WOMBWELL Town are due to host Penistone Church on Tuesday in a clash of the two highest-placed non-league sides in Barnsley.
With both teams due to play at the weekend before the midweek derby, Church are currently eighth in the NCEL Premier Division – eight points ahead of 15th-placed Town.
Wombwell manager Karl Rose said: “We have Albion Sports on Saturday which is a massive game because they are near us in the league.
“Then it’s a local derby.
“Penistone have been a great side at this level, they are unlucky not to have gone up.
“They do things right as a club and we respect them.
“We have to strive to be like them.
“It will be a tough game against a good team. Hopefully it’s a big crowd and a good atmosphere.”
Town have only taken a point from their six away games since promotion last season while, at home, they have claimed 11 points from six.
They drew 2-2 home to then bottom club Rossington Main on Saturday, having been 2-0 down on 78 minutes.
Eddie Agnew and Oliver Fearon got the late goals.
They then lost 1-0 at home to Campion in the League Cup on Tuesday.
Rose said: “The step up is bigger than I thought it would be. The top sides are really good.
“Some of the signings haven’t worked out and we didn’t have the best pre-season
“We just have to get a foothold in the league, stabilise in mid-table and kick on from there.
“Our home form has been good but we’ve had too many draws.
“We’ve probably lost a bit of our identity. We have an honest dressing room and people speak their minds.
“There is a lot of frustration because we’re used to winning.
“We need to go back to basics and work our socks off.
“We haven’t been good enough in both boxes. We’ve got to tidy our defending up as a team, stop making stupid mistakes and take our chances when we’re on top.”
Penistone lost 6-1 at Parkgate on Saturday. They equalised with an own goal then conceded five.
Church then lost 2-1 at home to Pickering Town in the League Cup on Wednesday.
The visitors took the lead midway through the first half then Sam Scrivens equalised. Pickering got the winner seconds after the break.
