Daisy Hill will be looking to bounce back from last weekend’s disappointing defeat to MSB Woolton when they face a double-header of games on Saturday and Monday in in the North West Counties League First Division North.
A trip to relegation-threatened Colne tomorrow is followed by a home game against promotion-chasing Ashton Town on Monday evening - the start of a five-game finale to the season when Daisy will be facing teams either in the relegation zone or chasing promotion.
With tough games in prospect, manager Nicky Hunt is challenging his players to finish the season strongly.
“Games like last Saturday happen like that, players perform well one week and then they don’t the next week, and that’s just football for you,” said Hunt.
“Everyone gets chances with my team, and you don’t become bad players just from one game.
“But it might give a chance for other people to come in, and we’ll see what we can do in these final five games of the season.
“At this stage of season in any league, when you have got teams playing for nothing, it becomes a nothing game, like a testimonial game, with slow tempo and both teams just want the end of the season to come.
“But it won’t be like that for us because we’re going to be playing teams that have got something to fight for.”
Colne sit one place above the relegation zone and will have been boosted by picking up a point at league leaders Nelson in a derby clash last Saturday.
Although Daisy won 3-1 when the teams met at the Ginge Power Stadium in November, Hunt is expecting the home side to be on the front foot in a game they need to win.
“We’ll have to set up to nullify their threats, although obviously they’re down there for a reason and have had a really up-and-down season, but they’ve got everything to play for,” said the Daisy boss.
“When we beat them 3-1 it set us off on an unbeaten run, and they’ll be looking to do that in their last few games.
“But it’s a chance for us to do the double on another team.
“We’ve done the double on AFC Blackpool, and on Squires Gate, and it’s just another team to try and do the double over this team, and that’s what we’re focused on.
“Colne get good crowds as well, and I’m sure there’ll be another big crowd there on Saturday.
“But we’ve just got to play our game, and do what we came to do, and that’s to go and get three points and finish the season strong.
“I think we’re very capable of going unbeaten now in these last five games.
“Yes, it’ll be tough, don’t get me wrong, but you’ve got to have challenges, and you’ve got to go into a football match aiming to win, and that’s what we’ll be doing.”
Kick off at the Haffners Eats Stadium is 3pm.
Share