More Cup Conquests The Target For Colls
Wed 17th December 2014 | Atherton Collieries | By Ian Templeman
As well as targeting promotion this season, Atherton Collieries manager Michael Clegg is also setting his sights on cup success.
For many managers, cups are seen as secondary when promotion is the target, but with his side in the quarter finals of the Men United Cup and Reusch First Division Trophy, as well as the semi-final of the Partners Foundation Lancashire FA Challenge Trophy, Mike insists that capturing a cup is very much part of his plans this season.
“To stay in the cups is great for us”, he said. “We have a lot of games to play between now and May but that’s the reason the lads are at the club, to play football and enjoy it and that’s certainly what we are doing at Atherton Colls this year”.
The Lancashire FA Challenge Trophy has seen Colls produce some of their most impressive performances of the campaign so far. They began with a win at Ashton Athletic, which was followed by a win at Radcliffe Borough on penalties which was achieved playing without a recognised goalkeeper for most of the game.
They rounded off an impressive run of results with a 2-1 win over Ramsbottom United last week, a tough game that Mike was delighted to negotiate successfully.
“We have had three big results in the competition”, said Mike. “All three of the results were very hard fought and won through pure hard work and team spirit. At Radcliffe we looked dead and buried and we won on penalties despite playing 65 minutes with our central midfielder in the net, and when you win like that you do wonder if it’s your year.
“Then of course you draw Rammy and you know it’s totally not your year! But then we surprise ourselves again – we went 2-0 up and then clung on for dear life. That was the game plan but just not to that extreme!”
Colls now face Evo-Stik League side Clitheroe at the Lancashire FA’s County Gorund in Letland on the 24th February, and Mike says that everyone is looking forward to having a crack at another team from a higher level.
“I don’t know much about Clitheroe, but with all teams at that level, they will be organised, strong and technically good”, he said. “In regards to a gameplan, we will look at them nearer the time in the weeks leading up to the game.
“It will be tough but we will prepare the best we can. We know we will have to respect them.
“The County Ground is familiar to a few of my players. Ex-Bolton Wanderers player Nathan Battersby played there for three years in the under 21's and Reserves, and Jordan Cover, Mark Truffas and Gaz Carson were winners there with West Lancashire League side Eagley, so hopefully we can replicate their success”.
More Cup Conquests The Target For Colls
Wed 17th December 2014 | Atherton Collieries
By Ian Templeman
As well as targeting promotion this season, Atherton Collieries manager Michael Clegg is also setting his sights on cup success.
For many managers, cups are seen as secondary when promotion is the target, but with his side in the quarter finals of the Men United Cup and Reusch First Division Trophy, as well as the semi-final of the Partners Foundation Lancashire FA Challenge Trophy, Mike insists that capturing a cup is very much part of his plans this season.
“To stay in the cups is great for us”, he said. “We have a lot of games to play between now and May but that’s the reason the lads are at the club, to play football and enjoy it and that’s certainly what we are doing at Atherton Colls this year”.
The Lancashire FA Challenge Trophy has seen Colls produce some of their most impressive performances of the campaign so far. They began with a win at Ashton Athletic, which was followed by a win at Radcliffe Borough on penalties which was achieved playing without a recognised goalkeeper for most of the game.
They rounded off an impressive run of results with a 2-1 win over Ramsbottom United last week, a tough game that Mike was delighted to negotiate successfully.
“We have had three big results in the competition”, said Mike. “All three of the results were very hard fought and won through pure hard work and team spirit. At Radcliffe we looked dead and buried and we won on penalties despite playing 65 minutes with our central midfielder in the net, and when you win like that you do wonder if it’s your year.
“Then of course you draw Rammy and you know it’s totally not your year! But then we surprise ourselves again – we went 2-0 up and then clung on for dear life. That was the game plan but just not to that extreme!”
Colls now face Evo-Stik League side Clitheroe at the Lancashire FA’s County Gorund in Letland on the 24th February, and Mike says that everyone is looking forward to having a crack at another team from a higher level.
“I don’t know much about Clitheroe, but with all teams at that level, they will be organised, strong and technically good”, he said. “In regards to a gameplan, we will look at them nearer the time in the weeks leading up to the game.
“It will be tough but we will prepare the best we can. We know we will have to respect them.
“The County Ground is familiar to a few of my players. Ex-Bolton Wanderers player Nathan Battersby played there for three years in the under 21's and Reserves, and Jordan Cover, Mark Truffas and Gaz Carson were winners there with West Lancashire League side Eagley, so hopefully we can replicate their success”.
