Dom has specifically requested that these notes from his programme column this week gets posted on the forum. For people like ChrisB, who chooses not to buy a programme 'at any event' he goes to, but still continues to moan, I hope this is insightful!
'Since my last notes it has been a poor run in terms of results. We started with a defeat against Walton & Hersham where despite dominating we let in two poor goals in the first half and for all our attempts we failed to turn over the deficit. We then drew with Walton Casuals in another game that could have yielded three points. We found one of their players (Billy Dunn) in form far superior to the standard of this league and again despite creating numerous chances to go and win the game we just couldn’t quite get over the line. I have to say the Walton Casuals we played are not a bottom of the table team. They have strengthened significantly and have a team of real pedigree now since their change of manager. Last week we played South Park and a horror show in the first half saw us 3-1 down but the lads showed great character to get back to 3-3 and again I can look on this game as points dropped as in my opinion we were by far the better team. Whitstable Saturday was another disappointment as we dominated and but for the sending off early in the game I am certain we would have won.
Our luck has to change soon as I feel for long spells we are playing good football, scoring goals and creating chances. We have let in some poor goals which has cost us and been on the end of a couple of great individual performances from opposition players but if we can get a settled side and some time on the training field we can iron out these issues.
Monday saw a patched up side win 3-0 against Uckfield in the Senior Cup in a tough night for everyone. After a grueling game Saturday on an awful heavy surface and down to 10 for the best part of 75 minutes it was always going to make things harder. Tim and Ade were injured and ill, Richard Rose is still struggling with his groin, Hopkinson a dead leg, Pullan played with a back problem, Woodley was cup tied and Evan Archibald had been ill all week. Due to desperate times Sean Ray had to play two games with just a day in between after being out for 5 weeks which is certainly not ideal, Vickers played his first 90 minutes for the club since last season and after being suspended for the best part of three weeks and Sam Adams showed the captain that he is by playing despite everything hurting!! It meant a change in shape and a scrappy game. The positives were Ray and Vickers came through the game unscathed and the minutes will help with their comebacks, we got no further injuries and it allowed us to get some first team experience for two young lads at the club in Kyle Holden and Harvey Hanaffin as well as getting Bright Temba back in the fold. Some of these boys may well be the future of the club and whilst given the season we are having makes it hard to blood them, particularly when we are battling all the time as that can have a detrimental effect on young players, I hope we can get more of these boys a look before the end of the season.
Moving on to Redhill, they are another side that have greatly strengthened since the start of the season and will prove another tough test. All I ever ask is the players give their all and that they try and implement what we are asking them to do. The constant injuries and unavailability’s has made it very hard to get levels of consistency, I have to hope at some stage this will change and we can get the side I consider the strongest out on the pitch.
It will be nice to have Jan Miller and Adam Westwood back today as well. Due to unforeseen circumstances away from football both have missed the last two games and the lads miss them!!
I ask all the supporters to stay positive at matches and really encourage the team, they always need your help and you can be the 12th man!'
Don't worry about it Dan! It's one person, and so many more people have said how good it is. It just means someone else who actually appreciates what we do doesn't miss out!
I still have great faith in Dom to turn things round and things like this only reinforce that faith. All I will say is it gets bloody frustrating when you see teams like Redhill and Walton Casuals "greatly strengthening their sides" in Dom's words, whilst we replace the likes of Sawyer, Dolan and King with players like Archibald, Hunt and Boswell, although I've liked the look of Hopkinson on his return to the club. The defining moment for me will be when Dom has his first pre season and a Summer searching for the players he wants, as some doubt the contacts he may have. Good informative piece from him and refreshing once again.
I am concerned that it seems all teams have strengthened but in my opinion we have weakened ours I really hope he doesn't think the players Johnw has said are improving our quality. We need a settled side very quickly. Let's hope more players don't leave and hope some more experiance at our level can be signed.
Still very worried about our current situation especially after last night results.
Good luck to all on Saturday we are going to need it.
