Three matches could define Shelley season

BOSS ASH BERRY CHALLENGES HIS PLAYERS TO SHOW CHARACTER

MANAGER Ash Berr y says Shelley are going into t he most t esting spell of their first Hallmark Security North West Counties League campaign.

The Huddersfield side make the long trip to Cleator Moor Celtic on Saturday f or t he first of t hree matches over the holiday period which could well define the future direction of the season.

Bacup Borough visit the Stafflex Arena on Boxing Day (3pm) while Shelley have another home game, this time against Yorkshire rivals Steeton, on Saturday, December 29.

Having taken seven points from nine beforehand, Berr y’s side dropped to eighth in the First Division North after going down 6-0 to Lower Breck in Liverpool on Saturday.

And their boss says the 330-mile round trip to Cumbria - Cleator Moor is four miles inland from Whitehaven - is now as much about attitude as ability.

“It’s at ti mes like this that you really learn about your players,” said the experienced former Bridlington Town, Woodley Sports and Salford City boss.

“I know we have the ability to compete in this division - the lads have shown that already this season - but now we need to see some character from them.

We’ve lost six times in

league games this season but none have

been back-to-back