‘The easiest team talk I’ve ever had to give’

Wayne Grant spoke of his delight as Paulsgrove delivered a victory for young Josh Miroy at the weekend.

Grove ran out 6-2 Hampshire Premier League Senior Division winners against Sway to leave them as the only team in either division with a 100 per cent record.

But, more importantly for Grant, it was about putting on a performance for squad member Miroy.

The 17-year-old remains in hospital after suffering a suspected heart attack while playing for AFC Portchester Reserves in a Portsmouth Sunday League game earlier this month.

It was the first time Paulsgrove had played since the emergency.

Grove named Josh, below, on the team sheet as 12th man, with his shirt and picture up in the dressing room as a gesture to show support.

‘It was probably the easiest team talk I’ve ever had to give in my life,' said Grant.

‘We named Josh as the 12th man with his picture up and his shirt, he was actually on the team sheet.

‘I just said to the lads, ‘this is what we’re playing for, get out there and do the business’ - that was it.

‘There were no other words needed, that was it.

'It couldn’t have gone better, we played some lovely stuff.

‘The first-half performance was the best we’ve played all season to be fair.'

Grant admits Grove’s storming start counts for very little this early in the season.

And is wary of the test his team will face at an improved Locks Heath tonight (7.30pm).

‘I’m not really a stats man, it counts for nothing this early,’ Grant said.

‘If we can go unbeaten for 15 games then I’ll start getting a bit more excited.

‘At the moment it’s just points on the board.

‘They’re a lot stronger this year then what they were last year.’

Danny Lane leapt to the top of the HPL top flight goal charts with a four-goal haul against Sway.

The striker now has nine goals from just four starts, having previously hit a hat-trick in a 5-1 home win against Liss.

Michael Essai and former Baffins Milton Rovers regular Shane Cornish were also on target for a Grove side who have netted 21 times in their four matches. And in their last game of 2019/20 they drubbed Lyndhurst 8-0!