Toolstation NCEL Division One
Luke Forgione admits Worsbrough Bridge have done really well to be sat in the top half but he wants his men to push on.
Based on where Worsbrough were when the ex-player returned to take the job in October 2020, champagne should be popped as Bridge sit ninth at the halfway stage of the campaign.
But Forgione is urging Worsbrough to not rest on their laurels – ahead of tonight’s humdinger with promotion-chasing Brigg Town at Park Road.
“We have 31 points and coming into the club last year the priority was and always has been to stay in the league,” Forgione told Non League Yorkshire.
“When we took over last year we were in a situation where they had no points on the board.
“Then we had a good pre-season and we started the season really well.
“We have 31 points from 19 games which is a good return for this club historically but not good enough for me.
“The club has moved forwards off-the-pitch and I think we have moved forward on-the-pitch but it is frustrating because we want to do well.
“I know we’re in and around the play-offs but we are trying to challenge the lads to be in and around them for the rest of the season.
“There is a perspective of where we were and where we are now but as a manager you can’t just accept that it is alright to win one, lose one and be inconsistent.
“We have to set standards and try to maintain those standards because if those standards drop next thing you know you’re five, six, seven in a row.
“For me there has been progress and it is always nice to think about where we have come from but…”
Like any project, Rome wasn’t built in a day and Worsbrough suffered a setback last Tuesday when Selby Town demolished them in a 5-0 victory.
Forgione agreed his men were not at the races.
“It was really disappointing,” he said.
“We conceded three goals in the first 30 minutes so it was an uphill battle literally.
“We were miles off it and credit to Selby, they were ruthless with their finishing in their finishing in the first half and more aggressive and competitive.
“There’s no doubts that Selby deserved to win.
“I said after the Rainworth defeat that it was our worst performance of the season but (the Selby display) was our worst.
“I talked about consistency the other day but we’re not getting consistency.”
Despite the defeat, Forgione retains faith in his young guns.
“I’m always open to bringing players in who I think will strengthen us,” he said.
“But these lads have put us in this position (in the league) so they deserve a bit of loyalty but they need to know they are not guaranteed their place.
“I think it is tactical where we need to help them out.
“We play a certain way and people said to me when it came to December, Christmas time, that we’d find it difficult.
“We are finding it difficult but I don’t think we’re playing the same way we did in the summer.”