Heaslewood: We need to believe in ourselves - EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW

With Whitstable Town beating Sevenoaks Town 4-1 at the Belmont, the unbeaten Oystermen are hot favourites to land the title.

Marc Seager’s men took full advantage of Thamesmead’s surprise slip up and are just three points behind the Mead - with three games in hand.

But ten-man Slade Green, fourth from bottom, moved five points clear of Sporting Bengal United following their 2-1 win on Saturday.

It was the second time the Small Glen outfit had beaten Keith McMahon’s side, having knocked them out of the Kent Senior Trophy, winning the second round tie 7-6 on penalties after the game at Bayliss Avenue finished 2-2 after extra time.

Reflecting on only their second league win of the season, Heaslewood said EXCLUSIVELY to www.kentishfootball.co.uk tonight: “In our position in the league any win is pleasing. We desperately needed three points as there is a gap appearing from the bottom four clubs.

“We were very pleased, especially under the circumstances. We were down to the bare bones with suspensions, injuries and unavailability.

“Then to go down to ten men after 25 minutes you’re up against it. But the lads were fantastic and they kept plugging away to gain the result.”

Heaslewood, however, warned his players about a possible backlash after their Trophy win, which set up a trip to Kent County League minnows Bearsted in the last eight in the new year.

“After the cup win we didn’t bask in the glory because we knew we would be back there in a couple of weeks and we didn’t want to feel a backlash,” said Heaslewood.

“Keith (McMahon) was very complimentary and we appreciated that.

“Thamesmead are a good side and they will be up there at the end of the season.

“We rode our luck at times but sometimes you have to concede possession of the ball, particularly when reduced to ten men.

“But in fairness luck is something that we have not had a lot of in recent weeks, so you hope it levels itself out.”

Heaslewood, however, hopes the side retain the belief that they now have following their shock win over their arch rivals and a promising display at Whitstable Town seven days earlier when a last-gap Steve Marshall winner denied the Green a point.

He said “We don’t need to inspire the players, that is something we do not need to give this team, it’s belief.

“Confidence has been affected in recent weeks and that is a massive element in football.

“We gained some from our performance last week at Whitstable and managed to take it into the Thamesmead game.”

But Heaslewood urges his players, who receive no financial reward for playing for the club, to become consistent.

“Our problem is consistency,” he admitted. “We have performed well against the top sides in the division and then lost and played poorly against sides around us.

“We need to be able to get points from teams that are within touching distance from us to move up the league.

“We want to climb up the table and finish as high as possible. We are still in the cup and have a good draw (at Bearsted) but a tie we will not take lightly.

“The County League has some good sides,” he warned. “Just look at what Faversham have achieved since being back in the league.

“But we want to progress in that competition as it keeps the season alive.”

Heaslewood, Danny Evans and Andy Silk take Slade Green to Herne Bay on Saturday for a Kent League Cup tie.

The former Cray Wanderers’ trio work well together, as Heaslewood explains.

“The three of us work very well together and are constantly bouncing ideas of each other,” he said.

“We will all see things differently and have our own ideas how to implement different formations and roles etc.

“The main thing is the lads respond and the squad is a joy to work with.

“We knew that it would be difficult in this league with our financial constraints, but like I said at the start of the season, we knew the position when we got this job so it will never be an excuse. We will get on with it.”

Visit Slade Green's website:  www.clubwebsite.co.uk/sladegreenfc