Dale aims to find consistency

Bridgend Street manager Craig Dale has said he is striving for consistency, as his Splott based side seek silverware at the end of a season that has seen more than a fair share of frustration for ‘The Misson’.

Dale was speaking to Y Clwb Pel Droed ahead of this Saturday’s game against table toppers STM Sports, his second in sole command following the departure of joint manager Simon Croker last week. Street have beaten STM in League and Cup this season, and the visitors to The Willows are billing the game as being against the ‘title favourites’.

Dale said inconsistent performances had held his team back this season.

“It [inconsistency] has held us back, no doubt. We’ve dropped too many silly points and although we’ve been involved in some high scoring games, we’ve struggled to finish teams off with the changes that we’ve created.

“I don’t see too much changing now I’m in charge on my own. Simon and I had the same vision for how we wanted to play and I’m not about to change that now. The inconsistency has held us back this season.”

The manager is clear about what his team can achieve over the rest of the season. He said,

“We want to try and win every game. As simple as that. If we do we’ll be back in the promotion race and we can win a cup.”

Street face Welsh League One outfit Haverfordwest County in the semi final of the Nathaniel Cup, having dispatched holders Taffs Well in the previous round. If they were to win, the final would pit them against west Cardiff side Caerau (Ely) or League Two title favourites Llanelli Town and the free scoring Lee Trundle.

Dale said,

“I expect we were the team the other three all wanted to draw in the semi finals, no doubt we are the least fancied. We got here on merit and we’ll give our all to reach the final. It means a lot to a club our size and it sounds like there’ll be a big turnout from Splott at the semi final over at Pen-y-bont.”

Author’s view: With Welsh Premier experience in strike Jeff White and midfield Paul Fowler, and a defence anchored by Ross Dingle and Richie Noyes, there is no doubt that Street have the potential to make a late surge, but promotion may well be an ask too far.

Can they cause a cup upset? Why not? Haverfordwest have been a form team in Welsh League One, but Street on their day can score plenty of goals – and in a one-off cup game there’s no reason they can’t make their way to a final.