OSSETT UNITED V LONG EATON UNITED

WELCOME TO INGFIELD AS WE GET TO THE BUSINESS END OF THE SEASON . AFTER TODAY WE WILL HAVE JUST FOUR HOME GAMES REMAINING AS WE APPROACH THE END OF THE 2022/23 SEASON . ONE THAT HAS SEEN A LOT OF CHANGE AT THE CLUB WHICH I BELIEVE HAS BEEN POSITIVE SO FAR AND WILL CONTINUE TO BE SO AS WE BUILD TOWARDS 2023/24.

I KNOW LAST WEEK ’S RESULT AGAINST SHEFFIELD WAS DISAPPOINTING FOR EVERYONE AT OSSETT UNITED , BUT IT CAME ON THE BACK OF A 5 GAME UNBEATEN RUN AND OVERALL A MORE CONSISTENT AND IMPROVED SET OF RESULTS . INDEED , SINCE GRANT TOOK CHARGE , WE ’VE SEEN 5 WINS , 8 DRAWS AND JUST 4 LOSSES FROM OUR 17 LEAGUE GAMES , WITH 24 GOALS SCORED AND 19 CONCEDED . SO ON THE RIGHT TRACK AND TIME TO FINISH THE SEASON ON A FLOURISH TO MAXIMISE OUR OVERALL

POINT TALLY FOR THE SEASON . OFF THE FIELD THERE ARE SEVERAL PROJECTS THAT ARE BEING PLANNED AND WILL HOPEFULLY BE COMING TO FRUITION IN THE COMING MONTHS AND I LOOK FORWARD TO SHARING MORE INFORMATION ON THESE EXCITING DEVELOPMENTS IN THE NEAR FUTURE . ANY PROJECTS WE DO ARE ALWAYS FOR THE BETTERMENT OF THE CLUB AND ULTIMATELY TO PROVIDE THE BEST BASIS WE CAN FOR NOT ONLY THE FIRST TEAM BUT ALSO TO IMPROVE THE SPECTATOR EXPERIENCE WHEN COMING TO INGFIELD . SO, WATCH THIS SPACE .

TODAY WE ENTERTAIN LONG

EATON UNITED AND A BIG WELCOME TO EVERYONE WHO HAS TRAVELLED FROM DERBYSHIRE FOR THE GAME . I REALLY ENJOYED OUR VISIT TO LONG EATON BACK IN OCTOBER , NOT JUST FOR THE FACT THAT WE GOT A GOOD 3 POINTS IN GRANT ’S FIRST GAME IN CHARGE WITH TWO FANTASTIC LUKE HOGG GOALS , BUT MORE SO FOR THE GREAT FACILITIES AT LONG

EATON AND THE WELCOME WE RECEIVED .

ENJOY THE GAME .

Grant Black

WELCOME BACK TO INGFIELD FOR THE SECOND OF BACK-TO-BACK HOME GAMES AS WE LOOK TO GET ON ANOTHER UNDEFEATED RUN AFTER THE DISAPPOINTMENT OF LAST WEEK. AS I TOUCHED ON IN THE POST-MATCH INTERVIEW IT WAS A DISAPPOINTING DAY AS SHEFFIELD DID TO USE WHAT WE AIM TO DO TO OTHER SIDES, AND WE WILL LOOK TO PUT THAT RIGHT TODAY AFTER A POSITIVE TRAINING SESSION DURING THE WEEK. IT WAS DISAPPOINTING TO LOSE THE GOALS TO SET PIECES AS OTHER THAN THE ODD HALF CHANCE I DON’T BELIEVE THEY CAUSED US TOO MANY PROBLEMS OTHERWISE, AND WE CREATED ENOUGH OPPORTUNITIES TO HAVE WON THE GAME.

TODAY WILL BE ANOTHER TOUGH GAME, AS THEY ALL ARE IN THE NPL AS WE WELCOME LONG EATON UNITED WHO ARE ON A GOOD RUN AT THE MINUTE HAVING WON THEIR PREVIOUS SIX OUTINGS AND ONLY LOSING FOUR SINCE WE TOOK THREE POINTS FROM THEM IN OUR FIRST GAME IN CHARGE BACK IN OCTOBER. WE HAVE DONE OUR HOMEWORK ON THEM AND WILL BE FULLY PREPARED COME 3PM.

WITH CHRIS DAWSON HAVING RETURNED TO BUXTON IT WAS GREAT TO WELCOME LUKE HOGG BACK INTO THE SQUAD AFTER HIS RECENT INJURY TROUBLES WHICH KEEPS THE PLAYERS ON THEIR TOES AS THERE IS GENUINE COMPETITION FOR PLACES ACROSS THE SQUAD. I AM VERY PLEASED THAT PAUL COOPER HAS HAD

HIS LOAN EXTENDED TO THE END OF THE SEASON AND THANK BARNSLEY FOR THEIR CO-OPERATION IN CONFIRMING THE DEAL. FOR A YOUNG LAD GETTING HIS FIRST TASTE OF MEN’S FOOTBALL HE IS SHOWING CONFIDENCE AND MATURITY BEYOND HIS YEARS AND IS VERY VOCAL WHICH IS IMPORTANT FOR ANY GOALKEEPER.

HOT ON THE HEELS OF THIS GAME IS A TRIP TO STOCKSBRIDGE ON TUESDAY NIGHT, ANOTHER SIDE PERFORMING VERY WELL THIS SEASON, AND AN EXAMPLE OF WHAT CAN BE DONE ON THE BACK OF A GOOD RUN. CONFIDENCE IS CLEARLY HIGH, AND THE MOMENTUM IS WITH THEM AS THEY LOOK TO CEMENT A PLACE IN THE PLAYOFF’S THIS SEASON. LIKE TODAY WE WILL HAVE TO BE AT OUR BEST TO BEAT THEM AND THAT IS EXACTLY THE MINDSET WE WILL HAVE GOING INTO BOTH GAMES.