only lost one game this season – the FA Cup defeat at Runcorn Linnets. 

They have won 11 and drawn one of their opening 12 league fixtures – scoring 37 times and conceding seven and Rimmington explained their strengths.

“The reason we are winning games is because teams can’t stop us scoring,” he said.

“I say to them every week ‘listen we don’t concede a goal and we win the game because we are going to score’.

“Nicky Walker, Paul Walker, Gav Allott, Ollie Fearon, Joe Walton, Alfie Raw getting forward, Ben Atkinson getting forward – it is quite hard to defend against when you have all these runners coming from everywhere.

“Yes it does leave us open a little bit but we don’t concede many.”

The most remarkable aspect of the victories has been the fact ‘Sedge have encountered a heap of injury and suspension problems throughout the campaign so far.

“We still have Jack Steers and John Cyrus out long-term injured,” Rimmington said.

“They are two centre-halves who would be pushing to start every week.

“Jack Stockdill came back at Armthorpe after a four-game ban.

“I’m still looking for a left-back because we need a natural left-footer.

“It is not fair on lads who are right-footed who have had to play there.

“We are trying but it is hard work at the minute even though where we are.”

Stockdill has been sent off while Allott, Walton and goalkeeper Jordan Porter have also seen red.

Rimmington hopes the wave of dismissals is now over.

“I think they were red cards but they have been unlucky,” he said.

“They have all been away from home which is quite bizarre really.

“I’m concerned because I don’t want to go down to ten men and have to plug gaps.

“Some of our lads are a bit fiery but I think they have got it under control now.

“We have spoken to them all and I don’t want to keep harping on about it because it takes that out of them.

“They just have to be careful with what they are doing because some of them could be marked men.” 

The visit of Scarborough is likely to attract a huge crowd as the Seadogs will bring many over to West Yorkshire.

Regardless of tomorrow, attendances are going up and up at ‘Sedge and Rimmington is thrilled.

“We’re on with certain things at the minute where we’re trying to build a community base so we can get more people in,” he said.

“You then hopefully get more helpers and you have a sustainable project.

“We were working on crowds going up to 300 to 500 this year.

“The area is massive and there’s no-one else here is there.

“There’s Robert Town, Gomersal, Birstall linked around us and (the area) is probably bigger than Scarborough.

“In this area of Kirklees there’s 200,000 people and you look at Worksop, there’s 41,000 people in Worksop and they get 400 people watching.

“Local people are starting to come.

“There’s a supporters club.

“I go in my local pub and he’s got 30 or 40 people who come to home and away games. 

“These are lads who used to go to Bradford City.”