ANDY Welsh has told his players they will all get their chance to play a part in Bury AFC’s push for promotion.
The AFC boss highlighted the upturn in fortunes of Aiden Chippendale, who scored twice in Tuesday’s 3-0 win over Ashton Town, while Ben Wharton also hit the target as he came into the starting line-up.
Chippendale’s brace followed the double he scored against Northwich Victoria two weeks ago to book a place in the next round of the FA Vase.
And ahead of Saturday’s second qualifying round tie at Maltby Main, Welsh said: “Chippy, a few weeks ago, found himself not really in and around the team. So a message to all our players is that you need a squad to challenge for a title and that certainly is what Chippy has done.”
Welsh was also happy to see Wharton take his chance and get his goal which helped lift the mood following Saturday’s 0-0 draw at Garstang.
“That is something we have said to the strikers at the club,” he said. “Whether it be Ben, Liam (McDervitt), Greavesy (Tom Greaves), Adam (McWilliam) or Greg (Daniels) or whoever plays up there, we just feel we have been putting a lot of balls in to the box and we don’t feel we have been attacking the near post enough. But for 83 minutes I thought Ben was brilliant, he held the ball up really well, brought others in to play.”
The victory saw AFC move joint top of NWCL First Division North with Golcar United which lifted the mood from the below par display at Garstang.
“I thought the lads were outstanding,” he told the club website. From the weekend we wanted a little bit more energy, bit more tempo in our play and making sure we tested the keeper and I thought that is what we got.
“I am really, really proud of them.
He added: “At the weekend, all around the club, it was all a little bit flat so there was a bit of soul searching for everyone wanting to put it right and I think that is what we have all done. 
“Not just the players on the pitch but the fans off it who were immense and the volunteers here, it was a really good night again.
“Coming off Saturday, all of a sudden, that point, that clean sheet, we are building momentum with two clean sheets - there are always positives if you look at things from a positive way.”
Looking ahead to the trip to Yorkshire to take on Northern Counties side Malby Main, Welsh added: “This will be a tough game.
“I know a lot of Yorkshire teams, Maltby are always notoriously a strong side at their level so I am expecting a tough game. But we will be preparing right and, as a football club, will certainly be trying and get into the next round of the cup.”