At the moment we are finding ways of getting beat, says VCD boss Tony Russell

VCD ATHLETIC boss Tony Russell says he feels confident that he can get his side back on track on Saturday.

The Crayford based club remain at the top of the Ryman League Division One North table with 46 points from 20 games.

But three defeats on the bounce against Harlow Town (1-2), Witham Town (1-4) and Tilbury (1-2) has seen second-place Thurrock move to within one point of Russell’s side.

Russell admitted: “At the moment we are finding ways of getting beat!

“We are playing well and controlling games but can’t put the ball in the net!

“Then as we all know in football, teams are going down the other end and nicking one.

“We lost to Witham 4-1 and they had two shots on goal all game!  Two crazy own goals and a penalty later we had somehow lost 4-1!

“Anyone watching that game would tell you there was only one team that should have won that game and it wasn’t Witham - but that’s football and you have times like that.

“We have missed three penalties in a row in this bad run and had two sent off so we are not helping matters!

“But you have times in football when things go against you but we need to keep believing in what we are doing and I’m sure things will start to turn around and we can get going again.”

Vickers welcome Waltham Forest to Oakwood on Saturday.

Forest arrive in Kent sitting in the bottom two, having collected 12 points from 22 games.

Russell sees this game as one his side can get out of their losing streak.

“As a manager you get a feel for where your team is at from games and training and I’m happy with it overall.  We just need to relax in the final third.  We will continue to work at it in training.”

VCD Athletic secured promotion back into the Ryman League after finishing runners-up to double-winners Erith & Belvedere in the Kent League last season.

“Overall, me, Razor (assistant manager Ray Powell), the players and the club are loving life in the Ryman,” said Russell.

“Having gone into it with clubs looking at us at ‘the Kent League runners-up,’ I now see clubs and managers looking at us in a different light.

“I can see the respect clubs are giving us now and I’m keen to build on that.

“What happens from here only time will tell but what I do know is I’ve been at this club for just over a year now and we are in better shape now than the one I turned up to (fifth-place in the Kent League).

“So we play with no fear with that in mind and see where we end up.”

Visit VCD Athletic’s website:  www.pitchero.com/clubs/vcdathleticfc

VCD Athletic  v  Waltham Forest
Ryman League Division One North
Saturday 21^st December 2013
Kick Off 3:00pm
At Oakwood, Old Road, Crayford, Kent DA1 4DN