NPL Division One East
Andy Monkhouse says Tadcaster Albion have a solid platform to build on next season.
John Deacey and assistant manager Andy Monkhouse have steered Tad to safety with a game to spare ahead of the final day home clash with Yorkshire Amateur.
The feat has been achieved with multiple young players and Monkhouse says it bodes well for the future.
“We wanted to give these younger players an opportunity to play at this level,” Monkhouse told Non League Yorkshire.
“A couple of lads we had when we came into the club have reacted really well alongside the new players.
“You’ll probably see them playing even better next season because they have had a taste of it this season and they understand the level.
“Hopefully they can kick on next year.
“Looking at it, the season is probably ending at the wrong time for us because of the form we have been in
“It is a time to review things and look at who we need to bring in or where we need to strengthen but there is a nucleus of a really talented and hard-working squad.
“We have a lot of pace in the forward areas to cause teams problems and we have done.
“That’s how we have played recently to get the results that we needed.
“You also have a group that don’t like getting beat.
“We lost on Monday but myself and John can’t knock them because of the effort and endeavour they have shown since late January onwards.
“We have performed really well (since then).”
Deacey and Monkhouse have done exceptionally well to secure survival without too much drama.
Four wins out of their last six games have been pivotal.
“It is a big relief,” Monkhouse said.
“When myself and John came into the club it was struggling so ultimately to get to safety with two games left, obviously we’re really pleased with that.
“If I’m right in thinking, the club were bottom of the league (when we took over) so whenever you are bottom of the league there’s obviously a worry.
“The players have reacted well to John and myself and I think that has shown on the pitch.
“Apart from Stockton away, we haven’t gone anywhere and been really turned over.
“I think we have been very good in the last ten or eleven games.
“We have been competitive in nearly all those games and nicked some really important results which have made us safe.
“Every-time we went into a game, it wasn’t a case of we won’t compete.
“It was a case of ‘we will’.”