EV2 Sheffield & Hallamshire County Senior League Premier Division
Gabe Mozzini hopes hundreds will turn out to roar champions-elect Wakefield AFC to title glory in the mouth-watering clash with rivals Dodworth Miners Welfare tomorrow (kick off 2pm).
The Premier Division title race has come down to the last match and barring an unlikely eight-goal victory for Dodworth, who would snatch the title, promoted Wakefield will lift the Premier Division trophy after the final whistle.
“We really hope we can get more than 560 people,” Mozzini told Non League Yorkshire in an interview conducted before Wakefield’s promotion to Step 6 was announced.
“We’re pushing on social media as it is a game where we could win the league and lift the trophy.
“It is set to be a fantastic day.
“The players are very excited.
“There’s a big buzz around the fans and it should be a day for myself, the coaches, the volunteers and the fans to remember forever.”
The match is set to be a grandstand finish for the league as Dodworth have promised to launch an audacious all-out attack offensive in an attempt to pull off one of the greatest results in County Senior League history.
Even if they don’t pip Wakefield, a victory would enable Dodworth to finish second above rivals Swinton Athletic.
Mozzini anticipates a pulsating encounter.
“That’s what makes it so exciting,” he said.
“If they score many goals, they win the league, but if they just beat us, they finish ahead of Swinton.
“They do have a big motivation to win.
“We expect a big crowd which is an extra motivation for other teams when they come and play us.
“If they score in the ten minutes then everything changes.
“If they score two goals in the first 20 minutes and if we have a sin-bin, everything changes.
“We need to show up and not treat it like it is a game we can afford to lose.
“I expect them to start calmly.
“I don’t expect them to attack like crazy at first.
“They are an experienced side who will stay calm and they won’t overdo it because they know they can get goals.
“They have strong players and they can score from set-pieces.
“If we score, I do think they’ll come on strong.
“But then if they come on too strong, it opens up for counter-attacks.
“There’s big rewards, but also big risks.
“I expect a very exciting game.”
The victory over Oughtibridge War Memorial last weekend sent expectation levels to unprecedented levels, but Mozzini has quelled the excitement and reminded his players that the race is not over.
“What I’m telling the players is ‘it is not won yet’,” he said.
“Yes, it is unlikely (that Dodworth will win by eight goals).
“We can’t pretend that it is likely that we will lose 8-0.
“It is not likely, but we’re training hard this week so the players are in the right mindset.
“We want to win.
“We have been undefeated for many games and we don’t want to lose the last game.
“I’m very confident in our players and they’re not going to complacent by showing up thinking they have won the league.
“In my opinion that’s the right attitude and I’m very confident they’ll get the job done.
“We’re not relaxing and we’re going to train specifically to play against Dodworth.
“We know how they play and I’ve seen them against other teams.
“We’re not taking any chances.
“We have put ourselves in a strong position and we’re not going to waste it.”
Wakefield’s expected crowning is a stunning achievement – especially for Mozzini whose side were floundering in mid-table when he was appointed in January.
The Brazilian-American manager has won 14 games and drawn two and steered them to the top in the last week of the campaign.
One of the reasons for their success is their exciting brand of football which Mozzini explained.
“I watched videos of a few of the games before I joined and I came to one game,” he said.
“My first game in charge was against Wombwell at home and the game before was a cup game which I came and watched.
“Wakefield played a much more direct style which is very common in Non League Football.
“That’s just not my style.
“I think we have amazing players who can dribble and take players on.
“Their touch to receive under pressure is really good so we try to play through the lines.
“In my six games I was criticised quite a bit by people who we were trying to keep possession for its own sake.
“That’s not what we try to do.
“We try to keep possession with a purpose.
“It has proven the right way to go because we have the players.
“If we didn’t have the talented players we do then maybe I would have done something different.”