Flackwell’s stay at the summit proves to be short-lived
Flackwell Heath's stay at the summit of the Combined Counties Premier Division North proved to be short-lived as they were beaten 2-0 at home by Harefield United on Saturday.
A run of six league wins in a row had lifted Chris Ayres' side above Rayners Lane at the top of the division, however, Rayners moved back above them on goal difference at the weekend after they hammered Virginia Water 4-1 at home.
Earlier this month, defender Mark Nisbet said the Heathens would have a target on their backs once they moved to the top of the division adding that rivals would sit a little deeper when they played them to frustrate them.
This certainly proved the case at Wilks Park on Saturday as the hosts were thwarted on several occasions before being picked off on the break.
The visitors took the lead just before the half-hour mark and, for all their possession and territory, Flackwell couldn’t get back on terms as the game progressed.
Harefield then killed the game with their second deep into second half stoppage time and most of the 268 fans inside the ground went home unhappy having witnessed Flackwell's third
league defeat of the season.
“It was disappointing on Saturday and we probably didn't play well enough to say we should have won the game,” said Ayres. “I thought we deserved something from the game, but this is a learning curve for us. We didn't start well and fell behind to a deflection. Second half, we felt we should have equalised but we didn't.
“They played above their league position, but teams will do that and it's something we have to get used to. We knew there would be some ups and downs in the final 11 games, and it won't define the season. There's a lot of games to go.”
It's been a tough season for Harefield, but they've certainly improved of late with the side beating Ardley United 4-2 away from home and now Flackwell 2-0 on the road.
Goal difference is all that prevents the Heathens from being on top heading into Saturday's home game with sixth-placed Milton United. Rayners have a more winnable looking game on paper at home to 15th placed Wembley. Five of Flackwell's nine remaining games are at Wilks Park, where they've generally been very strong this season, but this result has handed the initiative back to Rayners Lane in a title race that looks very much like it could go right to the wire.
“I've got every confidence in the lads that they'll bounce back,” he said. “We will look at the game and focus on the things we could have done better.
“Milton are just inside the play-offs so we are anticipating a tough game, but they all will be now. There's so much to play for in our league, every team has got something to play for which makes it ultra competitive.
“We just need to take care of ourselves and not panic after Saturday. You can start thinking there are things drastically wrong, when there isn't.
“We've just got to remain calm.”