Toolstation/Hellenic Swags chief relishing big derby with Clevedon
NAILSEA & Tickenham chairman Rob Gregory wants high-flying local rivals Clevedon Town to “keep looking over their shoulders at us” as the teams prepare for a tasty football first at Fryth Way this afternoon (3pm).
Although the ground staged a Les Phillips League Cup tie between the two last season, when Premier Division Clevedon clinched a 1-0 win against their First Division promotion-chasing hosts of the time, Nailsea & Tickenham have never, when it comes to league combat, entertained their near-neighbours, perched second on the Toolstation top-flight ladder and eyeing promotion.
Unsurprisingly, it’s a maiden clash the long-serving Nailsea clubman and his colleagues are rubbing their hands at the thought of. Gregory, pictured, recalled: “I played for Clevedon as a centreforward in the mid-80s when Gerry Sweeney was manager and Dougie Hand the chairman. They were great times.
“It would be huge for us, and a measure of how far we have come in such a short space of time, were we to beat them.
“They beat us 3-1 at their place on Boxing Day in front of 364 people, and I’ll be disappointed if we don’t attract 200-plus for this next one. We’ve earmarked the occasion as our sponsors day; we’ll have 25 of our main backers here hopefully enjoying the food we’re putting on along with a prize perimeter board draw.
“Being a Good Friday derby of such importance should also be an attraction to fans of other clubs looking for a big game to watch.
“It all certainly makes for the biggest day yet for our club this season.”
Gregory is delighted by the way Nailsea & Tickenham have “gone toe-to-toe” with many of the Premier Division’s big guns fresh off the back of last year’s elevation.
“We have suffered heavy 7-2 and 5-0 defeats by Bridgwater and Street,” the Fryth Way chief said. “Other than that we’ve competed so well against top sides like the leaders Helston, who beat us 3-1 when anyone watching would not have been surprised had we won it.
“We beat Buckland 4-3, while at the weekend we somehow lost 1-0 at Falmouth in what was an amazing atmosphere.
“They have fantastic support: on Saturday there were 455 there parading replica tops, scarves and even a band with drums behind
the goal, something I’d never previously witnessed at this level. I’d gone there realistic about our chances of getting anything from the game; yet we came away knowing we’d deserved at least a draw, and we were even applauded out of the clubhouse by their supporters who clearly felt the same way.
“We gave away one silly goal from our perspective, although it was a brilliant header that won it for them giving our ‘keeper Jason (Mellor) no chance.
“It was an absorbing end-to-end game in which their ‘keeper also made fantastic saves, and right at the end we shaved the post.
“Falmouth beat us only 1-0 at our place earlier in the season, but what they have is something we have to start aspiring to as the main club in Nailsea, starting with attracting far more than the 70 or so paying customers we regularly have in for home games.” Nailsea have operated of late without striker Lucas Vowles, who’d scored 14 goals from 26 appearances this season before sustaining a knee injury in the 2-0 win at Oldland Abbotonians early this month.
“It’s a big blow being without him,” Gregory admitted, “and he’s a doubt for Friday against his old club. It’s also huge credit to the lads and our management team of Jamie Smith, Nic Steadman and Rich Lucas that we’ve kept pushing through so capably in the face of a horrendous injury list which includes our club captain Hamish Hurst (ankle).
“It’s why we’ve had to use 56-plus players and make numerous signings, including our latest one Jordan Sole (striker) from Hutton.
“Jordan came on for the last 25 minutes at Falmouth, and while it was a real baptism of fire for him, he looked very promising.”
Gregory said of this afternoon’s Clevedon spectacle: “As of last year, when we drew them in the Les Phillips Cup, there’s been a rivalry, and I’m sure Clevedon are looking over their shoulders at us. Hopefully they’ll keep doing that.
“These are good times in our locality with Clevedon up there in our league and Portishead doing unbelievably well, not to mention Weston-super-Mare in National League South.
“We’ve also got a new under-18 team ready for next season in the North Division of the Western Counties Floodlight Youth League led by Cheltenham Town’s legendary striker Jason Eaton and Simon Tarr.
“These are exciting times for our club and we want to keep pushing on, while still managing our expectations realistically and financially.”
With Clevedon second in the standings heading to Fryth Way and five points adrift of table topping Helston, Seasiders manager Alex White acknowledged: “At this late stage of the season, games like these are big ones. I guess with this one there’s the added spice of a derby, and a new one still at that.
“Of course, the aim now we’re here is to win promotion and hopefully the league, which we know will be a massive ask. But we’ve at least given ourselves an outside chance.
“If it’s not to be then we need to make sure we secure enough points as early as possible to get in the play-offs, and three or four wins from our remaining seven games should do it.
“We certainly need to end the season in good form, and if it is to be the play-offs for us then it’s about ensuring we finish up in second or third place as a home tie is key to our chances.
“We’re not taking anything for granted knowing we have to travel to Helston for our last game of the season, which has the potential to be important for both clubs.”
While today’s Toolstation Prem programme also features Oldland Abbotonians’ bottom-three clash with Welton Rovers (3pm), the First Division offers Bristol derbies in the shape of the enticing uppertable match between Cribbs Reserves and Portishead Town at The Lawns (3pm); Shirehampton’s home clash with Hallen (1pm), Longwell Green Sports’ visit to AEK Boco (1.30pm), Brislington’s bout with guests Keynsham Town (3pm), and Hengrove Athletic’s trip to Bristol Telephones (3pm).
In Hellenic Premier Division, Roman Glass St George are also in action today at Oaklands Park against Hereford Pegasus (3pm).
Tomorrow sees Thornbury Town at play-off chasing Fairford Town (3pm), while Hellenic One involves relegation-threatened Chipping Sodbury Town’s crucial away clash with FC Stratford and play-off hopefuls FC Bristol’s trip to basement battlers Kidlington Reserves (both 3pm).
Mangotsfield United had midweek goals from Jadyn Crosbie, Henry Ikeije and Rohan Eugene Nelson to thank for earning them a place in the final of the GFA Challenge Trophy courtesy of a 3-1 semis win over Tytherington Rocks at Cossham Street.
In the final on April 25, Mangos will face either Cinderford Town, who they next travel to in Hellenic Prem action on April 6 (7.45pm), or Cheltenham Saracens.