The players are on a high at the moment, says FC Elmstead's Ricky Tompkins

FC ELMSTEAD assistant manager Ricky Tompkins says the club are on a high at the moment.

The Bromley based club are sitting in seventh-place in the Southern Counties East Football League First Division table with 20 points from their 12 league outings.

Since Marc Bentz took over the reins from Fabio Rossi, who moved upstairs, FC Elmstead’s form has improved with three wins, two draws and two defeats in all competitions.

FC Elmstead made changes for their midweek 3-1 home defeat to Phoenix Sports Reserves in the Hospital Cup.

“Our last game was midweek to Phoenix Sports in the Charity Cup at home, one which we went into more wanting to try new things and a chance to look at a few new players we’ve brought in,” said Tompkins, who guided Otford United to promotion in his only season there.

“As a management team and of course a club, we want to win as many points as possible but having come into the side and trying to get to know players’ strengths and weaknesses this is really the best chances to look at new formations and different options.

“Not taking anything away from Phoenix, they played some good football and with a young quick side they seemed to come out of the gates a lot quicker and more switched on.

“We were 3-0 down at half-time and we said to the lads whether it is a Cup game or not we should not be trailing 3-0 down and the effort was not there.

“But credit to the boys, a great reaction in the second half we ended up winning the second half 1-0, so it was not an ideal situation but we managed to look at a few things and a different formation that hopefully we can take into tomorrow’s game against Lewisham.”

Lewisham Borough are in the bottom three with seven points from their 11 games, having lost five of the six games that Sean Jarvie and Tim Moffatt have been in charge of the club.

“We have been on great form in the league, I think winning three and drawing once since taking over and we and the players are on a high at the moment,” said Tompkins.

“The dressing room is buzzing and we’re believing that we’re good enough to be up there in the running’s and challenging the players, who have been fantastic since taking over and have adapted to our new ways and have worked hard.

“It’s been a credit to work with them and the effort has paid off.

“We’re now sitting in seventh after a good win against Gravesham Borough and know that tomorrow will not be easy but we’ll be looking to take three points at home to keep putting on the pressure on the top bunch.

“It’s great to have such a great management team and all three of us are getting on brilliant and all bring different ideas and ways, which I think sets everything into place.

“We hope the good run continues for a while yet and cannot be done without the great support from Elmstead and the people paying money each week to watch us play.  They have been great and we hope to continue to give them something to smile about deep into the cold winter days.”

FC Elmstead  v  Lewisham Borough
Southern Counties East Football League First Division
Saturday 4^th November 2017
Kick Off 3:00pm
at 68 Oakley Road, Bromley, Kent BR2 8HG