Toolstation Jones not getting carried away by his side’s great start
ASHTON & Backwell United’s buoyant boss Stuart Jones insists he will not get carried away by his team’s promising early form.
The Lancer Scott Stadium outfit host Radstock Town tomorrow heading the fledgling First Division standings courtesy of five straight wins following the setback of a 3-1 first-day away defeat by Calne Town.
Jones said: “I’m happy by most of what I’ve seen so far, although not surprised because I’ve always known our players had it in them. I said last year this team had more to give, especially if they could up their fitness game.
“Our Monday night circuit sessions at Trojan Fitness, which our firsts and reserves attend, certainly give us that advantage.
“I still have a bee in my bonnet about our first game at Calne as I felt we could have nicked something there. But it’s a run of results since I’d have gladly taken before the season kicked off.
“To have gone to two very tough places like Lebeq (3-2) and Sherborne (3-1), which is like land of the giants, for our last two games and score three times in each to win has been really pleasing.”
The Backwell boss added Broad Plain House skipper and “ballplaying midfielder” Jordan Scadding to his ranks over the summer after “winning a debate, for once, with our reserve-team manager Nick Smart over who has him!”
“Our new left-back Ben Jones, a young ex-Millfield School scholar, has given us better balance across the back, too.
“As a group we try not to dwell on negatives; we like to focus on what we’re good at and that’s centred largely around our offensive play and allowing our players freedom to roam in the final third.
“We all share a desire to get promoted but I’ll definitely not be resting on my laurels and hopefully my players wake up with the right mindset again on Saturday for the Radstock game and thereafter.”
Bristol Telephones’ treasurer and former co-manager Dave Johnson says the club’s new young boss, Jack Richardson, can take “huge credit” for the “key part” he has played in raising spirits within a camp that had been on its knees.
After two last seasons battling to stave off the threat of relegation, Johnson says he has been heartened by what he’s seen so far, despite suffering four losses from five First Division fixtures ahead of tomorrow’s trip to Devizes Town.
He said: “Three out of those four defeats have been by single-goal margins and we thoroughly deserved our stoppage-time winner to beat Cheddar 2-1.
“I’m not too sure what happened in our 3-0 loss at Almondsbury on Saturday, although I understand we were much better in the second half after a not so good first half.
“Overall it’s certainly looking much better than it has been these past few years and that’s largely down to Jack who, at only 23, has played a key part in rejuvenating the club and instilling more confidence and belief in the players.
“That could be seen against Cheddar when we went 1-0 down and might easily have gone on to lose heavily last year in similar circumstances. Jack had been part of mine and Shaun Collins’ management set-up last year after we’d brought him in with a view to taking over this season.”
Johnson continued: “We also have Andy Clark with us again, as Jack’s assistant this time, after a spell with Keynsham Town and we’re delighted to have him back too. Training has been excellent; I’ve not seen numbers like it and it’s made for good camaraderie, a bit like the Phones place of old when we were in the County League. It’s a feel we’ve struggled to recapture in the few years since those days.”
Roman Glass St George are at Tavistock tomorrow keen to return to winning ways after seeing four straight Premier Division victories, and four clean sheets to boot, end with a 4-1 home defeat by Westbury United on Wednesday night.
Saints No 2 Liam Greening conceded: “We were done by three setpieces and trailed 4-0 at half-time after a horrific first half, although having three midfielders missing – Ashley Bennett through suspension after a very unfair sending off at Chipping Sodbury recently, and Jack Durrant and Robbie Cox because of injury - did nothing to help us on the night. It’s unfortunate for Ash, who is a friend of mine and a former captain of Hallen, as
he’d only just joined us playing an anchor midfield role alongside Jack having not played at all in about five years!”
Saints are optimistic new striker Rhys Sarson can shine this term.
“He scored 19 times for Slimbridge in the Southern League last season and was soon scoring for us against Sodbury,” said Greening. “He’s a targetman type with good feet and offers something different to us. It’s just a shame we’ve had to let George Lloyd (forward) and Caelen Simpson (midfielder) go. They were nice, hard-working popular lads here but it just became a numbers game as we strengthened positions over the summer that they play in. Caelen has since gone to Odd Down and we wish him and George all the best as they will be assets to whoever they play for in the future.”
Hallen continue their search for a first win of the season at home to Wellington tomorrow, boosted by a dramatic late comeback at Chip
ping Sodbury on Tuesday when three late goals salvagaed a point from a 4-4 draw. Rob Latham (2), Sacha Tong and Martin Stowell scored for Hallen, while former AEK Boco striker Jake Slocombe bagged all four goals for Sodbury in only his second game.
Sodbury will also be looking for their first win when they visit Bridport tomorrow.