Southern Fey braced for crunch clash with fellow Evertonian pal Murray
RICHARD Fey and Steve Murray are ready to cast friendship and mutual admiration to one side tomorrow.
The pair lock horns at Winterfield Road for a match of genuine significance, with Fey’s Paulton Rovers in urgent need of wins, still rooted to the Division One South floor, and Murray’s Cribbs very much in the mix to cement a playoff place, located third in the standings.
Both leaders found themselves catapulted into their respective hot-seats in recent times and now find themselves up against each other in extraordinary circumstances neither could have anticipated a few weeks ago.
Fey is under no illusions that, despite a spirit-raising unbeaten three-game start to his Rovers rein, serious points are becoming increasingly vital as they now trail a fast-improving Exmouth Town, hovering a place above the onespot drop-zone, by five points with only seven fixtures remaining.
“It’s been really tough yet encouraging since I took charge,” the Paulton boss reflected.
“My first job when I took over was to the stop the rot. We’ve largely done that with three great points from draws against Bideford, Evesham and Bemerton Heath, who started the week fifth, sixth and seventh, respectively, in the table. These are three points no one expected us to take.
“Now, with Exmouth down there with us suddenly picking up more points, we need to urgently turn these draws into wins, and our next three games could hardly be tougher against Cribbs this Saturday, Yate away on Monday and then the leaders Wimborne at their place on the Saturday (6th).
“It’s hard because we don’t have a lot of time. I’ve been begging, borrowing and stealing from contacts who have helped me out, something that’s not always guaranteed in football however well you might know people.
“This is a vital Easter weekend with Yate on Monday who have four National League players in their ranks now in James Taylor, Nick McCootie, Joe Guest and Chris Lines, something I’m extremely jealous of as I try to bring in lads from leagues below us.
“Wimborne had 900-plus spectators in for their 3-2 win over Westbury on Saturday, which gives us an idea of what we could be up against when we go there the following Saturday.”
Fey smiled of his friendship with
Cribbs opposite number Murray: “We’re both big Everton fans and we have travelled to multiple games together here and in Europe. He’s a great character as I know during our successful days at Street together, although it can be a long three-hour journey going up to watch Everton with him!
“He’s been a proven scorer at this level for many years and I’ve always tried to sign him wherever I’ve been, including getting him to come to Melksham for a short stint before Covid times.
“In fact, one of my phone calls as new Paulton manager recently was to try to get him to come to us, something I thought I’d achieved before he took over at Cribbs.
“I wish him all the best there, but only after Saturday.”
Murray’s first game at The Lawns helm saw Cribbs emerge with a late point from Saturday’s 2-2 home draw with Tavistock, thanks to Ross McErlain’s towering header from Bailey Croome’s corner.
It got even better on Tuesday night, as the same centre-half’s fine free-kick proved enough to see off Melksham 1-0.
Croome, unfortunately, withdrew with a hamstring injury against Tavistock after setting up his team’s equaliser and could well be sidelined for the rest of the season, having replaced David Duru up front some 30 minutes into the first half after the in-form centreforward exited with an ankle knock.
“The game definitely changed when Dave went off,” his manager said, “as Tavistock had been terrified of him. Thankfully it isn’t too serious and he should be back for our Easter double header with Paulton and then Bishop’s Cleeve at home on Monday (1pm).
“Paulton are scrapping for their lives and it’s been a brave move by Richard (Fey) to take it on so late into their season, but he’s picked up some positive results.
“I played under him at Street when we won the Western League breaking all sorts of records, including winning 26 straight games.
“It was great working with Rich then; they were my best footballing days. I’ve been everywhere watching Everton with him, and he was always on my case wanting me to join him at Bridgwater while I was at Taunton.
“Richard lives and breathes football and he’s a close friend, so it will be a bitter-sweet occasion on Saturday. Of course, I’m desperate to win for Cribbs and me.”
Bristol Manor Farm are firmly in second-tier play-off contention too, fifth in the table despite following up a rousing 3-1 Friday-night home victory over Cribbs with Saturday’s 2-0 defeat at Mousehole.
“I haven’t been down about it,” Creek leader Lee Lashenko stressed. “Mousehole are quite professional in everything they do with young, intelligent players. And their ‘keeper, like ours, pulled off some brave saves.
“We played well enough but just lacked ruthlessness up front.
“I’m looking to try and win five of our last six games to make sure of our play-off place,” said the Farm boss, whose team host promotion rivals Evesham United tomorrow before visiting Willand Rovers on Monday (both 3pm).
Lashenko added: “We’re looking forward to these big Easter games, not least on Saturday when we’re expecting a big crowd. I feel we’re in good shape to tackle these last few important games.
“Ben Bament (forward) came on for half-an-hour at Mousehole and showed no reaction to his hamstring injury, so he’s ready for Saturday.”
Yate Town, meantime, have slipped down the Division One South rankings a little following back-to-back 2-0 and 1-0 defeats by Frome Town and Bishop’s Cleeve, respectively, but can still strike for the play-off spots.
They hope to reinforce those chances with a trip to Westbury United today (Friday, 2pm) followed by that Monday date with struggling Lodge Road guests Paulton (3pm).
Bluebells boss Darren Mullings said of Saturday’s slender Cleeve setback: “We created enough chances to have won two games without ever really hitting our usual rhythm; but Bishop’s Cleeve began better and shook us a bit with their early goal.
“Had Nick (McCootie) not had his penalty saved on the stroke of half-time, we could have been looking at a different second half altogether.”