Tigers face tricky away double

Worksop Town are hoping to build on a successful start to the season as they prepare for two tricky away games in four days.
Worksop Town head coach Craig DentonWorksop Town head coach Craig Denton
Worksop Town head coach Craig Denton

After winning their NCEL Premier opener at Goole and overcoming Shepshed Dynamo over two gruelling high-scoring FA Cup games, they now head for Eccleshill United on Saturday (3pm) and Liversedge on Tuesday (7.45pm).

“We are focused each game as it comes and we know both games will be a tough test for us,” said manager Craig Denton.

“Eccleshill have just gained promotion from the NCEL One into the Premier. So we know they will want to hit the season running in the higher division.

“Clubs like Worksop Town have to be resilient and ready to play these sides.

“Home or away I think every team we play gives that extra 10-15 per cent when they come up against us or sides like Handsworth Parramore.

“Then on Tuesday we go to Liversedge who are always up there, in and around it during the season. Their manager, Jonathan Rimmington, has a good side and has been there quite a while.”

He added: “He’s not a manager for wholesale changes. He has a group of players who he sticks by and just adds quality to it. So it will be another tough one for us in a tough league.

“But we are going into them on the back of the Shepshed performance and I feel the group is coming together really nicely.

“They are all working really hard and giving us selection headaches ahead of Saturday.

“We won at Goole in our first game. It wasn’t the performance we wanted but we got the points and would like to see better quality performances this week.”

The tiring 5-4 FA Cup win at Shepshed on Tuesday came after extra-time and Denton said it had left doubts over centre half Steve Wankiewicz for the weekend.

“Towards the end of last night’s game his hamstring felt quite tight, but hopefully he will recover before Saturday,” said Denton.

“Apart from that it was just the hard work and tired legs, so we will rest up before Saturday and the lads can go and do their individual thing, swimming or whatever, and freshen up.

“It was an hour and 20 minutes to Shepshed, the same time back and we played extra time so the lads certainly felt it going to work at 8am this morning.”

Denton will miss the next three games due to a family holiday.

He said: “The club is fully aware that I shall miss the next three games through my summer holiday and have been in full dialogue with me about the situation.

“I wanted to let all the supporters know of this situation in plenty of time and know that I’ll be leaving the team in the very capable hands of my assistant Rob and the fantastic management team.

“Because of my wife’s career in education and my own career as a teacher, we are forced to take our holidays at this time of year. I shall be back soon but in the meantime keep up your great support you’ve shown so far for the team.”