Berry hopes for response after six-goal defeat
SHELLEY were left reeling after being hit for six at Lower Breck – and manager Ash Berry has told his players to make sure the horror show turns out to be a blip, not the beginning of a pattern.
The 6-0 defeat on the Merseysiders’ artificial pitch at the Anfield Sports Community Centre, close to Liverpool’s famous stadium, left the Huddersfield team eighth in the Hallmark Security North West Counties League First Division North.
Shelley crossed the M62 unbeaten in three matches – but on a wet and wild afternoon, conceded as many goals as in the previous four matches put together.
Lower Breck midfielder Mick Douglas notched four between the 19th and 63rd minutes, doubling his tally for the campaign.
His salvo was topped and tailed with goals from Paul Mooney and Jamie Henders as Shelley’s previous heaviest NWCL defeat, 4-2 at leaders Longridge Town back in August, was easily eclipsed.
To make matters worse for Berry, experienced midfielder Marc Townsend picked up a fifth caution of the campaign, meaning he is suspended for Saturday’s tough trip to 11th-placed Cumbrian club Cleator Moor Celtic, who lost 4-2 at Nelson.
Shelley currently have another midfielder, Jack Davies, out with a knee injury.
The Cleator Moor mission is followed by the Boxing Day visit of ninth-placed Bacup Borough, 6-2 winners at St Helens Town, to the Stafflex Arena.
Conditions at Lower Breck were so miserable that the hospitable home club invited every spectator into the clubhouse for a free cuppa at half-time, when Shelley trailed by three goals. But Berry was in no mood to make excuses for his side.
“Yes the conditions were bad, but they adapted better than we did,” he said.
“We were playing into the wind in the first half, conceded twice in the first 20 minutes, and never looked like we had any chance of getting back into it.
“Even so, we shouldn’t have conceded so many, certainly in the second half, and it was a bad day at the office, without a doubt.
“But we have to remember it hasn’t happened before this season, and now our challenge is to make sure it doesn’t happen again.
“We have to regroup, go up to Cleator Moor, and come back with something.
“A positive performance will set things up nicely for what is a big match for us against Bacup on Boxing Day.”
Shelley are one of three clubs on 35 points, trailing AFC Liverpool, 2-0 winners at AFC Blackpool, and Oldham side Avro, whose match at Longridge was a late victim of the weather, on goal difference.
AFC EMLEY’S Northern Counties East League Division tie at home to Nostell was postponed on Saturday.