Steeton boss plans fortunate favours the brave approach for Bury clash

North West Counties League First Division North 

Steeton manager Roy Mason

Roy Mason says Steeton will adopt a fortune favours the brave approach when they host unbeaten giants Bury AFC on Monday afternoon.

Steeton welcome title-chasing Bury for the biggest game ever at Marley Stadium and Mason does not plan to set his men up defensively.

“Bury are unbeaten and I’ve said all along that somebody will beat them because that’s football,” Mason told Non League Yorkshire.

“It is very rare you see a team go unbeaten for the whole season and why can’t that team (who beats them first) be us?

“We have run them close twice and we’ll go out and try and be positive against them.

“Of course it is going to be shock if we beat Bury because nobody is expecting us to do it.

“I wouldn’t say the pressure is off because we put pressure on ourselves because we want to perform every week and we want to be up that end of the table than where we are.

“We are in similar position to Bury in that the strength of our side lies in the forward line.

“I think anyone coming down is going to see an attacking game because both teams are going to be going for it.

“Against Bury previously we have maybe sat back but I don’t think that’s the way to go.

“I think we have to take the game to them a bit more and be positive.

“Not caution to the wind because we don’t want to be going gung-ho but I feel no matter what team we play, if we can get at them with a bit of pace and get our flair players on the ball then we have half a chance.”

A beaming Harrogate Railway chairman Mick Edwards presenting Steeton manager Roy Mason with gifts to mark his 500th game in charge. Picture: Craig Dinsdale
Steeton midfielder Tom Robinson in battle with Jamie Danby. Picture: Craig Dinsdale
Red mist: Steeton striker Andy Briggs was sent off at Harrogate Railway but is not suspended for the Bury game

The visit of Bury is Mason’s 501st game in charge of Steeton.

Mason celebrated the 500 milestone on Tuesday night when his side dramatically won 2-1 at Harrogate Railway to reach the West Riding County Cup quarter-finals for the first time.

The victory was sweeter as Steeton played the final half-an-hour with ten men after Andy Briggs was sent off.

“It was a memorable one because in terms of the 500 games it was a proud night for me and my family as well,” he said.

“I was really pleased for the players as well as they have taken the club to a new level with what they did (putting Steeton into the County Cup quarter-finals for the first time).

“It was a massive game for us to win and any momentous game like your 500th you want to celebrate with a win and we did that.

“Not a lot of people know that I was actually born in Harrogate as well so it was apt that the landmark was in Harrogate.

“But the biggest thing was the players because they worked magnificently when we were down to ten men and I think we deserved our place in the quarter-finals.

“The nine outfield players and Olly (Brackenbury) in goal had to work tremendously hard for the last half-hour after Briggsy was sent off.” 

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