Handrahan Timbers Bench Talk

Welcome to everyone for our sixth home game of the season down here at Tally Ho! I am sure that once the Handrahan Timber players see our immaculate playing surface they will be itching to get their boots on and get out there. It is testimony to the hard work of Dean McDermott and his ground staff (Gavin) that all our opponents have similar views once they step on our surface.

Last Tuesday saw us take on Bolehall Swifts when the surface was at its very best with a bit of dew on the ground making the ball zip around. Unfortunately the performance did not match the result, although I will always gleefully accept victories gained from under par performances. These things are a bit like the weather and generally even themselves out over the course of a season. We have had early season draws where we probably deserved the points and now we have compensated that with a victory snatched from the jaws of defeat.

A starring performance from our captain Darren Carmell between the sticks made it all possible as he pulled off a series of excellent saves and interceptions allied to a late penalty save. Ollie Latchford did the business at the other end with two goals and hey presto we all went home happy.

We were untidy defensively throughout the match and certainly need to improve in that department if we are to remain competitive this year. We were gifted a goal after about 20 minutes when the Bolehall keeper miss-kicked the ball into Ollie's path and he obligingly buried it low in the net. Things remained that way until half time. Our performance remained below par in the second period and eventually Bolehall capitalised on a mistake midway through the period to even things up. Within ten minutes we conceded a penalty and Darren Carmell dived to his right to hold the ball to keep us on even terms.

We switched a few things around tactically at that time and it paid dividends within five minutes when Ollie Latchford skipped inside a couple of challenges and buried the ball in the bottom corner from about 25 yards. The lads all pulled for each other from then on and hung out for a valuable three points.

Today sees a number of changes, which are enforced through work and other commitments. Out go Gavin Smith, Dave Blake and Ollie Latchford and back into the selection pot come Kevin Usher, Lyndon Price, Dayle Speed and hopefully Dave Harnett. We badly need another victory, which I am sure will be difficult to achieve against a young, spirited and skilled Handrahan side. The involuntary squad rotation policy is certainly giving players every opportunity to cement their places in the team and should help to keep everyone on their toes. I think we are seeing a prime example of that in Darren Carmell's case as he comes under increasing pressure from Richard Knott.

You may well be asking what is happening on the injury front. The bulletin is varied! Carll Hancox's groin injury is responding very slowly to treatment and we are hopeful he may be available for selection within the next few weeks. Mike Mason appears at last to be making welcome progress with his hip injury, which has now been diagnosed as stemming from a pelvic condition and could be available within 7-10 days. Mark Langley has made no progress with his groin and thigh injuries, which appear to stem from a back condition and he will be having a scan in another weeks' time to try and get to the root of the problem. Mark Bellingham is making a steady recovery from his cruciate injury and is still provisionally pencilled in as making a return to the pitch around Xmas time. Dave Harnet will hopefully be fit for today after his knee injury and Lyndon Price does return following his thigh strain.

Wayne Healey should also be fit within about seven days following his ankle ligament damage and we are still awaiting news on Ian Millward. If you also add Jamie Evans being out through illness then you can see why so many changes are being made week in and week out.

We hope that you can all make it down here to Tally Ho for Tuesday nights first round tie in the National Police Cup against Derbyshire Police as we seek to try and go one step further than last season and actually lift the trophy. I am sure that Derbyshire will prove to be no pushovers and we will have to get our attitude right from the off. Force pride in performance has always proved to be a great levelling factor.

On a sadder note I would just like to pass my personal good wishes and thoughts to the nearest and dearest of all those who lost their lives in the tragic events of September 9th last year. I am sure that I speak for everyone at the club as the families and loved ones seek to re-build their lives.