NPL Division One East
Craig Rouse says “togetherness” is a key factor behind Pontefract Collieries’ run of improved form.
Two consecutive wins – over Pickering Town and Ossett United – have lifted confidence levels at Beechnut Lane and got the Colls looking up the table.
Rouse puts the form down to team spirit.
“We want to keep producing results and more importantly enjoy being around each other and are working for each other,” Rouse told Non League Yorkshire.
“You could see at the Ossett game that there’s a feel-good factor in the group now.
“The togetherness is there so we want to continue striving forward and picking up results.
“You could see the togetherness in the videos of the celebrations.
“Substitutes were running to get involved.
“Over the last couple of weeks the subs have come on and made a massive impact.
“Whereas earlier in the season I didn’t they were making as much of an impact as to what we needed.
“But you look at Guesty (Nick Guest) coming on against Pickering; he got us up the pitch at a time when they were starting to get on top.
“He started running into the channels and dragged them back.
“There’s (Joal Rangel’s) impact at Ossett so the subs are chomping at the minute and the togetherness and competition is strong throughout the squad an we need that to continue.”
16th-placed Pontefract are now chasing a rare third straight win when they are due to host Frickley Athletic on Monday afternoon.
The Colls will leapfrog their visitors with a victory and Rouse is well-aware of the opportunity his men have.
“The more teams we can drag into the situation at the bottom end the better,” he said.
“We could finish the day in 13th or 12th when we 18th three games ago.
“It just shows you that if you stick a run of results together that you will take yourselves up the table and be looking up rather than down.
“I said it before Pickering, I said it before Ossett and I’ll say it again, every game is massive for us.
“When you look at around the bottom half, the teams in the bottom half are growing in belief and starting to take points from teams in the top half.
“I’ve always thought it was a Division in which everybody could beat each other but I think it is really showing that now.
“There’s three points between us (and Frickley) and goals difference very similar so it is a big game and a local derby.
“We approached the Ossett game with a derby feel and this is the same.
“We want to win local derbies to get the bragging rights.”
Pontefract had to come from behind to win 3-1 at Ossett as the home side took a first half lead.
Scott Smith, Gavin Rothery and Luke Hinsley secured the points and Rouse says his men were full value for the three points.
“I thought we played well in the first half,” he said.
“I thought we were the side who were on top and barring one chance that led to (Ossett’s) goal, I thought we were on the ascendancy.
“When you go in at 1-0 down it causes its own issues as you have to force the issue and they have the chance to manage the game.
“We always felt, especially in wide areas, that we would get chances and we could create things.
“That’s the reason we introduced Joao (Rangel) off the bench and he came on and made a big impact.
“In the end I thought we were deserved winners.”