Toolstation NCEL Division One
Ian Richards has full confidence in Penistone Church to cement their play-offs spot
Ian Richards is convinced Penistone Church can finish the job as the play-offs race reaches the final few hurdles.
Penistone are on course to reach the top six after the crucial 2-0 win over Bottesford Town on Wednesday night.
Based on the unlikelihood of crisis club Hull United being allowed to compete in the play-offs, ten points out of their five remaining games will be good enough for Church. That figure will decrease if Shirebrook Town fail to win any of their last three matches.
“We still have five tough games to come and Yorkshire Amateur won’t be easy on Saturday as they are only one of six teams in the league to beat us this year,” Richards told Non League Yorkshire.
“We want to cement our place in the top six as we can, but we know we need to fight for every point.
“We’re exceeding our expectations with the teams that are around us and are established in this league. Along with those who have a budget.
“The boys have done exceptionally well, but they deserve to finish it off by not only getting in the play-offs, but also getting promoted.
“I’ve been saying to them to not put play-offs as the target, have promotion as the target. That’s because we would get in the play-offs, think we have done well and take our foot off the gas.
“We’re looking at it that we have seven games to go, five league and two play-offs games.
“I’ve also said that if we get in the play-offs, we finish fifth because then people can’t say that we only got in there because Hull had 12 points deducted. We want be in there in our own right.
“I’m very confident we can do it and I’m confident in the players. You saw on Wednesday how hard they work for each other and what it means to them.”
Richards also confirmed that he expects no further action to be taken over his removal from the technical area during the 2-2 draw with Teversal in mid-March.
Referee Andrew Price, who also took charge of Penistone’s infamous clash with Selby in February, reported Richards to the authorities after the game.
There has been early correspondence, but Richards does not expect to receive charges.
He added: “It is not in my character. I played 15 years at a good level and never had a red card.
“It is my seventh season as a manager and have never been close to being sent off.
“He wanted to speak to me and I told him I didn’t want to speak him. I told him his performance wasn’t good enough.
“He sent me the changing rooms. To be fair he said in his report that I didn’t swear, I didn’t attack him in person, he just did not like my tone of voice.
“I responded by apologising for my actions and said it was out of character. Nothing has come from it so I think it is the end of the matter.
“I don’t think I’ll get a fine or suspension, just a £10 administration fee. It was out of character and it will the first and last time it happens.”
Penistone host Yorkshire Amateur tomorrow.