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MANAGER NOTES | Ashforth gives his thoughts ahead of the Pontefract game

MANAGER NOTES | Ashforth gives his thoughts ahead of the Pontefract game

Michael Barker13 Oct 2018 - 13:00
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Both camps will be playing full teams and trying to book a place in the next round.

Welcome to Craig Parry and his team and everyone associated with Pontefract for todays FA Trophy encounter.

Craig and I have had similar paths in football, both Goalkeepers and both playing at Harrogate Railway before going into management, and we have had conversations over the past couple of seasons as we have worked for clubs in similar areas. He has done an excellent job at Pontefract by gaining promotion from the North East Counties and now this season cementing themselves comfortably in the Evo-Stik East section of our leagues.

The FA Trophy is an opportunity similar to the FA Cup when must needed funds can be acquired for clubs, and due to this I am positive that, unlike certain other competitions, both camps will be playing full teams and trying to book a place in the next round.

In our last game we entertained Trafford, losing the match 2-1. We played very well in the first half and then ran out of steam as an excellent Trafford team turned the screw and scored two magnificent goals that ultimately took the 3 points. Over the past couple of weeks I have mentioned we have taken small steps in each game and moved the group forwards, as well as adding some players in key areas. We now appear to be playing with a bit more belief and less panic. I’ve said in interviews that I will never be happy with a defeat, and I wont be, but I have to take positives from games and certainly I felt that we had plenty of those on Saturday.

We’ve had our first mid-week off since the start of the season, and so far including friendlies we have played 25 matches. That’s half a season, so I think the players deserve a much needed rest. Several have been playing with niggles, but the willingness to play through these injuries has shown me how much the players want to be here and want to play the club.

I am hopeful that we will have almost a full squad to pick from today, with only Lewis Sugden (knee) and Jonah Gosling (facial injury) unavailable. Jonah got a lot of support after his injury last week, both within the clubs and from outside. Jonah was on the verge of leaving Clitheroe earlier in the season and when I took the caretaker role I had an honest and frank conversation with him to tell him he would get a chance. He took that chance and has been selected in all the games since. I tell the players I am based on honesty and I expect that back from them, and I believe that if we can get a changing room that trusts each other then we will do well going forward. Hopefully Jonah will be back sooner rather than later.

It’s also great that a few more fans have been and had a chat with me, either before the game or after. I’m also active on Social Media and I look out for your comments because they matter to me. A lot goes on in non-league football that quite often goes unnoticed, reasons why players leave, or how they join, or why they are in the squad or not, and football is based on opinions. Thats why we love it and why we come back week after week and continue to have new opinions.

I appreciate all your comments and definitely all of you that make the time and effort to clap the players off and have a beer after the game, never mind the trips away that you make. So please keep up your support and keep encouraging the players as they look on social media too and we will keep playing with a smile on our faces and try to put one on yours too.

Enjoy the game

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