Crunch time for Sedgley (From Bury Times)

Crunch time for Sedgley

12:00pm Thursday 14th February 2013 in Sport By Neil Bonnar

SEDGLEY Park have no time to dwell on last Saturday’s defeat to relegation rivals Macclesfield.

Already 12 points adrift of safety in National League One, they saw Macclesfield leapfrog them by inflicting an 11th defeat in Tigers’ last 12 matches.

But the Park Lane club’s manager, Geoff Roberts, says his players have got to put it behind them and come out firing at Wharfedale this weekend. “Macclesfield was a big one, but this one’s even bigger,” he says.

Wharfedale are fourth bottom and are one of the clubs Sedgley must look to catch if they are to preserve their National League One status.

With three going down and Tigers currently second bottom above Cambridge, they are looking at bridging the gap between the likes of Wharfedale, who are 15 points above them, and Tynedale, who are another two points better off, in the hope that, in doing so, they will also leave Macclesfield and Cambridge in their wake.

Despite their horrendous run of form, Tigers have remained competitive throughout and their performances inspire confidence that a turnaround in results is possible.

Saturday’s 19-3 scoreline at Macclesfield did not tell the full story, according to Roberts, who was delighted with his side’s defending when under heavy pressure in the first half.

“We went 5-0 down in the first couple of minutes and then defended like nothing on Earth while they enjoyed probably 70 per cent possession in the first half,” he said.

“Then, just before half time they kicked an up and under which could have gone anywhere. The ball ran loose and luckily for them it broke for them and they scored to make is 12-0.

“We weren’t disheartened because it had been an even battle and we came out brighter in the second half, Matt Riley kicking a penalty straight away.

“It was muck and bullets after that and the turning point came about eight minutes from the end when Nick Flynn was red-carded at a ruck for alleged stamping and they made the extra man count.”