Vital Game For Ferriby Against Tamworth

[FF News]

Ferriby return to league action on Saturday when Tamworth visit the Eon Visiual Media Stadium.

It will be Tamworth's first visit to Ferriby since April 1989 when the sides met in an FA Trophy semi-final. Tamworth won 4-1 that day to overturn a 2-2 defeat in the First Leg.

The reverse league fixture at Tamworth earlier in the season ended in a 2-2 draw after Ferriby led 2-0 at half-time.

The Villagers are currently in 10th position in the Vanarama Conference North, 11 points behind third-placed Tamworth but with three games in hand. Ferriby have won six and drawn three of their last nine games.

Ferriby are the North division's draw specialists with 11 draws from their 27 League games but Tamworth have also drawn 10 of their 30 fixtures. However, 8 of them came in their first 14 games. Last Saturday's draw with Barrow was their first draw since the game with Ferriby. Tamworth have lost lost only two of their last 12 games and have stormed up the Vanarama Conference North table.

A very tight and interesting game could be in prospect. In a division as tight as the Vanarama Conference North, a win on Saturday is vital to both clubs. Hopefully, there will be a decent crowd to cheer Ferriby on. Last week's Trophy game drew over 600 to the Eon Visual Media Stadium. The Villagers need this sort of support as they try to reach a play-off spot.

Ferriby manager Billy Heath commented, "We have to put the Trophy behind for this week and concentrate on the Tamworth game. If we beat them, it really is game on in terms of the league.

Heath was delighted with his side's victory over Ebbsfleet last Saturday, a win that took The Villagers to the FA Trophy semi-finals for the first time, "To some extent we laid the ghost of last year's quarter-final defeat. It took a late penalty from Liam (King) to win the game but, on the play, we deserved it.

"Not only did we win but we kept a clean sheet and we are now playing better defensively. We need more clean sheets if we are to achieve our goals this season."

Danny Emerton and Nathan Jarman are close to returning to the squad following injury but Josh Wilde and Gregg Anderson are doubtful for the Tamworth game having picked up injuries against Ebbsflee. Curtis Bateson returns to the squad after being ineligible for the Ebbsfleet game.

Source