We will need to be at our best again if we want to maintain our current good form and keep the pressure on the teams ahead and around us, says Greenwich Borough boss Paul Barnes

GREENWICH BOROUGH manager Paul Barnes says his side will need to be at their best to beat local rivals VCD Athletic tomorrow.

Reflecting on their 2-0 win at Horsham last Saturday, Barnes said: “We lost Jack Tucker through a knock he sustained whilst with Gillingham training, also Travis Gregory was struck down with a virus which kept him out. Danny Fitzsimons was carrying a knock from the previous fixture, so it meant some shuffling of the pack.

“The first half was an even affair with Greenwich Borough not really finding any real rhythm or tempo in our play. That said we still had chances to score at least two goals.

“Second half saw us pick up the tempo and raise the intensity all over the pitch, with debutant Nassim Dukali playing a key role in all the good things we did.

“Our first goal came from his brilliant through ball for the ever-willing runner of Jack Barham who picked out Chinedu McKenzie who coolly fired past the Horsham keeper.

“Even with players missing and lads being asked to do a job, we kept another clean sheet and Nathan Paul was excellent as a centre-back, looking assured and comfortable in there.”

Greenwich Borough are in fourth-place in the Bostik South Division table with 64 points from 32 games.  They are only four points adrift of leaders Lewes, and a couple adrift of second-placed Greenwich Borough.

Two points separate the four teams consolidating themselves in the play-off places as Carshalton Athletic, Greenwich Borough, Walton Casuals and Corinthian-Casuals are all vying for promotion.

Keith McMahon brings his side to Eltham sitting in 18^th-place in the table with 34 points in the bag.

“We will need to be at our best again if we want to maintain our current good form and keep the pressure on the teams ahead and around us,” said Barnes.

“VCD possess the potential to hurt teams, with a physically strong side who have shown that they can match anyone on their day and have a very experience manager in Keith McMahon who will no doubt have his team organised and prepared for what we have to throw at them.

“I am fortunate enough to have a full compliment to choose from this weekend and have the nice headache of deciding who gets the opportunity to start and who can impact the game from the bench.

“It is something I am a big believer in, making sure we have the correct balance within the starting eleven, but also having the option to not only freshen things up from the side, but also carry the threat of making the opposition answer tactical questions that we can ask from changing roles or tactical approaches, with the use of available players who are hungry to earn a place and impact the teams performance in positive way to make a statement to myself and everyone looking on.

“Looking ahead to aspirations for the rest of the season, we have our aims and objectives and they won't change. It will be three points each weekend. It doesn't matter who we are due to play, our work week will start on a Sunday, preparing and looking at the opposition for the next game and we don't lose that focus on the particular opposition until the whistle goes the following Saturday.

“Then we start the process all over again with another opposition becoming our focus. 

“When the time comes to tally up the points and see who finishes where, we will be there or there abouts, I am confident of that.

“What I have in my dressing room and people around me give me that confidence. We believe in what we are doing and the standards we hold each other too.”

Visit Greenwich Borough’s website: www.greenwichboroughfc.co.uk

Greenwich Borough  v  VCD Athletic
Bostik South Division
Saturday 10 February 2018
Kick Off 3:00pm
at Middle Park Avenue, Eltham, London SE9 5HP