Sheffield FC look to cut out the mistakes as Frickley series continues

Club make the short trip to Westfield Lane for the second time in five days this weekend, having dumped Frickley out of the League Cup on penalties after a 1-1 draw during 90 minutes.

That result ended a run of three consecutive defeats for Sheffield and Smith hopes his side will now leave their recent mistakes behind.

“It was good to get the win after losing the last three games and we gave some of the young lads 90 minutes on the pitch,” he said.

“We've not been playing badly. It’s just we’ve made silly mistakes and got punished.

“I thought last week against Ilkeston for 70 minutes we played some of our best football and deservedly led 2-0 but then our legs went and they nicked it 3-2/

“We’ve had a few injuries but we're getting bodies back. It’s just Karl Demidh still on the injured list.

“I’m confident we’ll get a result at Frickley. We’re scoring goals and creating chances. We just need to cut out the mistakes.”

Club beat Frickley 6-0 last month in the reverse fixture. The Blues have slowly recovered from a poor start to the season which saw them lose their opening six matches in the league. Since then they have won three and drawn one of their last five.

Stocksbridge Park Steels are in FA Trophy action as they travel to BetVictor North West strugglers Pickering Town in the preliminary round.

The tie has been switched to Sunday due to Pickering War Memorial Day, with the car park at the ground being used for coaches.

“It’s not really ideal, but it’s either that or travelling up on Friday evening which we didn’t want,” said Stocksbridge boss Chris Hilton.

“We played them at the same stage last season and got beat 3-0 when they had just three shots on target, so we’ll certainly be looking to put that right.

“We’ll go there looking to play the way we can and show the same work ethic as we did at Wisbech last weekend when we scored three and could well have had six or seven.”

Steels will be without leading scorer Luke Mangham and skipper Liam McFadzen.

Pickering currently sit bottom of their division, having won just once in 13 outings in all competitions, which came in a 3-2 home victory over Mossley last month

In the Toolstation NCEL, Hallam will look to make it six wins on the spin in all competitions and complete a league double when they visit struggling Harrogate Railway Athletic.

The Countrymen hit five past the Rail without reply in mid September with the hosts having since lost their last four .

However, Hallam manager Steve Whitehead is expecting a tough game.

“I expect a sterner test with it being their home game than we had at our place,” Whitehead said.

“They haven’t managed to win since they last played us and go into the game having coming off the back of a couple of heavy defeats.

“We will have to make sure we maintain the standards that have put us on this okay run for us to take all- three points.”

Handsworth will go in search of a first away league win of the season when they visit ninth-placed Albion Sports.

The hosts have won two of the last three, while Russ Eagle’s side are without a win of any sorts in five.