WOMBWELL Town enjoyed a Boxing Day victory at one of their Barnsley rivals and are now going straight into another derby tomorrow.
Town triumphed 3-0 at Athersley Rec on Boxing Day and are due to now host Worsbrough Bridge from 1pm on Saturday.
The Wombwell club are fourth with 48 points from 23 games, six off the one automatic promotion place and two clear in the play-offs.
Rec are 19th with 19 points from 24 games, four clear of the relegation zone after third-bottom Armthorpe Welfare won twice this week.
Brad Kerr netted in the second minute for Town then Cory Woodward struck on the hour-mark before Kane Reece completed the win.
Manager Karl Rose said: “It was a very good win. We got a dream start then I thought we were well on top but it was still game on at 1-0.
“We came out well in the second half and, once we got the second goal, we relaxed and played good stuff.
“When you play on Boxing Day so quickly after a Saturday game and Christmas in a derby, it’s a banana skin. It was a decent game of football and all the players gave it everything in a good atmosphere.
“Athersley are a good club and I wish them well.
“I am sure they can stay up this season. They have been on decent form and they have some quality.
“They just need to keep believing.
“It’s still massively in their hands.”
Worsbrough picked up no points from two games against promotion-chasers this week.
They lost 3-0 at Shirebrook Town on Saturday then 1-0 at home to Parkgate on Boxing Day.
Bridge are 16th with 30 points from 25 games.
On Saturday’s game, Rose said: “It’s another local derby against a good Barnsley club.
“We have to compete with their work ethic and put the legs and effort in.
“If we do that, hopefully our quality will come through.
“You can’t take anybody for granted at this level.
“Most teams can beat anybody.”
Town had won 1-0 at home to Brigg Town on Saturday, their first game in almost a month due to postponements, with Jason Paling netting in injury-time after Anthony Mackie was sent off early in the second half.
They had won just one of their previous seven league games, slipping down to fifth from first.
Rose said: “We stayed positive after the red card and wanted to win.
“We had one full-back crossing for another to score in the last minute with ten men.
“Pivotal moments like that can have a big impact on your season.”
Wombwell are hoping to finish in at least the play-off places this season.
Rose said: “We’ve got back-to-back wins and we’re in a brilliant position.
“We have to keep going.
“We talked about trying to get on a run after having a lot of games off, a lot of injuries and dropping off with our results.
“This week we got two wins, two clean sheets and looked back to what we were doing earlier in the season.
“We just have to enjoy the journey, then wherever we finish, we will finish. We can’t play with pressure.”
Rec had lost 5-0 at second-placed Parkgate on Saturday. They are due to visit Louth Town on Saturday.
