North West Counties League First Division North
Ash Connor has heaped praise on Golcar United’s unsung heroes.
Ash Flynn and Daniel Naidole regularly grab the headlines as the perennial match-winners but Connor says others deserve the plaudits for pushing leaders Bury AFC all the way.
“We’ve had a great season,” Connor told Non League Yorkshire.
“The expectation was Bury would win the league and it was a case of getting in the play-offs.
“We have to be realistic and Golcar have only been semi-professional for just over two years.
“It is our first full season as a semi-professional team.
“The other two seasons have been stopped early so you have to remember where we have come from.
“There are still some lads in the team who played in the West Riding County Amateur League with us four years ago.
“Alright we have signed Flynny, Naidole and a couple of others, it doesn’t give us the right to go and win leagues.
“There’s been games where (Flynn and Naidole) haven’t played and still managed to get results.
“We have got ourselves in a good position and the lads are working hard.
“There are lads who don’t get mentioned.
“Young Nick Crane at the back, has had a great season.
“Kiero Lawrence came through with us and he’s had a great season and been brilliant.
“Oliver Willitts came from Honley plays in centre-midfield and runs himself into the ground every week.
“Adrian Igielski came from Huddersfield YMCA.
“Buddy Cox, four years ago he was playing County Amateur football and now he’s holding his own at this standard.
“It just shows they have all stepped and taken the opportunity and done well.
“Everyone is chipping in and it is a great squad we have got.”
Golcar remain in the title race but the chances of them overhauling Bury look very unlikely.
The Huddersfield-based side are ten points behind the leaders with a game-in-hand and Connor says they’ll keep fighting.
“It is out of hands and we’re hoping teams can take points off Bury,” he said.
“It will be a tough task but we’re going to give it our all because we have got into this position.
“Did we think at the start of the season that would be so close to Bury?
“We have given ourselves the best possible chance and we’re going to push them as far as we can.”
Golcar’s Tuesday night with Ashton Town was postponed following the three storms.
Although the pitch was unplayable, Connor says the surface is much better than it was two years ago when they had to play to ground-share at Avro.
“We have played a lot more home games than the first season,” he said.
“The investment has paid off massively and there is more work going to be done in the summer.
“It is something we want to get right.”
A trip to Ilkley Town awaits tomorrow and Connor says Golcar cannot under-estimate their lowly opponents.
“When they came to us they were a very good team,” he said.
“It finished 3-2 and it was a very close game.
“We’re expecting a really tough game and they’re fighting for their lives.
“It is their first season in the league and they’ll want to get out of the relegation zone.
“It will be a tricky game for us on a 3G surface and we won’t be taking them lightly.
“We need to win as well as we want to put as much pressure on Bury as we can.”