Toolstation Keynsham bank on fan power to make the difference against Brislington
KEYNSHAM Town and Brislington lock horns for an enticing FA Cup opener at Crown Fields tomorrow (3pm).
The Toolstation Premier Division clubs’ grounds are separated by little more than a mile, and Keynsham secretary Jules French is hoping fan power can help them to victory and set up an away tie with Bridgwater Town or Hallen in two weeks time.
“It’s funny how things have worked out as we also have Bris at their place on Boxing Day and for the return league fixture at home on Good Friday,” said French.
“This certainly has to be one of the most local of derbies when it comes to ground proximity in the FA Cup this weekend.
“We’ve been in the competition for the past three seasons because we’ve finished high enough in Division One to qualify.
“They have all been away, so it will be nice for our fans to see an FA Cup game on home territory and it wouldn’t surprise me to see more than 200 people turn up to watch.”
French continued: “When I first took over as secretary five seasons ago we averaged crowds of 35. That went up to 160 last season during our successful promotion push – the fourth highest in the entire Western League.
“We had 174 watching us beat Wellington (2-0) here on Tuesday night and over 100 for each of our three pre-season home friendlies, so there’s a really good buzz about the club.”
The FA Cup throws up more intriguing first-stage ties tomorrow
as Bitton host Bridport, Hallen visit Bridgwater and Chipping Sodbury go to Dunstable Town. Clevedon Town (at Saltash United) and Cadbury Heath (at Shepton Mallet) also hit the road.
Sodbury caretaker boss Justin Bishop, whose new-look side followed up Saturday’s gutsy 2-1 win at Cribbs by crashing 6-2 at Bitton on Tuesday, said: “The lads can’t wait to get on the coach and go.
“On the evidence of what I’ve seen so far from the boys, I feel we’ll upset a few teams this year after what has been a very testing summer finding players I can count on.”
Cribbs are targeting a top-six finish in what assistant manager Jim Williams believes will be a highly competitive Premier Division.
The Station Road outfit, frustrated by their opening-day defeat by Sodbury, conceded a freak stoppage-time own goal equaliser in a 1-1 draw at Bridgwater.
Said Williams: “Saturday wasn’t the best. Sodbury had a summer of upheaval and we weren’t expecting them to be as well-organised as they were.
“Tuesday was so disappointing as you couldn’t score another goal like that if you tried! Our left-back Dan Dyke attempted to cut out a crossfield ball on the touchline 30 yards out and in the process he volleyed it into the air and over our keeper for the most freakish of own goals right at the death.”
Cribbs turn their attentions to the FA Cup tomorrow and an extra preliminary round home tie with Wellington.
“Our club as a whole has enjoyed a lot of cup success in recent times and it would be nice for that to continue,” said Williams.
“If we get past Wellington, we’ll have Bideford (Southern League One South) at home on August 24, so there’s the chance to get some welcome cash into the coffers.”
Cribbs lost Sol Wanjau-Smith to Slimbridge and fellow winger Jordan Lovibond to Shepton Mallet during the close season.
They responded by signing centre-back Colin Mugoya-Tabingwa, who spent a period on loan at the Lawns last season, from Mangotsfield United, forward Joe White, who recently left Chipping Sodbury as player-boss and fired his new team in front at Bridgwater, SGS College’s promising striker George Neill and central midfielder Sam HoldenEastwood, from Clevedon Town. Justin Wilkinson has also returned following a playing stint in America.
Williams said: “We always look to improve and we weren’t so far away from the top six last year, so that has to be the aim.”
Jamie Hillman reflected on a bruising first competitive day back in charge at Hengrove Athletic and pledged: “We WILL get it right.”
The long-serving former Norton Lane supremo took up the reins again this summer following John Durbin’s departure and Hengrove’s relegation to Division One. And an agonising opening-day experience it proved to be as they were trounced 7-0 at home by Bishops Lydeard.
Things are unlikely to get any easier tomorrow as Hengrove travel to Toolstation Premier new boys Tavistock, the reigning South West Peninsula League champions, in the FA Cup.
Hillman said of the Lydeard humbling: “We had a young side out as seven players were absent, six of whom would have started. So we were dealt a harsh lesson, one not helped by the fact that our new attacking midfielder from Highridge, Jamie Godfrey, who was fantastic over pre-season, had to go off early with a knee problem.
“The club was left in a poor state going into the summer with virtually the whole squad gone, but we’re determined to make it work – and I’m delighted Craig White, has stayed. It’s so hard to get his type and he’ll be my captain.”
Roman Glass St George face a trek into the unknown for their A Cup opener on Sunday (2pm) when they confront Buckinghamshirebased Winslow United of Spartan South Midlands League One.
Victory for Andy Gurney’s team would set them up for a preliminary round away tie against Southern League Didcot Town, but Glass number two Liam Greening warned: “Winslow will be tough. They have just appointed a new manager (George Tomlin), who has brought with him the bulk of the Aylesbury Flooring side who won the FA Sunday Cup last season.”
Tomorrow’s First Division fixtures see Lebeq United kick off their home programme against Calne Town at Oaklands Park (3.15pm), while Oldland Abbotonians entertain Wells City tonight (7.45pm).