ANDY Welsh is determined the Neuven Stadium will be a fortress as Bury AFC get ready for some Friday night football.

Landlords Radcliffe’s FA Cup clash with Skelmersdale United on Saturday means AFC host Steeton tomorrow night

Unbeaten and fourth in the early North West Counties League First Division North table, Welsh is looking to kick on from bank holiday Monday’s 2-1 win against Daisy Hill, a fifth victory of the campaign.

And the former Sunderland winger believes that with nearly 1,500 fans present for the come-from-behind win against the Cutters, supporters have a big role to play this season.

“We’ve got to make this a fortress,” Welsh said. “The fans came out today and in the first five or 10 minutes they were so excited as we got chances and sometimes there are a few lulls in the game.

“But that’s what teams want to do. They want to come here and frustrate us but again, I thought the fans were brilliant. The new songs you hear them singing, for me and the players it’s what it’s all about.

“The louder we make this place the harder I believe it is for teams to play against us.”

The Daisy Hill win saw AFC come away with three points after going 1-0 down early in the second half.

Kristian Holt and Matty Williams got the goals leaving the manager pleased with the resolve on display from his side.

“It was another frustrating day in front of goal,” Welsh said.

“We’ve created chances, we’ve hit the crossbar, hit the post, tested the keeper a couple of times in the first half but I think it was just a matter of time before we got the goal.

“Unfortunately they had to get their goal first to kick us into life but at any level good teams come back and react with an answer and that’s what we did.”

There was a debut off the bench for Samuel Oluwabiyi and Welsh was pleased with what he saw.

“He can play a number of positions one of them being in the middle of the pitch and you could see with his recovery runs he’s got pace,” he said.

“He’s aggressive on the ball and without it and he’s deserved a chance. I’m always going to give the younger boys a chance and he’s been training really, really well.

“His international clearance has only just come through and it’s down to him when he gets given a shirt and I thought he came on and started to sure us up in there.”