NPL Division One East
Pontefract Collieries manager Craig Rouse is determined to get striker Joe Lumsden playing with a “smile on his face” again.
Lumsden returned to Pontefract several weeks ago after a disappointing second spell with Stocksbridge Park Steels.
He scored his first goal since re-signing during last Saturday’s win at Tadcaster Albion and Rouse says his frontman has a lot to offer.
“Joe has played really well (since returning),” Rouse told Non League Yorkshire.
“The Sheffield game was his first game but we had only got the signing through around 3pm that day.
“We didn’t plan for him to be involved as we didn’t think we’d manage to get it through in time.
“He was on the bench for that game and then we threw him straight into the Marske game because the sooner Joe is fit the better for us.
“He’s a goal-scorer and once he is match sharp anyone knows he is a threat in this league.
“We wanted to get minutes into him to get him sharp and that showed against Tadcaster as he looks hungry, focussed and long may that continue.
“We knew he suits what we do, he’s knows the club and knows me and the players and we know he is a different player when he has a smile on his face.
“The focus was getting a smile on Joe’s face and getting him enjoying his football and if we did that we felt we’d reap the benefits and so would he.”
The Sheffield FC game which saw the Colls lose 4-0 was their lowest point of January.
That was one of three defeats – a run that arrested by the victory at Tadcaster.
“I suppose you could say (it has been a tough month),” Rouse said.
“We started the month really well when we went to Liversedge and got a point to become the only team to go there and take any points there.
“We then had the two weeks off which impacted us a little bit.
“With 19 teams being in our league you drop on that free week now and then and unfortunately it was our week after three wins and a draw.
“That’s two weeks without a game and the next two games were Bridlington and Sheffield.
“We had looked like we had turned a corner but I don’t know if it was attitudes or the break that let us down but we just weren’t the same team in those two games.
“We then came into the Marske game and it is tough enough against them with 11 men and we were down to ten after 30 minutes.
“To lose only 1-0 we played really well and had a stonewall penalty turned down.
“We took the positives out of it and we were confident we could carry the performance over and obviously that was proven away at Tadcaster last week.”
The Colls were looking on course to climb the table after a brilliant December but Rouse admits his men are not out of danger.
“We’re in a relegation battle until we’re not, that’s how we are taking it,” he said.
“We don’t want to take our eye off that and we don’t want to let the standards slip.
“We are in a battle and that’s what we said to the players.
“It will be our actions that get us out of it.
“We’re confident we won’t be anywhere near it come the end of the season.
“We don’t want it going into the last two or three weeks where we’re in that situation.
“We feel we have enough ability and enough togetherness to pull us forward and get us out of the situation.”
Jack Lazenby and Ben Morris are suspended for the home clash with Shildon this afternoon but goalkeeper Lloyd Allinson returns from suspension.
Shildon are flying high in the league but Rouse is not fazed by their lofty position.
“You look around the league and any side in the league can any other,” he said.
“We were near the bottom and we went to Liversedge and got a 1-1 draw.
“Yorkshire Amateur went away to Shildon who hadn’t lost at home this season and won there so you do take heart from that.
“We have to focus on what we can do and we’re 100% a better side than the one Shildon faced last time.
“We have to focus on our strengths and we’re at home so we have to try and take the game to them.”