Windsor boss relieved to get the rub of the green
Windsor FC: Royalists snatch late equaliser against Southall ahead of Port test
Mark Cooper was relieved to ‘finally get the rub of the green’ on Tuesday night as Windsor snatched a late equaliser to draw 1-1 with Southall in the Combined Counties Premier Division North.
Pawel Kotwica was on target in the 90th minute to ensure the Royalists travelled back to Stag Meadow with a share of the spoils after Carl Pearce had netted in the 59th minute.
The result comes after Cooper’s men were beaten, 3-2, by Edgware Town on Saturday afternoon having led 2-0 at the break thanks to Danny Horscroft and Excellence Muhemba’s goals.
Cooper said: “Obviously we played a very good side – a team that have got to the FA Vase quarter final and are doing very well in the league. But, we were disappointed to go into the break at 0-0. Excellence (Muhemba) had missed a penalty early on and we had a really good chance at the end of the first half to score. I thought our performance in the opening 45 minutes was just as we wanted it – we defended well, hit them on the break, and looked dangerous.
“Unfortunately, we went behind before the hour. So, it was then a case of staying in the game and hoping for a bit of luck, which we haven’t had of late. But we finally got that rub of the green in the dying embers last night.
“We brought Pawel on with about five minutes left to play and he scored the goal to get us out of there with a wellearned point. We had to be positive when we were trailing and with not long left on the clock. So, we made the changes, altered the shape and we got the rewards last night.”
Cooper is under no illusions the Royalists
have a tough test ahead in the form of Holyport. Derek Sweetman’s side overcame Ascot United at the weekend and have made it clear they are seeking a consecutive victory this Saturday.
“They will be full of confidence,” insisted Cooper. “We watched them face Ascot earlier this month when they lost 1-0 – Holyport were unlucky not to get anything on the night.
“They are going to be tough opponents and I am not sure how the pitch
will play over there. I’m sure it will be tricky conditions and they will be well up for it given their position in the table. We’re very much looking forward to the game on Saturday. We have had four very tough games on the spin with Southall twice, Edgware Town, and Egham Town.
“Even though the fixture list looks a bit kinder, we know in this division there are no easy games, they are all competitive – Holyport proved that against Ascot.”