Yorkshire Amateur goalkeeping coach Tom Shepherd is familiar with tomorrow’s NCEL Premier opponents Maltby Main, having spent a brief period on the coaching staff at The Miners during pre-season.
Shepherd left his role alongside former manager Russ Eagle’s departure and in conjunction with new manager Andy Dawson bringing in his own coaching staff.
“They had the resources to be able to attract big players to help them achieve the objective Russ [Eagle], chairman Dave [Watts] and myself had discussed,” explained Shepherd.
“You could see the vision the club had going forward, the players they wanted to attract. They wanted that balance between experience and youth. Given time, I believe they could be higher than the position they are in now.
“Their performance they played against us earlier in the season, they were good on the ball, creative, an attacking threat. Defensively they were organised and compact. I’ve faced [Andy] home and away when I was at Selby, he was managing Parkgate, and he’s very particular in his style”.
“They’ve had a big change in squad in the previous four months since the new manager [Dawson] came in”.
One player still remaining from Shepherd’s time at the club is the player he worked closest with, ‘keeper Dylan Parkin, among few others.
“I knew Dylan from a full season we spent together previously at Selby,” began Shepherd. “I knew a lot about him before he joined, given his pro days at Chesterfield and prior to that.
“Given his quality and where he’d played at before, the thing with Dylan was maintaining that ability consistently.
“Brandon Bagley, I expect a lot of their play to revolve around him. He’s capable of something special, calm-headed in possession”.
Given the manor of Ammers’ recent narrow defeats, often by the single goal, developing consistencies is promising, according to Shepherd.
“If you look at the last four to six games, we’ve been pretty consistent in certain areas. Our back four has found itself, in midfield we’re pretty solid. We’re creating chances, getting in good positions.
“We’re losing out by narrow margins, one goal mainly, which on other days could go in our favour”.
The Ammers travel to Muglet Lane tomorrow in a 1:30pm kick-off.
Ticket prices for Maltby: Adults – £5, Concessions – £3, U16s – Free