North Ferriby United

Evostik Northern Premier League

Premier Division

North Ferriby United v Gainsborough Trinity

Saturday  February 2019

Kick-off 3.00 pm

Ferriby entertain Gainsborough Trinity on Saturday in  an Evostik Northern Premier League Premier Division match. The game sees Ferriby’s Wembley skipper Liam King returning as acting manager for Gainsborough. He has had to stand down from playing due to injury. Also returning with him will be former midfielder Simon Russell.

It is going to be another testing game for Ferriby who now have little more to play for than pride.

Gainsborough won the reverse fixture 1-0 in September, a result that was a bit harsh on Ferriby.

Trinity are in 6^th place in the table chasing a play-off spot as they attempt to return to the National League North at the first attempt. Their away record is seven wins, four draws and five defeats. They have scored 17 and conceded 14 in those games.

Gainsborough go in to the game having won 1-0 at home to Stalybridge last Saturday. Prior to that game, they had suffered three consecutive defeats which put an end to their climb up the table.

To some extent, matches and results are, perhaps, the least of Ferriby’s issues with an appeal hearing pending regarding the proposed relocation of the club and a possible name change. Perhaps even more concerning is the winding-up petition due to be heard next month.  The outcome of both of these hearings could go a long way to deciding the club’s immediate future.

For all The Villagers’ problems, they will be forgotten for a short time before Saturday’s game as there will be a minute’s silence for long-time supporter Judith Anderson who passed away recently.

There will be a bucket collection for local charity Emmaus who support homeless people in the area. This is something which we believe Judith would have approved given her charitable giving during her life.

As far as the football is concerned, one can only hope that the off-field issues are not affecting the players. The team goes in to Saturday’s game following a run of nine league defeats,

Last Saturday’s defeat at Witton Albion was a bit hard to take with Witton only really taking control after Jake Martindale’s dismissal 20 minutes from the end. Once again, Ferriby battled hard and did play some good football but the game was settled with a first-half-goal on the break by Will Jones.

The Villagers only took three paying supporters and three officials to the game at Wincham Park. To the players credit, they went and shook hands with the three supporters before leaving the pitch. That act shows the respect that the players have for the supporters and it was greatly appreciated.

Looking towards Saturday, manager Joe Lamplough commented,

“Last weekend we headed to Witton Albion and did really well. I felt proud of the lads for the chances they created and the effort they showed. Yes we lost, but we held our heads high and kept fighting until the end, despite going down to 10 men.

“The lads played some good stuff at times stringing passes together and I want them to be composed on the ball and just enjoy it. Again it’s a step in the right direction and I’m hoping we can produce another performance

today and keep developing and building  every week.
 

“I’ve really enjoyed been involved as manager, too. Yes I miss playing, but I feel like I am more influential as a manager with the lads we have as they all want to learn. A lot of the lads are raw and maybe have not been taught certain things, so it’s nice to work with them and allow them to progress and become better players.

“Every week we play I always  quietly fancy us as a run is coming at some stage it’s just when it comes and who against. On our day we are competition for anyone in this league, it just depends how we apply ourselves and we have to have nearly all of our lads bang on it for us to get a result. They have been improving lately and I just hope the boys can keep pushing on and get the result they have been working towards.

“As a fan myself, and speaking for the players, we appreciate the traveling fans and the supporters who turn out at home. I just hope we can repay them with consistent performances and/or results. It’s been a tough season so far and, for me, the only way is up.

“I have a lot of respect for Gainsborough both their management, staff and players. They are a good club and, on their day, one of the best in the league. It will be a tough ask, but I am raring to go and I hope the lads can get a result.”

With the exception of the suspended Jake Martindale, Lamplough  should have a full squad to choose from on Saturday.

Ferriby’s squad: Lewis Exall, Craig O’Grady, Jordan Windass, Aaron Brettell, Paul Foot, Jamie Waltham, Ben Leyland, Jack Smith, Jack Mail, James Piercy, Dan Nichols, Leon Smith, Joe Lamplough, Josh Vickers, Niah Payne,  Gary Bradshaw, Callum Harrison, James Nichols, Joseph Robinson