Berry’s hoping Shelley can rise up to Phoenix
SHELLEY manager Ash Berry wants his side to go on a Sheffield Senior Cup run this season – but says he’s taking nothing for granted ahead of today’s second-round clash with Phoenix at the Stafflex Arena at 3pm.
The visitors from Rotherham have won just one in seven in the Central Midlands League North Division, one level below Shelley on the nonleague ladder.
But while fourth in the North West Counties League First Division North, Shelley are without a win in four, having been left to rue missed opportunities in Tuesday’s Huddersfield derby defeat at Golcar United.
“We have to find more of a cutting edge,” said Berry, who is on the lookout to bolster his frontline options.
“We had the bulk of the second half against Golcar, but we couldn’t get the goal and ended up paying the price.
“Phoenix will come ready to give it a real go, so we’ll have to counter that threat.
“We had a plum tie against Frickley Athletic in this competition last season and we want to go on a run and test ourselves against higher-level opposition.”
There were 556 inside WMS Entrance Systems Park, where the newly-installed floodlights crucial to Golcar United’s entry to the North West Counties League were switched on for the first time. Dan
Phoenix will come ready to give it a real go, so we’ll have to counter
that threat
Stocker’s well-taken 73rd-minute goal meant Golcar won the eagerlyawaited match 1-0 and leapfrogged Shelley to go third. Both teams have 18 points from 11 games.
But Shelley can consider themselves unfortunate to have suffered only a third league defeat of the campaign after withstanding Golcar’s early pressure and having the best of the second half.
The home side came flying out of the blocks and hit a post early on through former Huddersfield Town junior Max Leonard, whose previous clubs include Frickley Athletic, Curzon Ashton, AFC Telford United and Mossley.
But Shelley gradually got into it and went into the break with the game goalless.
Opportunities came and went for the visitors and Golcar clinched the points when Stocker lofted a 20-yard effort over keeper Paul Day, who had earlier pulled off a great save from Mike Fish.
GOLCAR have a home 3pm kick-off against AFC Blackpool.
They are also at home next Tuesday night (7.45pm) when they welcome Yorkshire Amateur to the Colne Valley in the West Riding Cup first round.
Emley are at home in the Cup on Wednesday, when St Joseph’s Rockware of Worksop FC visit the Welfare Ground (7.45pm).