If we are in that top-four spot come the end of the season, FC Elmstead will be celebrating until the start of next season, says Ennio Gonnella

FC ELMSTEAD manager Ennio Gonnella says there will be weeks of celebrations if the club seal a top-four promotion spot at the end of the season.

 

The club are presently sitting in fourth-place in the Sea Pioneer Southern Counties East Football League First Division table with 42 points from their 22 league outings.

Gonnella takes his side to Rochester United tomorrow, a side that are well and truly in the promotion hunt.

Kennington sit at the top of the pile with 45 points from their 21 league outings; Rusthall are in second-place with 44 points, while Rochester United are third with 44 points from 22 league games.

“We saw Croydon visit Lower Road, which ended in a good result for us,” said Gonnella, whose side claimed a 2-1 win over a Croydon side now in eighth-place and 12 points adrift.

“I thought Croydon were really good to be fair, the way they played was very different to the first meeting at their place.  They got the ball down lovely and played a style of football I admire, so credit to the management team there.

“I explained to the boys that at the business end of the season the only thing that matters is the result.

“My boys worked hard and played very well, defensively we were brilliant.  Alex Hyde was called upon to make two great saves so all round it was a job well down and three points in the bag.”

Gonnella is looking forward to their trip to Rochester United tomorrow, a true six-pointer clash.

“It’s another tough game. Rochester are flying this season and it’s going to be a great game,” said Gonnella.

“These are the games that you want to be involved in, exciting and nervous and having something to play for.

“My boys are ready and rearing to go. We trained well during the week and want to continue this good form of late and to be fair continue challenging like we have done for the whole season, so far.

“Our league position at the moment is good, really good in fact. We have been top for the longest so far and in the top four mainly all season but it means nothing though!

“There are really good teams in and around us and we have enough games in hand or momentum to take us out of it, that’s the beauty of the business end of any season.

“I don’t tend to look too much at league standings and who can catch who. We play every game to win and we take a game at a time and if we are in that top-four spot come the end of the season, FC Elmstead will be celebrating until the start of next season!

“We all want it, club, players and management. We would be stupid not to want it badly as we are currently in for a shout of promotion. There’s still a long way to go and I’m sure there will be more ups and downs to follow for all challenging.”

Rochester United  v  FC Elmstead
Sea Pioneer Southern Counties East Football League First Division
Saturday 8 February 2020
Kick Off 3:00pm
at Rede Court Road, Strood, Rochester, Kent ME2 3TU