Bridge enjoy Danny visit and stay confident despite home defeat
WORSBROUGH Bridge enjoyed their centenary celebrations this week and, although they remain in relegation trouble, their chairman believes they will not go down.
Bridge lost 1-0 at home to bottom club Parkgate in Division One on Saturday.
The visitors scored the winner in the 80th minute, just after Connor Brunt was sent off for Worsbrough. The match was attended by legendary former Barnsley manager Danny Wilson who unveiled a plaque to mark the club’s centenary year.
The attendance was 238 which was the most at Park Road this season other than the local derby in September against fellow strugglers Athersley Rec.
Chairman Mark Booth said: “Apart from the result, it was an excellent day.
“We had a great representation of people, some players from the ‘50s and ‘60s. Danny was great to deal with.”
Bridge have 14 points from 18 games so are one place and two points above the three-team relegation zone.
They now host second-bottom Glasshoughton Welfare tomorrow.
Booth added: “I am 100 per cent confident we will stay up.
“Our start was difficult but we have more than enough quality in the squad and Luke (Forgione, manager) is well capable of getting us out if it.”
Athersley Rec remain third-bottom after their home game was called off on Saturday due to a floodlight issue.
They have 12 points from 17 games so far this season. Their last 11 games in all competitions have brought nine defeats and two draws.
Manager Jimmy Whitehead said: “I don’t think we’re going to go up into midtable but there are enough games left to get out of the bottom three.
“We started off well and, after we beat Worsbrough twice early on, I would never have seen a run like this coming.
“Some of the players aren’t as hungry as I thought. We have had a fitness issue with some of the players. Some have had to shake my hand and leave.
“We have had a couple of really bad performances but, in most games, we’ve been competitive and lost narrowly due to a bit of naivety or lack of quality in certain areas.
“We have had really bad luck with injuries, I have never known a list as long. We have had people unavailable through work and holidays which I don’t really like but, at this level, it’s not life and death to them.
“In some recent games we’ve had just 12 players available.
“We’ve had no consistency in selection which has meant we haven’t had consistent results. I am not sure if we will be able to get a more consistent team.
“We’re trying to bring in new players but it’s difficult for us to bring in quality on our budget. We give young players a chance but it’s difficult to do that and get results in a ruthless league.
“We have a very tough month of games so it will probably get worse before it gets better. We will roll our sleeves up and do our best to get out of the bottom three.”
Penistone Church’s game at Thackley in the Premier Division on Tuesday was called off due to weather, after they did not have a fixture at the weekend.
They are 13th with 21 points from 15 matches. They have lost five in a row in all competitions, without scoring in the last three. Church are due to host third-bottom Bottesford Town tomorrow.