Toolstation Boss Hillman hoping midweek win will be launching pad for Hengrove
HENGROVE Athletic manager Jamie Hillman is backing his players to build on their midweek win, starting with tomorrow’s Oldland Abbotonians away-day.
Tuesday’s night’s 2-1 home defeat of Portishead Town signified a first for the Norton Lane outfit in Toolstation First Division combat this term, although Hillman insists that doesn’t tell the entire story of their journey thus far.
“Aside from our first game of the season when Bishop Sutton were pummelling us 4-1 until their player (Brendon Abood) suffered a serious leg injury leading to an abandonment (on 75 minutes), we’ve been pretty competitive on the whole,” he insisted.
“We lost 2-0 at Wells due to two sloppy goals on our part and Wincanton beat us by the same scoreline through two set-pieces which we could have done better with.
“Against Lebeq, who are a good side capable of beating anyone in our league on their day, we had enough chances to put them away before they equalised late on for a 1-1 draw.
“We also drew with Devizes (0-0) and we could be playing the game now and still not scored, such was the amount of shots we had at their goal.
“At least we managed to beat Wellington on penalties in the FA Vase and in the next round at the weekend at Street (lost 2-0) it didn’t help that Giorgio Mancini was sent off ten minutes in for supposed violent conduct and will now miss the next three games, starting with our trip to Oldland on Saturday.”
The long-serving Hengrove supremo added: “We always felt our first league win was coming, the way we’d been performing in spells. We’ve certainly improved over the past 12 months and it’s a much happier place.
“We struggled to get a team together for the start of last season and suffered a really poor start as a consequence. But we do need to find now the type of consistency the likes of Ashton and Backwell and Calne are showing.
“Perhaps my biggest headache over the next few weeks will be with team selection. We only have the one senior side with 20-odd players all fighting hard for places and looking over each other’s shoulders ready to pounce the moment someone suffers a dip in form.”
Roman Glass St George, who have experienced ups and downs in equal measure early into their Premier Division assault and next host Buckland Athletic from a seventh spot berth tomorrow, have been pressed into some unexpected managerial changes.
Liam Greening, a trusted assistant to boss Andy Gurney for several years, has left Oaklands Park along with Grantley Dicks, who served as coach for the past 18 months.
Greening said: “I’ve been told that after recent knee surgery I can’t be weight bearing for the next three months which means I simply can’t continue with my role at Roman Glass. Maybe with recent results not so good the timing is right too for someone else to come in and help push the club to where it wants to be.
“I’d like to thank everyone for the four-plus years we’ve had together, not least Roger Hudd, Martin Gill and Robin Fidkin who are so dedicated to the cause behind the scenes and, of course, I wish the club all the best going forward.
“I’ll be up watching the boys when I can and I’ll be looking to get back into the game myself at some level in the New Year once I’ve recovered from this surgery.”
Of his influential No 2’s departure, Gurney stated: “After many discussions it is with regret that Liam will be leaving us.
“Liam has played a major part the last five years turning us from a struggling First Division club into one trying to establish ourselves in the Premier Division.
“Liam has always looked for ways to improve Roman Glass on and off the field and I personally thank him for his efforts.”
Gurney and Co did enjoy a pickme-up 3-0 midweek win at Hallen, courtesy of Troy Simpson’s brace and Ryan Radford’s effort, to end a sequence of four straight defeats.
Bitton are without a game this weekend but they will entertain Brislington on Tuesday (7.30pm) in buoyant mood after rising to third in the Prem with Wednesday’s 5-1 away thrashing of fellow highfliers Westbury United through Aysa Corrick and Brandon Barnes doubles and Matt Groves’ speculative long-range effort.
Thornbury Town fixture secretary Malcolm Carr says promotion to Hellenic League Premier Division remains “very much the goal”
amid a period of mixed fortunes at Mundy Fields.
Stung by a 4-1 home defeat by Abingdon United in the weekend’s FA Vase second qualifying round encounter, Thorns now bid to give their Division One West commitments a helpful nudge on the road against Hereford Pegasus.
Jason Rees’ men have an unbeaten record to protect too, having won two and drawn three of their opening five fixtures. Thornbury stalwart Carr said: “We’re still positive about everything. It’s been about finding the right blend with several new faces to integrate into the side.
“Having our two top scorers from last season, Craig Lancastle and Harry Brock, missing games through injury hasn’t helped along with Luke Franklin (midfielder)
and our captain last year Toby Bennett, who is awaiting a knee operation.
“It’s not been the start we’d have all wished for but it’s been really positive to see the regular 100-plus attendances at the ground. We’re about to have a new 50-seat stand set in place one side of the halfway line while our existing 50-seat stand in the corner of the ground will be placed virtually next to it.”
Carr confessed: “It has been hard implementing the Covid-19 safety requirements but our Covid officer Brian Lansdown has done a great job getting risk assessments in place etc.
“We also managed to raise £11,000 via our Crowdfunder appeal to help us through these difficult times and we sincerely thank all those who contributed.”