ATHERSLEY Rec and Wombwell Town face crucial away games at opposite ends of the Division One table as the season is approaching the final month.
Town are sixth, a point and a place outside the play-offs with 11 games left.
Tomorrow they visit fifth-placed Retford United.
Manager Karl Rose said: “Retford lost to Athersley Rec last week which was an amazing result for Rec who did us a big favour.
“We have got to go there and perform. It’s a six-pointer.
“After we come through that it will be the countdown to the end of the season.
“We will have seven home games left and three away, with some of the top teams to come to our place.
“Our home form is very good but we’ve lost three away games recently which we shouldn’t have.
“That’s had a huge knock-on effect because they were against teams around us. We didn’t really deserve to lose any of those games.
“We feel we should be a little bit higher in the league.
“There has been some disappointment.
“But we’re still massively in the shake-up.
“We have every chance of promotion going into the last few weeks.
“I have said all season it’s not just about the table, it’s about enjoying our first season at this level.”
Athersley are 18th, seven points and three places clear of the relegation zone with eight games to play – starting at fourth-bottom Yorkshire Amateur tomorrow.
Rec have won their last two matches.
Manager Paul Clarkson said: “It’s a six-pointer.
“It’s a massive game and we’ve prepared a lot.
“We know how important this game is for the club.
“It’s a big opportunity to get the monkey of fighting relegation off our back.
“But we fancy ourselves to win any game.
“Yorkshire Amateur have invested a bit of money and hit some form.
“We’re very confident.
“We’ve been confident for a while, not just because of the two wins.
“There is a lot of togetherness in the dressing room.”
