Boss Smith not getting carried away by Welton’s superb start
As a group we have spoken about the adverse effect complacency can have if it creeps in
TOM Smith reflected on a great start to his tenure in charge at Welton Rovers and emphasised: “Our boys have it in them to keep it going.”
His side enter tomorrow’s home meeting with fifth-placed Warminster Town topping the Toolstation First Division ladder with six wins and two draws from eight unbeaten outings.
That has set pulses racing in anticipation of a positive West Clewes campaign, although the 28-year-old supremo and seasoned centre-half is understandably cautious about raising promotion hopes prematurely.
“I know the lads have it in them to maintain what they’ve begun but it really is such early days,” said Smith. “We have an exceptionally talented team; the quality we have pulled together is undeniable. But I won’t be sticking my neck out and saying we’ll carry on like this.
“We’ve not hit anything like consistent 100 per cent potential but the longer the lads can stay together and grow together, the more confidence levels will rise.
“As a group we have spoken about the adverse effect complacency can have if it creeps in.
“I don’t think that’s going to be a problem and they fully deserve to be where they are at this time.”
Smith’s decade as a player and now leader included a 2015 First Division promotion success, although he was a Wells City performer when Welton came straight back down a year on, ironically gaining elevation to the Prem once more with his new club in tandem with goalkeeper Will Justin, who is now serving as No 2 beside him at Welton.
“Will has hung up his gloves now to concentrate on the management side and we have Stuart James working alongside us too,” Smith explained. “Stu, like me, is 28 and has been in and around Welton Rovers for many years while his dad, Rae, was once chairman here.
“Stu is a popular figure here and he and I used to clean the changing rooms before and after first team games, so it’s nice how it’s all panned out. Will is only in his early 30s and that is how we wanted it; a young and enthusiastic management team with a hunger for success and it’s been a refreshing time for everyone.”
Smith’s stint in charge began with a memorable 6-0 March 7 home romp over Bristol Telephones during the latter reaches of last season.
“It was a fantastic way to start and I had plans then to change a few things, to put my stamp on things quickly,” Smith recalled.
“Instead it turned out to be the last game before Covid took a hold and all the season’s results were erased. Ultimately I want to establish us as a Premier Division club, however long that takes, and I want to manage at as high a level as possible. It would be great to think that could be with Welton, although we need to walk before we can run.”
Smith is without Jacob Watson tomorrow after the centre-back was sent off for a goal-line handling offence in Saturday’s 3-2 victory at Cheddar.
Chipping Sodbury Town club manager Scott Gibson expressed confidence that boss Jeff Roberts and his management team have the capacity to turn around their Premier Division fortunes following Tuesday night’s 4-2 home defeat by Bradford Town.
The South Gloucestershire side face Bridgwater Town on their travels tomorrow propping up the table with only two points from their opening eight games.
It’s the sort of testing early-season scenario Sodbury faced last season before regaining lost ground and comfortably reaching safety.
It was a struggle the long-serving Gibson rightly predicted then would ease and he fully expects a similar more successful Sodbury story to unfold soon.
“We have some really tasty players in the camp; some terrific talent; and once they fully fire we’ll surprise a few teams,” said Gibson.
“We did just that in our goalless draw at Buckland recently, a great result down there where we were unfortunate not to come out of it with a win, before going on to hold Hallen to a 4-4 draw three days later. We’ll be all right; I know we will.”
Tuesday’s loss at the hands of Bradford also marked a return to action for the Ridings hosts who had been in football lockdown since that epic Hallen stalemate three weeks prior.
“We unfortunately had an outbreak of coronavirus in the camp which affected several people,” said Gibson. “Thankfully we’re completely free of it now and the players are hungry to get stuck into the football again.”
Sodbury’s Prem compatriots Bitton, meanwhile, have been rocked by coronavirus concerns themselves, a setback manager Dan Langdon insists they are determined to respond to once they return to action on Tuesday, November 3.
High-flying Bitton were due to entertain local rivals Keynsham Town tomorrow, having already seen Tuesday’s date with Brislington postponed for the same Covid19 reasons this week.
“Several coaches and players have developed symptoms so we’ve had no choice but to follow all the protocol,” a dismayed Langdon outlined. “The most important thing is people’s health but it’s a real shame as we’d been on such a good run of form and now we can’t even train together.
“We’d had such a lot of time out of football over the past few months and now it’s all been snatched away again.
“I’ve asked the lads to keep themselves as fit as they possibly can as I don’t want to see all that hard work undone.
“Without doubt we’re continuing to set our sights on winning a place in next season’s Southern League.”
The Keynsham postponement tomorrow means Langdon is still to serve a two-match stadium ban for a tweet “expressing a few thoughts about the refereeing performance” during Bitton’s 3-2 FA Cup defeat by Larkhall Athletic last month.