Toolstation NCEL Premier Division
Jimmy Whitehead has rallied his Athersley Rec troops as they prepare to chase completing the double over local rivals Penistone Church in Friday night’s spectacular at Sheerian Park.
The Rec memorably stunned Penistone in their backyard in September – in the game remembered as Ian Richards’ last in charge – and the basement side are hoping to repeat the same trick against a Church side probably eager to get revenge.
Athersley have narrowly lost at runaway leaders Grimsby Borough and drawn at Eccleshill United in their last two matches and Whitehead hopes those two displays bode well for Friday night.
“It would be the first time (in a while that) we have been able to get the double over someone if we manage to get the win,” Whitehead told Non League Yorkshire.
“There should be a big crowd.
“We have got most of our points from away games so it would be nice to put a performance on and get a good result at home.
“(Penistone) have picked up and are on a decent run.
“I don’t want to speak too soon but generally we have looked a bit more solid and I feel we are getting used to the level now.
“People have clicked as to what they need to do to survive in this league and what you have to do to try and compete.
“When we have been to the top two in the league (in the last two games) and probably thought we wouldn’t get anything but we have put our best performances of the season in.
“I’m hoping another big game on Friday will bring the best out of us.
“We have only won two games all season so the teams who have lost to us would probably see that as a negative.
“Maybe that spurs (Penistone) on to want to beat us this time.
“From our point of view, the lads have been there through a tough game earlier in the season and won and know the feeling of what it was like.
“We’ll draw on that to try and get them to remember it.
“The carrot is there to get the double and if we can win on Friday night it puts a bit of pressure on the teams (around us) who play Saturday.
“I’m not sure we have a psychological advantage (on Penistone) but because we won last time it gives us confidence to think why can’t we do it again if we’re solid and hard to break down like we have been in the last two games.”
Athersley, who played with ten man for a considerable period of time after Mark Stuart’s red card, only lost to Grimsby because of two late goals.
An equaliser from Mossimo Ciccarelli secured the draw at Eccleshill an Whitehead has been pleased.
“It has been a positive couple of weeks,” he said.
“We went to Grimsby and matched them and went 1-0 up before we had a man sent off after 55 minutes.
“They beat us in injury time but they were eight points clear (at the top) so we were pretty happy with the performance.
“A few days later we went to Eccleshill and got a good draw so although we didn’t win any games, getting anything against top four teams is a bonus.
“I’m hoping it has given us some confidence to take into Friday.”
But it is a mission they believe in and Whitehead says there’s still a long way to go and the dream of pulling it off is still alive.
“We’re looking at it that only one goes down so it would put us one point if we were to win on Friday,” he said.
“Psychologically one point is nothing at this stage.
“There’s 18 games left.
“We have to keep believing and we do.
“We’re still in a position we expected we would be but I don’t say that as a negative.
“We knew it would be difficult but we’re still fighting and if we weren’t we wouldn’t be doing it.
“The players are still on board with it.
“Every time we get a point or a win it gives them that bit of belief and the more belief we have the more likelihood we’ll get the points to stay up.”