News

Five wins and two draws have seen us fit in nicely near the top of the league and Simon and I couldn’t have wished for more effort from the lads. The two games we have drawn we have been 2-0 down in and produced great fight backs and without being biased we should have won both of those games too. The spirit in the dressing room is obviously very high at the moment but even though we have had a good start our job is to keep peoples from getting complacent as there will be far tougher tests to come than those that we have had to date.

Left back Nathan Tate and Midfielders Carl Timms and Earl Alexander have been playing some great football and all have featured heavily in my reports back to John and Alan. Im hoping that it wont be long before one or two of them are given an opportunity in the 1st team squad. Carl Timms has carried on his form of last season and taken it onto the next level. He has been absolutely awesome so far this season and is our joint top scorer with 5 goals from central midfield. I remember last season that I had concerns over his size, but not any more. If anyone deserves a crack in the 1st team on current form then its him and im sure if he is patient and carries on the good form then a chance will come. Matt Moran is also performing well and his form of last season that saw him promoted to 1st team action is starting to show and id be surprised if he doesn’t break back into the squad soon.

Mark Peters has played in 3 of our 7 games so far to get some match fitness. I’ve been very impressed with Marks professional approach and attitude, both on and off the pitch and he has been a big influence on some of the younger lads in the team. Personally, I hope Mark get his place in the 1st team back soon and starts to produce the good form he is more than capable of.

Forwards John Jenkinson and Micky Sandar have been suspended for the last four games the last of which was our victory over Tamworth on Saturday. They were both playing well before being ruled out for sendings off last year but will face some stiff competition to get their shirts back after good performances from Ryan Yearsley and Mykey Pryce. Mykey has just returned from a stint coaching in America and although lacking match fitness produced a superb display on Saturday, scoring twice in our 4-2 victory.

James Lewsley made his comeback from injury in our win at Redditch a few games ago but unfortunately James only lasted for 39minutes before a recurrence of the same knee injury saw him stretchered off. We wish James a speedy recovery and hope to see him back soon.

I would like to extend warm thanks to our new team sponsor this season who are McVities. We have just taken delivery of some new warm up tops bearing their logo and have a new kit about to be ordered too. Whilst on the subject of thanking people, id better mention my employers Bombardier Transportation in Derby who have kindly funded the Reserve team a four figure sum to enable us to buy new tracksuits for the squad this season. We have donated our old ones to the Youth Team.

Our next home game is on Saturday the 21st when we face Rugby Reserves here at the Moat. If you can’t get to Mangotsfield for the 1st team game, why not come down and give the lads your much valued support. You will be made most welcome.

Gary Norton