‘Man City of step five’ lie in wait for Heathens
Flackwell Heath FC: Richardson confident Heath will overcome big spending Chatham
Flackwell Heath weren’t quite at their ‘fluid best’ against Stansfeld in the FA Vase on Saturday but, despite having not played in almost six weeks, they were far too strong for their Southern Counties East League Division 1 hosts.
Boss Marcus Richardson believes it will take a strong side, or alternatively, a below par performance, for his team not to come out on top these days. And after Saturday’s comfortable 30 win he’s backing them to go all the way in this competition.
Prior to lockdown the Heathens had also prized top spot in the Hellenic Premier Division, a position they managed to hold onto this week despite not playing a league match.
This Saturday they’ll travel to Chatham Town in the third round of the Vase, with Richardson describing their hosts as the ‘Man City of step five’.
“I didn’t think we were our fluid selves on Saturday,” said Richardson. “But we were solid and looked okay going forward. Coming back from lockdown I think we looked a little bit rusty and I’m sure we had more to offer.
“Stansfeld were okay, I
can’t disrespect them, and I can see why they’ve had a good run in the competition. But I’d have been a little hurt if we’d gone out to them if you know what I mean.
“We would have had to have been well below par.”
Ashley Howell nodded in the Heathens’ first from close range from a Josh Baines delivery 10
minutes into the contest and they weren’t able to build upon that lead until the 63rd minute when Howell grabbed his second with a looping header over the keeper from outside the area. A third followed for Mo Ceesay from Khalid Simmo’s pass in the 76th and that completed a professional display from the visitors. They’ll have
to step up their level once more for Saturday’s trip to Chatham but, having removed the rustiness from their legs with this display, Richardson is confident they’ll advance again. Chatham might have more money than Flackwell but the manager is doubtful they have more quality.
“Chatham Town play at the same level as us in the Southern Counties East Premier Division and they’re considered the Man City of our level.
“They’re a team who have spent a lot of money, but that’s not a problem for my team because they always rise to the occasion.
“Any team who beats us at this moment in time is going to be a very good team. Because my team understands their individual jobs and knows what we’re about.
“It’s going to take a really good team to beat us and if that’s who we’re playing this weekend then so be it. They’ve scored loads of goals but they’re not going to have it easy against us because we’ve got one of the best defensive records around, and we can attack as well. We have the right balance at the time being.
“We will go out and play our game and if you can break us down then fine, but we’ll keep going at you. I’ve got a good bunch of lads and it’s going to take a good team to stop us.
“That’s no disrespect to any other side but we know what we’re about and teams will have to seize upon the opportunities when we’re not quite on it.”