The season hasn’t started well but we have had so many injuries, it’s understandable, says frustrated AFC Croydon Athletic boss Kevin Rayner

AFC CROYDON ATHLETIC manager Kevin Rayner says he’s feeling frustrated with the number of injuries that his side has suffered during the first three weeks of the season.

The Rams are sitting in the bottom three in the Southern Counties East Football League Premier Division table having collected one point from their opening four games and only have pointless Canterbury City and Tower Hamlets below them in the pecking order.

AFC Croydon Athletic were knocked out of The FA Cup at the first hurdle, losing 3-0 at home to Sutton Common Rovers from the Combined Counties League Premier Division.

They opened their league campaign with a 4-0 defeat at Punjab United on 5 September, before claiming their only point with a 1-1 draw against Erith & Belvedere but back-to-back defeats have followed by losing 2-0 to both Lordswood and Erith Town last night.

“The season hasn’t started well but we have had so many injuries, it’s understandable,” said Rayner.

“We have used 24 players in four games and only three players have completed all of those games, so it’s not difficult to see why.

“We are hopeful that a few players are back for the next two Saturday games and we’ll go from there.

“Last night we had seven changes again and although we competed well, our quality wasn’t there and got undone after a couple of errors to give Erith the points.

“It’s frustrating for all of the coaching staff and a couple of senior players but it will get better and hopefully we can get a result on Saturday to get us going.”

Rayner takes his side down to the Sussex coast to play Wick in The FA Vase First Qualifying Round on Saturday.

Wick play a level lower and go into the game sitting in eighth-place in the Southern Combination League First Division table with one win from their opening three games.

“We are looking forward to the Vase game and it’s a tough game away at Wick,” added Rayner.

“It’s a long journey and one hopefully we may take with a few players returning.”

Visit AFC Croydon Athletic’s website:  www.afccroydonathletic.co.uk

Wick  v  AFC Croydon Athletic
The Buildbase FA Vase First Qualifying Round
Saturday 19 September 2020
Kick Off 3:00pm
at Crabtree Park, Coomes Way, Littlehampton, West Sussex BN17 7LP