‘Dangerous’ Port don’t fear anyone right now
Sam Lock believes Holyport currently have the confidence and mentality to beat whoever they come up against, after the side notched up their fifth straight league win at home to Harefield United on Tuesday.
It looked like the game might fall foul of the weather, and neither management team could believe it when the referee past the Summerleaze Park surface fit for play.
But the two teams made the best of the wet conditions, and Holyport responded really well to falling behind to a welltaken goal from the visitors in the 15th minute.
Kickie Dzimba continued his rich vein of form in front of goal, scoring twice from oneon-ones, the second a deft chipped finish, while Luke Appleton flicked home their third before half-time.
Harefield tried to muster a response in the second half, but the Holyport defence held firm and Brandon Curtis completed the victory with a looping shot from distance with five minutes to play.
The result moves Holyport four points clear of sixth-placed North Greenford United in the battle for a top five finish, however, North Greenford have got five matches in hand on Lock’s side.
Lock wasn’t too preoccupied with the side’s league position that after the final whistle and said the team would just take it one match at a time and look to put as much pressure as they can on their play-off rivals.
“We’ve performed well all season, and the luck hasn’t really gone our way at times,” he said.
“But we’ve got that mentality at the minute that we’re a difficult side to beat and we’re just looking forward to the games each week. It’s a nice pattern to be in and a nice feeling.
“We were adamant that the game was off last night, but we started the game, and I don’t think either of us were prepared. They scored a good team goal; they opened us up with a great piece of play.
“But we react quite well to going behind. It helped us kick on and we could have scored more to be honest.
“It’s a lovely feeling to have this momentum. The boys are a tight group, and this isn’t by luck. It’s something we’ve been working on for the past couple of years.”
Lock spoke earlier in the season of his squad coming of age during the campaign and that certainly seems to be borne out by their results. For the past couple of seasons, Port have generally been battling to avoid the drop so Lock’s delighted to see them rubbing shoulders with their play-off rivals and in with a fighting chance of a top five finish.
“We don’t fear anyone, absolutely not,” said Lock. “We’re a confident group and confident teams are dangerous to play against because the chances that you might usually not take, you seem to be taking. They’re a tight group, they back each other in scenarios, good and bad.
“They’re hungry and they’re up for it. Everyone I’ve brought in this season has stepped up and done well for me. I’ve got no complaints and I’m proud of them.
“The fact that we’re talking about Holyport being play-off contenders with seven games to go. It’s insane really. The club’s come a long way in a short space of time. We’ve just got to enjoy it and concentrate on picking up three points on Saturday.”
Port travel to ninthplaced Milton United this Saturday.