Worsbrough Bridge are hoping to be competing at the other end of the table in the near future after they ended the chances of relegation this week.
A 3-0 win over Teversal meant the Briggers went 11 points clear of the bottom two and could no longer be caught. The result not only secured Bridge's safety but it was a fifth win in six games at their home ground of Park Road where they had won just three league matches combined in 2015 and 2016.
The good run started after a 9-1 home defeat to Hallam and brings a successful end to a tough season for Worsbrough which has seen them concede more than 100 goals and go on a run of two wins in 24 matches.
Worsbrough have faced major problems off the pitch, and chairman Peter Schofield has admitted that the club could fold if they do not find new volunteers. The committee inherited debts racked up by the previous owner who took the team to Grimethorpe then Maltby last season due to a dispute with the association that runs the ground. They have struggled for larger attendances since returning to Park Road – with one match attracting just ten people – but their last two home games brought the biggest home crowds of the season, including the Teversal match which was in conjunction with a family fun day.
Manager Josh Wright, who took over in October and is expected to have his position made permanent for next season, said: "I'm over the moon to be safe and a 3-0 win was a great way to finish it off. There were plenty of times when I thought we could go down, and after we lost 9-1 to Hallam I was more demoralised than I have ever been in football.
"But we said then that we would stop trying to hang on in games and keep the score down and instead we would take the game to the opposition. It has worked a treat and, if we take our form from the last few games into next season, we will be in the top ten at least.
"Staying up is only the first part of what I want to achieve. I want to build a team that can push for the play-offs. Things are being sorted out off the pitch and the board are working extremely hard. We had hundreds of people at our family day on Saturday and we are raising a bit of money for next season."
Chairman Schofield added: "We are still digging in. We have wiped out all the debts and we are applying for grants to fund new lighting and pitch drainage. We need volunteers, otherwise eventually we will fold, but that is the same as all clubs. We had been playing good football and we had some decent players, it was just a case of getting our strongest 11 out for a run of games. We had a plan B in case of relegation but we never really thought we would go down. We have put our trust in Josh and it has been rewarded."
Against Teversal, veteran striker Lee Morris, who played at Shaw Lane last season and was Frickley Athletic manager until his sacking last month, put Bridge ahead. Innocent Ituly doubled the lead before Chris White made it 3-0 before half-time.
Worsbrough Bridge under 19s have reached the final of the Northern Alliance Pat Rice Trophy. Goalkeeper Jon Davies saved two penalties in a shoot-out win over Ossett Town in the semi-final.
