Frickley to take the game to Ferriby – Benn

Toolstation NCEL Premier Division 

Wayne Benn says reborn Frickley Athletic have an opportunity to learn how they compare to the top sides in the league when title favourites North Ferriby visit Westfield Lane this evening.

Benn has done an outstanding job so far to bring the South Elmsall-based side back to life and the Blues are on a three-game winning streak.

Ferriby will test their mettle to the limit and Benn says his troops won’t be sitting back.

“It is going to be a good one to measure how far we have come,” Benn told Non League Yorkshire.

“Ferriby have a good squad and they’ll be one of the favourites to win the Division.

“They had a good win at the weekend and we have a tough game on our hands.

“My boys will be up for the challenge.

“We went to the (Barton) top of the league two weeks ago and we felt we played at 50/60% of what we are capable of and came away with a victory.

“We’re certainly not going to go into the game with an inferiority complex.

“We’re going to try and stamp our authority on the game and try and take the game to Ferriby.

“That’s the only way my teams play and that’s not going to change just because a good side is coming to Westfield Lane.” 

Benn inherited no-one from last season’s relegated squad and he has done tremendously to recruit a very competitive team in a short space of time.

Initially they were on a bumper path as they drew one and lost three following the dramatic opening day victory at Maltby Main.

However, aside from the shock defeat to Yorkshire Amateur, the Blues have since beaten Penistone Church, Barton Town and Knaresborough Town in the league.

The wins have sent them up to sixth.

To outsiders it is a brilliant achievement but Benn says they should have made an even better start.

“For other people they may view us as ahead of schedule but me and (Andy Hayward) don’t,” he said.

“There’s a part of me which feels we should have an extra eight or nine points.

“That itself it is a positive that I’m saying we should be top of the league and we have dropped some silly points based on where we were in June with no players.

“We’re a bit frustrated because we’re not sat top of the league and not won all our games.

“We feel in every game that we have had more chances than the opportunity and that we have dominated long spells of every game.

“Some of the games we have lost is a little bit through naivety and some of it is through our own-doing.

“We genuinely we have been as good as or better than everyone we have played.

“That’s testament to the lads.

“We are playing some good stuff and we’re creating a lot of chances. Our downfall has been not taking our chances and giving away the odd silly goal away at the other end.

“The one that hurts the most is the Yorkshire Amateur defeat.

“I think I counted 25 chances, good chances and we ended up losing 3-2. I can’t explain how we lost that game.

“It happens and you have to react and we have won three on the spin.

“Barton were top of the league and I actually felt we could have been better.

“We were resilience and we worked hard and got our rewards for the efforts we put in.

“We can play better but that’s a positive that we went to the top of the league (Barton) and feel we could have done better and yet still come away with a win.

“Slowly we’re getting closer to where we want to be.

“We’re on the right tracks.”

What is delighting Benn is the booming crowds.

Local people are flocking to Westfield Lane and loving the football Frickley are producing.

“In terms of the positivity off-the-pitch it has been first class from the minute we were appointed,” he said.

“I can’t speak highly speak of the fans, the board.

“Everyone has smiles on their faces at the minute and the fans are enjoying the football we are playing.

“I’m hearing comments saying it is the best football they have seen down there for many years.

“People are coming through the gate to watch it.

“That’s fantastic and great to see.

“Even away from home we’re taking numbers and the lads really appreciate it.”