I think many have written us off for a top-four finish now but we won’t give up on it until it’s mathematically impossible, says Croydon boss Liam Giles

CROYDON manager Liam Giles insists he has not thrown in the towel despite his side dropping out of the promotion race.

 

The Trams have slipped down the Sea Pioneer Southern Counties East Football League First Division table in eighth-place in the pecking order with 30 points from their 20 league outings.

Croydon are 12 points adrift of the four-club promotion zone after slipping up against Stansfeld (1-2); Rusthall (0-3) Sporting Club Thamesmead (0-0) and last week they went down to a 2-1 defeat at fourth-placed side FC Elmstead.

“Our last game I felt the better side lost on the day,” said Giles.

“We had more than enough chances to put the game to bed late on at 1-1, with two cleared off the line and one over the bar from six-yards but it wasn’t to be and to top it off a very dubious penalty was awarded against us in injury time really topped things off.  Both benches were in agreement it wasn’t a pen but sometimes you need the rub of the green but we really are not getting no luck.”

Croydon cannot afford to slip up at Croydon Sports Arena tomorrow when basement side Kent Football United visit.

“We know they won’t be coming to make up the numbers and we expect a tough game,” added Giles.

“I think many have written us off for a top-four finish now but we won’t give up on it until it’s mathematically impossible.

“We have 12 games to go and anything can happen, odds are stacked against us but for the first time this season we have become the underdogs in achieving promotion, so we will see how we fair.

“There are 36 points left on offer and we must gain 30, I believe, if we are to be promoted.

“Our performances in our last two league games were encouraging and for me, we deserved six points where we only collected one.”

Croydon  v  Kent Football United
Sea Pioneer Southern Counties East Football League First Division
Saturday 8 February 2020
Kick Off 3:00pm
at Croydon Sports Arena, Albert Road, South Norwood, London SE25 4QL