We’re not where we want to be but I definitely wouldn’t read too much in the league table at the moment, says Corinthian boss Michael Golding

CORINTHIAN manager Michael Golding says his side are sitting in a false league position after eight games.

Corinthian conceded their first league goals of the season at Gay Dawn Farm when 91 people (their largest crowd of the season) saw them lose 2-1 to Lordswood on Friday night.

Lordswood returned to the summit following the game but Richard Styles’ side have since slipped down to fifth-place in the table with 19 points from 10 games, a point behind AFC Croydon Athletic.

Corinthian are in eleventh-place in the Southern Counties East Football League Premier Division table with 13 points on the board.

Attention now turns to Tuesday night’s Southern Counties East Football League Challenge Cup First Round tie at home to struggling Gravesham Borough.

Gravesham Borough are rooted to the foot of the First Division table with four points from 11 games, in fact they have gone 12 games in all competitions without a win.

Ricky Tompkins departed and Colin Patching took charge of the club for the very first time on Saturday, but he failed to halt the slide, suffering a 5-1 defeat at Kent Football United.

“Tough game, obviously being at home we’ll be the favourites but they’ve got a new gaffer so will be looking to impress,” said Golding.

“I’m sure they’ll have a few new players in and around what they’re doing, so we certainly won’t be underestimating what’s going on.

“We’ll fully prepare the boys. There will be a couple of changes but nothing too drastic. It’s a competition that we want to do well in, as we do every competition, so we certainly won’t be underestimating Gravesham.”

Corinthian then make the trip to Deal Town in the League on Saturday, still smarting from losing 4-1 there in The FA Cup Extra Preliminary Round Replay on 8 August.

“We drew with them at home in The FA Cup and got beat quite badly down there in a Tuesday night replay, so we owe them a little bit,” said Golding.

“They’re a good side, I’ve been really impressed with them this year. Their results have been alright, I think they’re going to do well.  They’re well-organised, well-drilled and they work really hard, so we know just how tough that’s going to be.

“I think it’s a bit of a false league position because some teams have played 10 games and we’ve played eight, so I think it’s a little bit all over the place.

“We had a 13-day gap between playing Whitstable and Lordswood, which in September is unheard off because of FA Vase games and FA Cup replay’s, so it allowed us to work on the training field. It didn’t quite pay off on Friday night.

“We’re not where we want to be but I definitely wouldn’t read too much in the league table at the moment.  In another five or six games I think it will be a fairer reflection where teams are going to be.

“I think it’s quite an open league this year, a lot of teams are beating each other.  I think Crowborough and Sevenoaks will be the favourites, Whitstable will not be too far behind that, so as long as we’re in and around that top group of five or six teams then I’m sure we’ll be alright.”

Corinthian  v  Gravesham Borough
Southern Counties East Football League Challenge Cup First Round
Tuesday 3^rd October 2017
Kick Off 7:45pm
at Gay Dawn Farm, Valley Road, Longfield, Kent DA3 8LY