Sheffield & Hallamshire Senior Cup
Darren Hepworth says unbeaten Hepworth United are capable of pulling off a major upset at Worsbrough Bridge in the unmissable First Round tie if two elements work in their favour.
The surprise Sheffield & Hallamshire County Senior League Premier Division leaders head to Luke Forgione’s Worsbrough this evening full of confidence and dreaming of glory.
The idea of Hepworth winning at Worsbrough was unimaginable 12 months ago when the club was struggling at the bottom of their Division.
But under the popular ex-Emley AFC boss, Hepworth are a club transformed and Hepworth says victory would be one of the biggest moments in the club’s history.
“It would certainly be up there (in the club’s greatest moments),” Hepworth told Non League Yorkshire.
“The club getting into the Premier Division itself was a massive achievement.
“To win (at Worsbrough) would be one of (the club’s) greatest nights, it has to be.
“I’m expecting us to put a strong performance on.
“I’m not saying we’re going to win but I expect us to make a good game of it and I expect us to compete and make it tough for Worsbrough.
“We believe (in causing an upset) but to get anything we are going to be at our best.
“If we play to our potential and they’re not quite at it then I think we’ll have enough to win the game but that’s banking on those two things coming off.”
Hepworth says his band of merry men also have the benefit of playing without pressure.
“We’re all looking forward to it,” he said.
“I have been in Fudge’s position in playing a County Senior and he’s dammed if he doesn’t and dammed if he does.
“They are expected to win.
“I know they have had a tough start to the season but there’s no doubt they have quality and Fudge is an excellent coach.
“I expect them to be at it and be well-organised and they’ll see it as a chance to get some confidence to take back into the league.
“Equally for us it is a real test to how far we have come.
“It is a bit of a free hit for us.
“We have literally nothing to lose.
“What you hope for is we give a good account of ourselves and that’s we will aim to do.
“If that means winning the game that’s a bonus.”
Hepworth also has first hand experience of being a victim of a stunning Senior Cup upset.
His 2013 Emley were hammered 6-1 by Houghton Main at home.
Ashley Vickers scored four times for Houghton in a game still itched on Hepworth’s mind nine years on.
“It was big-time (a shock to the system) and a real wake-up call,” he said.
“I do remember that night and I did put a few fringe players in and it can back-fire on you.
“Equally you can get that response that you need.
“I gambled and I got bitten.
“I’ll tell the players about (that night) but what I want them to concentrate on is the things we have worked hard on since the start of the season.
“If we do those things right we’ll make the game interesting.”
Enos Huly is one Hepworth player who returns to his old stomping ground for the cup tie.
Huly has been a key part of Hepworth’s rise to power.
The Huddersfield-based side were reprieved from relegation last season, yet they’re now talked about as potential title favourites – not that Hepworth is getting drawn into that kind of talk.
“No (we’re not the title favourites)…we’re going to go for it,” he said.
“I wouldn’t say we are favourites but we’re certainly going to give it our best shot this season.
“We’re building for the future as well.
“I want Hepworth to be competing in that Division for years to come and who knows we might decide at some point that we want to go further.
“That’s one for another day.”
Worsbrough Bridge chief Luke Forgione does plan to rest players for the tie.
His side have had a difficult start to the Toolstation NCEL Division One campaign and that’s his main focus.
“They are doing really well and if I’m being brutally honest, the league is more of a priority for us at the moment,” Forgione told Non League Yorkshire.
“We’d love to win on Wednesday because we’d love to win every game but the league is our priority.
“We have to stay in the league.
“There might be a few changes and there has to be because there’s some lads who haven’t played much football.
“Jordan Kershaw hasn’t had many minutes recently and he’ll play on Wednesday.
“I won’t make wholesale changes but there are some lads who need minutes and we have to give them some as it is a squad game.”