PR: Staveley MW vs North Ferriby

North Ferriby Fc take a break from their league campaign as they travel to Staveley Miners Welfare in the NCEL league cup second round.

The Villagers sit top of the NCEL premier division, they cemented their position further with a comprehensive 4-0 victory over Yorkshire Amateur at the weekend. Chris Bolder summed up his thoughts on the game, “first half, for various reasons we weren’t quite at the races. We had a good chat at half-time, we expressed to the lads what we expect, we weren’t amazing in the second half but we were much improved. To come away with another clean sheet, to score some good goals again, we have to be happy again with that”.

In Staveley, the Villagers travel to a side in the league below them. This could easily have been a league fixture this season, but Staveley chose voluntary relegation despite finishing tenth in the NCEL premier division. Staveley currently sit twelfth in division one. Last time out they drew 1-1 at Worsbrough Bridge.

The Villagers received a bye into the round with them being in a league higher. It was at this stage last year they exited the competition, a penalty shootout defeat at Maltby Main the outcome. Staveley also received a bye into the second round.

Staveley reached the semi-final of last year’s competition, losing out to eventual winners Barton.

Bolder gave a start to Josh Whiteley, who recently returned from Australia, in the win over Yorkshire Amateur. Bolder had this to say of his forwards first start of the season, “we know what Josh is going to bring to us, he’s a great player, a great lad in the dressing room. There were elements of his game that were a bit rusty but that is to be expected. He’s been nursing an ankle problem; he’s only going to get better and better”.

Chris Bolder is expected to make changes from the Yorkshire Amateur game to keep his squad fresh and give players who haven’t recently featured minutes.

North Ferriby kindly provided the preview.