Following two disappointing performances against Boston United and Alfreton Town, three points against Bradford Park Avenue on Saturday would be the ideal scenario to rejuvenate the club’s play-off aMBitions.
Derbies can also throw up interesting encounters, usually played with increased intensity and speed, something Billy Heath’s side have lacked since returning from the week break.
In terms of form the Shaymen face Bradford in transformed form – picking up three successive victories which has seen them climb out of the relegation places.
They’ve netted nine goals in three games, with an abundance of those coming from midfielders. Veteran Nicky Wroe struck twice from the spot in Avenue’s 5-1 romp at home to Gainsborough Trinity and he is our player spotlight ahead of the game on Saturday.
Wroe should be no stranger to Town supporters, with the 31-year old having spent last season at the MBI Shay which resulted in him being selected in Jim Harvey’s starting eleven for the FA Trophy final at Wembley in May.
After his game-time was proving limited at new club Notts County, Wroe joined the Shaymen in August 2015 on a short-term loan deal.
At the turn of 2016, his move became permanent after terminating his contract with the League Two side by mutual consent.
Wembley was his final outing in Shaymen colours, following the agonizing disappointment of relegation on the final day of the season a month prior. Wroe was one of the experienced heads in the camp as Town pulled up under the famous arch, with Wroe playing in the Conference-play off final with Torquay United in 2009 vs Cambridge United.
Wroe spent most his career alternating between League One and League Two, with first club Barnsley, Bury, Shrewsbury, Preston and Oxford United.
However, he made the most appearances for the Gulls (105) across three seasons. This was his second longest spell at any club followed by Barnsley. At his first club, Wroe spent four years where he was part of the club’s meteoric rise from League Two to the Championship in five years. Wroe only went on to make three appearances in the second highest division in 2006/2007 before being shipped out to Bury on loan before a permanent move to Hamilton Academia.
This season Wroe is currently seeing a late flurry of goals come his way, with his highest tally of goals (four with Bradford Avenue) in three years when he scored eight during his time at Preston.
Wroe was a popular character around the club and has many former team-mates currently in the Shaymen line-up. However, as we all know, friendships go to one side when the kick-off whistle is blown…
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