Toolstation NCEL Division One
Chris Bolder says North Ferriby face an epic task in their quest to lift the title.
With ten games to go, second-placed Ferriby have lost control of the race for the crown following a sticky at the turn of the year.
Hallam have seized top spot and Craig Denton’s side hold a three-point lead over Ferriby.
The two sides meet on the 12th March and Bolder says it is frustrating to see the position his side are in having being unbeaten until December.
“I think two games ago we earmarked that we couldn’t lose a game,” Bolder told Non League Yorkshire.
“For us to have a chance of toppling Hallam or Brigg, I think we have put ourselves in this position where we have to go and win every game of football.
“There’s huge pressure on us now to make sure we go and do that.
“If Hallam match our results (in the next three games) and we beat them on the (12th March) they are still in the driving seat because of their superior goals difference.
“For us, we have got to win every game and hope other teams slip up.
“It is no longer in our hands, that’s the disappointing thing.
“We have got to this stage of the season after doing so well and we’ve had a bad spell and as a result, the destiny of the league title is no longer our hands which is disappointing.”
Ferriby’s achilles heel is obvious.
Hallam have scored 108 times and Brigg have hit 110 goals and regularly blow teams away.
Ferriby are straggling with 68 and they have only scored more than two goals in a league on seven occasions.
It has been a source of concern for Bolder throughout the season.
“Nearly every game barring Parkgate away, we have created double figures on chances,” he said.
“Just for example, the Retford game.
“We watched it back and we made 347 completed passes and they made 87.
“We had 15 shots, they had three.
“I’ve gone away scratching my head after some games but fair play to teams like Hallam, Brigg, Harrogate, they are very clinical.
“They might create ten chances and score six.
“We’re creating ten and scoring one or two.”
The reasons for the inability to blow sides away has been puzzling.
“It is not through our ability to create chances, it is our ability to convert chances,” he said.
“The hardest thing in football is putting the ball in the back of the net and we have been short on that, there’s no question.
“As you say, that’s meant the games have been closer score-lines than perhaps the domination of the ball, chances have shown.
“From a goals converted point of view (we haven’t blown many teams away).
“It has happened a few times where we have converted some of our chances and we have won by five or six.
“It hasn’t happened enough and for all the domination of the ball and creation of chances, it hasn’t happened in front of goal for us this season.
“We haven’t been ruthless.
“The thing for us is we are getting people in the right areas and these players are getting themselves in the right areas.
“They are capable of doing everything and they’ve had that misfortune in front of goal.
“It is difficult to say ‘oh we need to bring other players in because these lads aren’t scoring’.
“There’s no question that we haven’t hit the back of the net enough but these boys have done everything but…
“Their movement has been great, their overall contribution to the team has been brilliant and they are getting the opportunities so they are ticking all the boxes other than the end product.”
Bolder also confirmed that he expects some fringe players to leave in search of regular football.
Jackson Jowett is one example as he rejoined Pickering Town last week.
Ferriby’s match on Saturday is far from a doddle as they head into Nottinghamshire to face a tough Ollerton Town side.