‘We must stay in the top ten’
Stones manager sets his team a Christmas target FOOTBALL
Elliott Godfrey put through his own net late on for the only goal of the game, ensuring it was three defeats out of the last four in National League South for the Stones.
Despite this, they are still ninth in the table, but unless their league form turns around, Bartlett will see his aim to be on the fringes of the promotion shake-up at Christmas slipping away.
He said: “We’ve got to get our league season on the right track again – we had a good start but we’ve dropped right off. I want us to be in the top 10 around Christmas, then see where we can go from there.
“But I’m concerned by the manner of the performances. They say if the performances are there, results will follow, but at the present the performances are not there either. The desire and determination needs to be increased.”
In a bid to turn things around, Bartlett has been busy in the transfer market, bringing in defender Liam Gould on loan from Accrington Stanley, along with former Stones loanee Billy Gibson from St Albans and ex-Dulwich Hamlet winger Terence Carter from the United States.
He said: “Me and Scotty (McGleish) have been going around the pro clubs for a few weeks now trying to strengthen the side as we are trying to put things right. We believed it was a good enough squad at the start of the season, but it’s been underachieving.
“Whereas Billy will probably start off playing in our county cup games, Liam will be a key player for us, having brought him all the way down from Accrington. Wes Parker has not been 100 per cent at centre back and Josh Urquhart likewise, so it allows one of them a rest.”
Wealdstone will be hoping the league turnaround begins when they travel to Hemel Hempstead on Saturday, before returning to county cup action with a tie at Bedfont Sports four days later.
Over in the Combined Counties Premier, AFC Hayes lost 2-0 at home to Horley Town, while Hillingdon Borough beat Buckingham Athletic 4-1 in Spartan South Midlands Division, but Harefield United lost 2-1 at Winslow United. TJG1ST COMING IN: