Non-League round-up: Skipper McFayden ready to return for Stocksbridge Park Steels

Stocksbridge Park Steels take on play-off chasing Leek Town at Bracken Moor tomorrow, with boss Chris Hilton urging his side to finish the season with a flourish.
Stocksbridge captain Liam McFadyen is set to return against play-off chasing Leek Town at Bracken Moor. Pic: Peter RevittStocksbridge captain Liam McFadyen is set to return against play-off chasing Leek Town at Bracken Moor. Pic: Peter Revitt
Stocksbridge captain Liam McFadyen is set to return against play-off chasing Leek Town at Bracken Moor. Pic: Peter Revitt

“We want to finish in the top 10, I think its the least the players deserve,” said Hilton.

“We’re 12th at the moment and we’ve got many of the teams around us to play. Its in our own hands.

“It won’t be easy because they’re aren’t any easy games in this league. But we don’t fear anyone; we’ve got eight games left and we’ll be going out to try and win them all.”

Leek arrive having slipped to seventh in the table, three points outside the top five, and have not won in the last three away. “They’re a good side so it will be a tough game,” said Hilton.

“I thought we were were unlucky to lose 2-1 at their place earlier in the season. They’ll be coming here thinking they need a win, which adds a little bit more pressure.

“We know what we will get from them. We’ve worked on a few things in training this week. We’ll have our own game plan so hopefully we will come away with three points. Our home form has been decent recently and we’re playing some good football. There are no Premier League or Championship games this weekend so it would be nice to see a few more people coming along and taking a look a what non-league football has to offer.”

Steels will be boosted by the return of skipper Liam McFadyen after missing last week’s 1-1 draw at Stafford Rangers along with defender Ryan Laight, while full-back Josh Meade is hoping to have recovered from tonsillitis.

Sheffield FC travel to play-off chasing Lincoln United, kicking off a busy spell of four games in eight days.

Club entertain neighbours Stocksbridge on Easter Monday in the first of three home games on the trot. Kidsgrove Athletic are the visitors to the Coach & Horses next Thursday before the visit of Coalville Town next weekend.

Manager James Colliver said: “When things are not going well and you’ve come off the back of a poor result as we have at Loughborough, then you want games to come quickly to turn things around and get a bit of consistency.

“It will be tough at Lincoln, they’re up there going well and chasing a play-off place. I’ve got a bit of knowledge of them from my time as manager at Clipstone from when we played them in the FA Cup earlier in the season so I can hopefully put that to use.

“We’ve set ourselves a points target between now and the end of the season. After Saturday we’ve got three big games at home. We’ve picked up four points from the two games at our place since I’ve been in charge, so we will be looking to add to that.”

Reflecting on the defeat at Loughborough Colliver said: “I thought we were well worth a point They had one chance really and took it. We’ve had a few good chances but not taken them.

“The players are not making the right decisions in the final third. Its not just the lads up there but the midfield and full-backs. I’m not pointing the finger at anyone, it’s collectively and how we perform as a team. We’ve got goals in the team and overall I think we’re quite resolute at the back.”

Sheffield will be looking to complete a league double over Lincoln following a 3-1 victory at the home of football back in September. The Whites are unbeaten in the last five at home.

Meanwhile, Club have signed 25-goal Jake Currie on dual registration from Shirebrook Town.

Shaw Lane Aquaforce go to second-bottom Loughborough Dynamo in a game that at first glance looks like it should produce a routine three points for the title hopefuls.

However, resurgent Loughborough have won both games under new boss Wayne Hallcro to boost their hopes of avoiding the drop.

n Fixtures, tomorrow: Premier Division: Frickley Athletic v Colwyn Bay, Matlock Town v Skelmersdale United, Stourbridge v Buxton.

Division One South: Lincoln United v Sheffield FC, Loughborough Dynamo v Shaw Lane Aquaforce, Stocksbridge Park Steels v Leek Town.