Toolstation NCEL Premier Division
Louis Axcell has rallied his Maltby Main players for a crucial set of fixtures during January.
Axcell – whose side host Sherwood Colliery tomorrow – wants Maltby to continue to climb the Premier Division and achieve further success in two cup competitions.
Maltby play Parkgate in the Sheffield & Hallamshire Senior Cup semi-final and Thackley in the NCEL League Cup and Axcell says they are huge matches.
“It is a key month for us,” Axcell told Non League Yorkshire.
“I said to the lads (at Mansfield) that if we can stay unbeaten during January we could be fifth or fourth and in a cup final and cup quarter-final by the end of the month.
“If we can do well in the cups it gives us something to fight for and will keep our season alive.
“We have been up and down recently and I am a little disappointed because the start we had was really good.
“We were up there in the top two or three.
“We need to be challenging in the top six and we’re going to try and concentrate on the cups and hopefully get to a final.”
Maltby started January with the 2-0 victory at AFC Mansfield thanks to two beauties from Reggie Waud and Johnathan Williams and Axcell was thrilled with the performance.
“It was a really good win and we were really good all over the pitch,” he said.
“We were solid.
“I was a bit worried before the game because we had the Penistone game called off with a waterlogged pitch and we’d only had one training session in between Christmas.
“It was a good start to the New Year and we scored two good goals.
“Johno has that in his locker and set-pieces and technique are two of his strengths.
“Reggie’s goal was good as well – a good half volley from the edge of the penalty box.
“I felt we could have had a couple more but then again they missed a penalty.
“Overall I think their management would agree that we were stronger on the day.
“(Mansfield) was one of our games-in-hand so we needed to win.
“We jumped from 12th to seventh, it is that close from fourth or fifth down to 14th or 15th.
“It breeds a bit of confidence and hopefully we can push on from here.”
Maltby went to Mansfield with a squad of only 14 because of various reasons.
Axcell normally travels with a small squad anyway but it is hard for managers at the moment because of the pandemic.
Until recently it was quite easy to postpone a fixture because of covid.
However, the rules have changed and Axcell isn’t impressed with the current stance of the league.
“We had a couple of issues last week and eventually the game was called off for a waterlogged pitch and it did not stop raining on the day,” he said.
“We struggle when (covid) happens because we run with such a small squad.
“I’ve spoken to a couple of managers who have had the same problem and the league have said ‘well you have 35 signed players’.
“I think the league need to look at it realistically because you don’t have 35 signed players who are available.
“People have dual-registered players, they have mates who help them out every now and then.
“These are players who play lower or higher on a Saturday and they’re just there if you need them on a Tuesday night if you’re struggling and if they’re not playing elsewhere.
“Some managers have some under 21s who are probably never going to play.
“We have 16 or 17 players who if everyone is fit, we pick from and it is a standard response (from the league) ‘you have 35 signed on’.
“It is just not realistic and I think there needs to be more appreciation of situations from the league.”
Axcell’s squad has been tweaked recently with the additions of strikers Damian Reeves and Jordan Turner and the Maltby boss says he’s happy with his group.
“We have just lost Brad Morton who had been with us a while and has gone to Hallam,” he said.
“We have signed Damian Reeves who made his debut at Mansfield and had a really good debut.
“He needs no introduction and has great pedigree from an outstanding Non League career.
“He’s come to hopefully enjoy his football.
“He strengthens us and we’re back to having 16, possibly 17 regularly available players.
“We probably need a few more, especially with things that are going (with the pandemic).
“But I’m really happy with the squad and we have a good balance of older experienced players and young players who have really stepped into the breach and done well.”