Holyport riding the wave of positivity
Lock hopes Port pick up momentum from Rangers win
Holyport are looking to ‘ride the wave of positivity’ into the new season - which gets underway on Saturday after pulling off a surprise FA Cup win over Risborough Rangers on Saturday.
Few were expecting Port to pick up a positive result on their travels to Risborough, but they restricted their hosts to very few opportunities and won the game 1-0 thanks to Ashley Hunt’s first half strike.
This was no smash and grab raid either. New boss Sam Lock says Risborough saw plenty of the ball, but they did precious little with it, and Port could easily have added to their slender advantage.
The result sees them progress to a preliminary round tie at Ascot United on August 20, however, they’ve a couple of very important Combined Counties Premier Division North fixtures to play before then, starting at home to Harefield United on Saturday.
“We deserved to win,” he said. “We went there with a game plan and I wasn’t sure how we were going to react to be honest, because it’s a bit of a cauldron at Risborough and obviously we have a very young side. “But the information I
gave them they all took on board and the result displays what happened. “However, I think 1-0 doesn’t really do us justice to be honest with you because it should have been 2-0 or 3-0. We should have had a penalty and they should have had a red card; they had a lot of possession but they couldn’t do anything with it and there weren’t any outstanding saves from our keeper or goalline clearances.
“I was really impressed. We’ll enjoy it, but we’re fully focused on Harefield on Saturday already.”
Lock will do his best to keep his young players’ fee on the ground ahead
of Saturday’s league opener, telling them ‘not to get too high with the highs or too low with the lows’. There are sure to be bumps along the road as Lock attempts to transform the side into one that can attack and play on the front foot this season, however, they’ve made a very competent start, and the new boss believes there are several players in his squad who’ll go on to play at a higher level.
Having seen off Risborough, he also doesn’t believe they’ll be fazed by the prospect of playing Ascot in the next round.
“With a young group you want to ride the wave of positivity for as long as possible,” he said “When things are going well, you want to keep it going and hold onto that positivity.
“They’re a young group, they’re learning about themselves and the game but we’re delighted with the result and we’ve got Ascot in the next round.
“Every game we go into, we’re the underdogs and having that mentality, it’s not a bad thing to have at all.
“I felt they were a bit nervous going into the game on Saturday, but I’d say they’re looking forward to the Ascot game, they’re excited by it and aren’t fazed by it.
“There will be two or three players from this team who progress and play a very good standard of football and I’m excited to see them progress with the team.”
Harefield United’s squad includes a player who should be familiar to Maidenhead United fans, Richard Pacquette.
“They were in the other league last season, but I know bits about them,” said Lock.
“Richard Pacquette plays for them. I seem to have been followed by former Maidenhead players in recent weeks.
“They’re a very solid outfit, they were comfortably in mid-table at step 5 last year. ”