Two very important Tuesday fixtures coming up which basically represent our 'games in hand' over some of the teams above us and all caused by our FA Cup run. So it's important these yield maximum points to keep us very much in touch with the title chasers.
I feel the games are equally important for the supporters and it would be good to see both a result AND an entertaining performance on Tuesday. I felt the Ashford and Felixstowe games sent the fans home rather flat as we seemed to run out of ideas. Cray was a far better effort and I certainly felt far more upbeat about the performance though disappointed, and somewhat robbed, at the final whistle.
Clearly we have some cold Saturdays (and even colder Tuesdays under the lights) to come and the team will need to succeed AND entertain to keep the crowds coming in the same numbers through the next three months as they have through the first three months.
I certainly agree, Mick, that the upcoming period is extremely important. And, yes, ideally we want both points and entertainment in order to sustain the exceptional gates we have enjoyed thus far this season.
But, the crucial thing is for the team to fulfill the committment Gary Elphick made in Friday's Observer - to be back among the leading teams by Christmas. We might have to grind out results - as we evidently did at Three Bridges - to achieve that, but our core support will fully understand the necessity until the squad can be strengthened and function as Gary intends.
Although the other important statement Gary made in the Observer - to cease playing and concentrate on management - may hurt us in the short term; I am sure that that will be of longer term benefit. Player / Management is fraught with difficulties, it is only ever a short term solution. Gary as a fully committed long term manager with a support team around him of his choice and what by all accounts remains a generous budget is far more reassuring.
First of all congratulations to Barry Westbrook on winning the 50/50 with ticket 39835 for £105.00. As for the game virtually identical to Saturday at Three Bridges. Sittingbourne scored first, player sent off and we eventually won. Deja Vu. Still a lot of effort but struggling to put shots away. Thought Tom Chalmers man of match.
Struggle to break Sittingbourne down but a well deserved 3 points. Sorry Harry Stannard had to go off injured. He scored some good goals for us. New centre half played well with Craig Stone. Kane Penn good and Jack's last minute goal very important for our season.
Sounds like the kind of win you just have to grind out. Thoughts on O’Mara? Presumably we’ll look to make his move permanent what with Gary stepping back. And can anyone reveal what the ‘exciting’ news in the programme was?
Looking forward to making the trip south to Haywards Heath on Saturday.
Had a horrible feeling it was going to be 'one of those nights' again when we went behind but we certainly got what we deserved in the end.
Didn't get a view of the red card incident but those around me thought it was the right decision.....and it rather changed the game with Sittingbourne abandoning too many thoughts of getting players forward after that.
Breaking down teams who 'park the bus' certainly isn't one of our great strengths but we got the reward for persistence, bags of effort and a few near misses.
Good to see Jack has rediscovered his goal scoring touch and also good to see a 700+ crowd despite the cold weather. Another big game on Saturday.
Really gritty performance last night against a very good side. Sittingbourne surprised me somewhat, good movement and decent passing side and had it been 11 vs 11 getting 3 points might have been beyond us. But the sending off changed the game. Sittingbourne defended well and yes thought it was going to be one of those nights but great to get the late winner. Hopefully the confidence of another hard fought win can kick start our promotion push. Was surprised about the attendance. Looked nowhere near 700 and was fairly quiet apart from that bloody horn that needed crushing.
