Collins hopes net gain is first of many

Tyrell Richardson-brown scored his first Faversham goal at the weekend and manager James Collins hopes the winger can now get himself on the scoresheet a bit more consistently. Richardson-brown’s halfvolley was the only goal in Town’s 1-0 home victory over Lancing on Saturday in Isthmian South East. Collins said: “It was a good strike from distance.

“I’m pleased he got his goal because I know that’s been playing on his mind.

“He is a great lad. I think he would have liked to have scored more goals, but he brings a lot to the changing room.

“Hopefully, now he has got one he will get himself a few.” February was a stop-start month for Town, who only played three games - all at home - but seven points and three successive clean sheets look to have eased any relegation fears.

Collins said: “I’ve spoken about injuries a lot but there’s no real science behind the fact when we played a right-back at right-back in Benny (Benedict Bioletti), albeit he came off at half-time on Saturday, and have got Bourney (Matt Bourne) back, that things have improved.

“Jono Richardson has held us together a little bit.

“But we have put out a back four with a bit of experience, and that shows why we have been keeping clean sheets of late.”

Promising teenager Bioletti was on the end of a late tackle, but Collins hopes he will be able to shake off the knock before Saturday’s match at Haywards Heath. On-loan midfielder Marshall Wratten came on in the second half but has now returned to parent club Dover, while young full-back Alex Giles is also back with Gillingham. “They (the loans) have both come to an end. Kelvin Ogboe has left the club as well,” Collins said.

“There will probably be a bit of movement this week.” With the Lilywhites 13th, eight points clear of a potential relegation play-off spot and with games in hand, Collins reckons another six points should suffice.

“I think we probably need another two wins from 11,” he said. “It gives us a chance to look at next season but let’s not disrespect others. “Sevenoaks have got a new manager in and Whitstable and Phoenix are scrapping for their lives down there as well, and we have got to play two of them.”

Town will be looking to complete the double over Haywards Heath and improve their away form which has seen them claim just nine points this term. Only East Grinstead have a worse record.

Collins said: “They have got a new manager in (Martin Dynan). I watched them against Three Bridges when our game at Whitehawk was called off.

“Our away form is not good enough. It’s something we want to address. But we go into the game on the back of three clean sheets and seven points from nine.”

When the sides met at Salters Lane back in November, Town won 3-1.

“We won 3-1 but we could have easily lost 3-1 or it could have finished 3-3,” Collins said. “When we beat them, I thought they were one of the best teams we had faced, apart from Hastings who are the standout side.

“They have got some very good footballers and still have a chance of making the playoffs.

“But we went to Ashford and drew2-2.soweknowwecan do it. It’s just about actually doing it.”