EV2 Sheffield & Hallamshire County Senior League Premier Division
Scott Chipchase says North Gawber are showing green shoots of recovery after a difficult first half of the season.
Gawber’s deserved 3-1 win at local rivals Houghton Main last Saturday was their first victory since late October.
They remain third bottom but Chipchase believes the side is growing stronger each week.
“First and foremost we have to stay up, that’s our main aim, Chipchase told Non League Yorkshire.
“It sounds stupid to be sat here saying it but with the way it has gone, that’s what we have to do and what we will do.
“It is starting to come together again.
“The performances are getting there.
“We haven’t played many games and that’s had a massive impact because you’re playing one week and then having two off.
“It is hard to get getting going but we’re starting to get back to where we were a year ago.
“We conceded in the last minute against Stocksbridge but we played brilliantly that day.
“They scored a pot shot which cost us.
“The lads are coming back and we have made a few really good signings.
“Jamie Sutton has come back and he’s a brilliant addition and will add a lot to us with his pace upfront.
“We have a strong connection with Worksop Town through Dave (Simms) and we have a couple of younger lads who are playing for us on a Saturday.
“Richie (Goddard) who plays at the back, is unbelievable and he’ll be some player.
“Imran (Abdalla) is a big strong lad and another brilliant signing.
“We have some brilliant young lads coming through as well – some 16 or 17-year-olds who have started to come on.
“Luke Pickersgill has come through and he’s really good as is Curt Ramskill.”
Gawber host promotion hopefuls Wakefield AFC tomorrow and Chipchase wants his men to get up close and personal with their opponents.
“It is going to be a hard game and they are a good footballing side,” he said.
“When we played them the first time we had a weakened side with loads of young lads in.
“Hopefully we have a strong side out and it is going to be a completely different battle for them.
“You know what we are like and we’ll be up and at it and straight into them and in their faces.
“It is the characteristics of the club and it is how we are.
“I don’t think that’ll ever change.”
The game will be seven days on the defeat of Houghton and also Chipchase’s victory in the boxing ring which concluded a fine Saturday.
“It was a perfect weekend – Gawber won, Barnsley won and I went and won,” he said.
“The lads had a good day.
“From speaking to Dave and all the lads, we conceded an early goal which was a freak one.
“The lads said they then took control and it was men against boys.”
On the boxing: “(My opponent) started well but teetered off a little bit so I started catching him with a few shots and managed to stop him in the second round.
“I’ve done boxing on-and-off for about five-or-six years.
“I’m won nine fights, I’ve never lost.
“I do it to support the gym, Fight Unit in Mapplewell
“My brother is a professional kick-boxer and he’s just signed a major contract a big company in the UK so I mainly do it to sell tickets to support the gym and him.
“The better the shows do, the better the gym does.”