CLECKHEATON will hope to turn things round as they play one of their most important fixtures of the season when they visit West Hartlepool tomorrow (2.15pm).
Cleckheaton are a point ahead of second-bottom Hartlepool and badly need to end a run of
narrow defeats which are threatening their survival in National Three North.
The time has been reached when four or five-point victories are essential as opposed to the recent one-point consolations for near-misses.
Certainly the feeling at Moorend is that if the side can get off the mark and gain their first win since outplaying Middlesbrough on November 14, it could lead to a run of victories.
The ability and effort has been there but the finishing touches have not been applied on sufficient occasions to bring welcome and much-needed victories to gain some momentum and launch their bid to overhaul such as Rochdale, who are 13 points clear.
Coach Dave Harrison expressed his frustration at another postponed game last weekend when the game at West Park St Helens was a victim on the frozen pitch. He said: “I am concerned it will have an effect on how we are playing.
After the long lay-off I was surprised and pleased at how well we played against Chester and we were anxious to maintain that form.
Another break means more disruption which is unfortunate.”
Despite not playing last weekend, there are changes in Cleckheaton’s planned line-up.
Owen Edwards comes off the bench and links up with Dominic Castle for one of the few occasions this season, which means Pete Murphy at last switches to inside centre – which is his preferred position – as he has had to play at No 10 for most of the time.
This seems hard on centre Matt Piper, who has been very consistent this time, but it seems the selection is based on experience for what will be a real test of the team’s spirit and ability and he looks set to be a regular for years to come.
There is an interesting new/old name on the subs’ bench in Iain Gordon, who played at stand-off and full-back a couple of seasons ago. He is a clever player and is a useful kicker and Harrison, who knows his ability from his last stint in charge at Moorend said he could be a handy addition to the squad, either at No 10 or full-back and he too has plenty of experience.
The side have had one setback with an enforced change in the forwards as Geoff Jones has had to withdraw because of work and a decision on how to fill the gap was being made last night.
West Hartlepool will be a difficult side to beat. They have one advantage in that they have played two games since the new year, compared to Cleckheaton’s one.
