Bluebells look well placed for play-offs at crucial stage of season
YATE Town assistant manager Andy Smith has urged his players to “grab a big opportunity with both hands” as they steel themselves for a makeor-break run-in, starting with the visit by Swindon Supermarine tomorrow.
The Bluebells lurk just three points off a play-off spot in seventh position with games in hand on all above them following Saturday’s morale-boosting 2-1 win at Hendon and Wednesday night’s goalless draw at Truro City.
Smith said of that outcome: “A midweek draw away against fellow play-off hopefuls wasn’t too shabby. It was a scrappy game on a very difficult pitch, although we probably had the better chances.”
Of that weekend success over Hendon in London, the Lodge Road No 2 reflected: “It was a much-needed if not scrappy win. It was a game of very few clear-cut chances played on a very tricky artificial surface with a strong wind just adding to the difficulties.
“We had the perfect start with a penalty awarded within the first 30 seconds which Luke Hopper put away. Hendon only created one clear opportunity when their striker fired over from a cross from their left. The second half was a similar story, Hendon seeing most of the ball but creating few chances.
“Unfortunately for us, they were awarded a converted penalty six minutes in after a rash challenge from our captain Jamie Adams.
“Thankfully, we went on to get a 71st-minute winner from a corner which Matt Bower, at the far post, headed back across goal where Andy Lewis nodded home. We defended resolutely after that and withstood a bit more pressure in injury-time to see the game safely out.”
Smith stressed: “At this stage of the season, it’s all about results and it kept us in the hunt for that final play-off spot. If you’d offered us to be in the play-off mix at the start of August, we’d have bitten your hand off.
“Now we are here, and worked so hard for it, we’re all determined to keep it in our hands and finish in that top five. These opportunities don’t come along too often in players’ careers; so we have to grab it with both hands.”
Bristol Manor Farm playercoach Stuart Tovey insists “total focus” on five crucial fixtures to come is the name of the game now as they gear up for tomorrow’s away encounter with improving third-bottom Cinderford Town.
He labelled Saturday’s 2-1 away defeat of play-off rivals AFC Totton “our biggest win of the season yet” after watching in delight his team leapfrog their beaten Hampshire hosts into third place in Division One South thanks to the returning Owen Howe’s late winner.
“It was a great win and came at a time results mean more and more with each passing week,” Tovey said. “We went into the game confidently, knowing we had the opportunity to go above Totton. We possibly should’ve gone into half-time leading by more than just Ben Bament’s goal, as we’d had other good chances and a strong penalty appeal for handball turned away.
“Totton came at us more in the second half and got an equaliser, only for us to pick up again and win it with an unbelievable swivel and finish, stumbling over as he did so, into the bottom corner by Owen on his first game back with us.”
The Manor Farm coach continued: “Having Owen back (from Barnstaple Town) is a huge boost because he’s a proven goalscorer at this level. Kye Simpson’s also done brilliantly in the two games since he joined us from Mangotsfield with his pace, strength and aerial ability, not to mention his own debut goal in our win over Willand the previous week.
“Everyone is happy with the way things are going; but it’s important we keep a lid on it as there’s a lot of hard work ahead. No one wanted to go too crazy after the Totton win because it’s possible we’ll get them again in the play-offs.”
A watchful Tovey noted: Cinderford may be in the lower reaches of the table; but they’ve just won two on the spin and it’s always been a tough place to play at as we well know after suffering a series of hidings by them in recent years.
“We need to doubly make sure we’re on our toes and fully focused,” warned Tovey, who welcomes influential central midfielder Theo Llewellyn back from suspension to join a full-strength squad.
Manor Farm are not out of the reckoning for a shot at top spot as they trail leaders Frome Town by six points heading into the weekend, although they have played a game more than the Somerset side.
“We’ll be keeping half an eye on that situation, although a few snookers are required by us at this late stage,” said Tovey. “We just need to concentrate on what we do as things can go wrong if you start weighing up permutations.”
Eighth-placed Paulton Rovers have the chance to put daylight between them and their hosts tomorrow, Melksham Town, who sit a place and point beneath John Rendell’s men on the Division One South ladder.
Rovers remain a competitive operator but have had to settle for three straight draws to take to Melksham, the latest point pocketed coming courtesy of two-goal Leighton Thomas’ late leveller in Saturday’s 2-2 stalemate with Lymington Town at Winterfield Road.
Assistant boss Paul Tovey admitted: “Saturday was very frustrating; but at least we battled back to gain a deserved point.
“After taking the lead early through Leighton, Lymington equalised with their first effort at goal midway through the first half.
“Their second was a breakaway fluke of a goal, coming off their lad’s shin pads and flying in the top corner from outside the box.
“We missed a few chances, hit the post twice and had a couple of blatant penalties turned down before Leighton equalised with an overhead kick just before the end.
“Although it was a disappointing result, it keeps us a point ahead of our next opponents Melksham, where we may be light on numbers with a couple away and our leftback Alfie Clarke struggling with a sore groin.”
Mangotsfield United’s position with seven to play in the same second tier is increasingly uncomfortable after slipping to a third straight slender defeat with Tuesday night’s luckless 1-0 loss at home to Highworth Town.
Glyn Ashton’s team now set off to Hampshire tomorrow for a crucial match not only affecting his own second-bottom side, but their hosts too, Winchester City, who remain very much in the play-off picture.
Mangotsfield head for Winchester only five points above the one relegation place occupied by Barnstaple but with two games in hand on the North Devon strugglers.