Ahead of our opening home league Saturday match of the season versus Anstey Nomads (3:00 KO), manager Tim Flowers has talked about our opponents and the game itself. He starts with a look at Tuesday’s match and the incredible atmosphere…
I thought Tuesday night, after Saturday at Needham, was pretty similar to a certain extent. We had to dig in and fight after going a goal behind. In both games, I think we’ve shown a trait where we’re not going to be dissuaded if we go a goal down. We’re not going to fold in any way shape or form and that’s good to see straight away.
I thought Rushall were excellent – they played really well and have got some good players. Last year, we’d have got hammered, there’s no doubt. We stayed in the game until half time and didn’t concede again. Second half, I thought we got on top. We dried up the midfield where it was too open and, for a number of reasons, we managed to get on the right side of the score.
The turnout on Tuesday was unbelievable. The support and atmosphere was incredible. Some of the lads have come from Hednfesford and they’ve played in front of big crowds but there was a real warmth towards our players and club, which is trying to make great strides to become better and more of a community club
We’re in a position now where ultimately we’re sitting on six points, but it could have been two, so the football Gods have smiled on us a little bit and for that, I’m grateful, because I know it will swing at some point and we’ll be put under pressure.
Anstey have had two good results so far; a draw at home to Leiston – which to get a point off them is no mean feat. Then there was another draw against Leamington, who have dropped a division – also no mean feat away from home, and they were in front there too.
We’ve had a report on Anstey, delivered a presentation to the lads and I know a bit of what they’re about. It is going to be a tough, hard, physical game and if we’re not landing on stuff, brittle or show any signs of weakness, we could get beat.
However, on the flip side, if we can improve on what we’ve done in the last two games, and begin to implement what we’re trying to do, then we’ll be asking questions of Anstey – there is no doubt about that.
We’ve got good players and they’ve got good players; as I’ve said before, the talking stops now and it’s all about games of football against each other – come the end of the season, we’ll see.
We’re in a good place with injuries; everybody who played the other night is in contention and Brad Bood is back from his suspension.
I’m hopeful that there will be 1,000-plus on Saturday – the atmosphere on Tuesday, whether we were behind, drawing or in front, was great and everybody stayed to cheer the lads off. If we get that again – with over 1,000 this time -it will be a massive help to the lads and me.
