Golcar United need a towering performance to topple promotion rivals AFC Blackpool at the Skye Direct Stadium on Saturday (April 9) and midfielder Alex Hallam believes they can put recent form firmly behind them.
The Weavers found only champions Bury AFC too good in the first half of the season but since February the team has won just once in 10 matches.
Despite the poor run Golcar finished the season in third place and their promotion dream is still very much alive.
Hallam, 33, said: “We know our form hasn’t been the best and our goals have dried up a bit. It wasn’t like that earlier in the season when goals were coming from anywhere.”
READ MORE: Golcar United boss Ash Connor excited for playoff tie against AFC Blackpool.
Blackpool completed the double over Golcar this season and that may give them the psychological edge but Hallam knows there is enough experience and ability in the Weavers’ squad to turn it around.
“We know on our day we are good enough to beat anyone in this division,” he said.
Hallam has been at Golcar for a number of seasons. He earned promotion with Golcar to this division and is hoping to get another promotion on his CV this season. Hallam also scored in the Weavers’ first ever semi-pro game at this level.
On his time at the club, he said: “I arrived at the club when it was literally just a sloping pitch and a barrier around it with about 30 fans watching!
“Look at us now – we have a good stadium with proper facilities, a bar, food hut and so on. It’s exciting what’s happening at the club and I’m pleased to be part of it. I’m just hoping we can get this promotion over the line.”
There was a club-record 1,200 attendance at last week’s game against Bury and another big crowd is expected for the play-off semi.
“We are playing in front of big crowds with the village really backing us which is great to see,” said Hallam. “The club has lots of fantastic people volunteering for it, lots of them do the things they do and go unnoticed.”
Hallam may be approaching his mid-30s but says he can’t see himself leaving Golcar any time soon.
“I’m in the latter stages of my career but I’m still enjoying my time here,” he said. “I like playing for the managers and played a lot this season. Over the time I’ve been here I’ve played every position but goalkeeper. I’m playing in midfield at the moment and base my game on having high energy.
“Hopefully I can play on for a few more seasons yet. This promotion with Golcar will mean just as much as the one I got with Brighouse Town a few seasons back out of the North East Counties Division.”
The play-off semi is on Saturday April 9 (3.00) at the Skye Direct Stadium. The other semi-final is between second-placed Holker Old Boys and fifth-placed Nelson. The winners go into the final next Saturday with the club which finished highest in the league getting home advantage.
