Stalemate leaves Davis to draw more conclusions
Fleet Town ................... 1 Hayes & Yeading.......... 1
A LATE goal denied Fleet Town a morale-boosting win over Hayes & Yeading on Saturday – but there was still plenty of positives for playerboss Craig Davis to draw from a fourth straight stalemate.
A first-half strike by frontman Jack White put the Blues ahead only for the side, reprieved to stay in Conference South this season, to equalise in the very last minute.
Davis’ men then followed up this with another share of the spoils on Tuesday night when they hit back from 2-0 down to draw 2-2 at Hellenic Premier side Bracknell Town courtesy of goals from skipper Ben White and striker Callum Stanley.
“Results are not the important thing at this stage, it’s about giving everyone in our squad at least 45 minutes on the pitch,” a satisfied Davis said. “This we have done in all of our pre-season games. It’s also of course about the quality of football we produce.
“In Saturday’s game we looked sharp, well drilled and played some great stuff against very good opposition. And again tonight against Bracknell we came from behind, as we did against Winchester, and that is testament to our high fitness levels. All in all I’ve very satisfied with our progress.”
With the new league season just two weeks away, competition for places remains high within Davis’ 21-man squad.
Over the past week a further nine players have signed league papers with the club, including utility player James Scott, wingback Harry Davies and centre-back Lee Bowen, who has continued to impress at the heart of the Fleet back-line.
The Fleet squad face another tough test on Saturday, when they host newly-promoted Southern League Central side Hanwell Town (ko 3pm) followed by the visit of Conference South Basingstoke Town on Tuesday night (ko 7.45pm).
FLEET (from): Pryce, Scott, Davies, B White, Rousell, Bowen, Wynter, Davis, Mlambo, Carr, J White, Byres, Blaxall, Westbrook, Craig Stanley, Carter, Lancaster, Callum Stanley, Pickett, B Stanley, Taylor.