Hollands & Blair boss Bryan Greenfield: We will always strive to be better and want to aim higher

HOLLANDS & BLAIR manager Bryan Greenfield says he’s reflecting on a season that could have promised much more.

The Gillingham based outfit go into their final two league games of the season sitting in the top eight in the Southern Counties East Football League Premier Division table having collected 60 points.

They complete their campaign with a trip to Tunbridge Wells tomorrow, followed by the visit of title-chasing Crowborough Athletic on 29 April.

Blair ended their poor run of form with a 1-0 home win over Corinthian and Greenfield said: “I’m pleased and relieved to put our seven game losing run behind us.

“The boys have been brilliant all season for the club and they didn’t deserve a run like that and could easily have won three or four of those games during that spell, but that’s football sometimes.

“The only game we fully deserved to lose was the home game to Fisher, where we didn’t show up at all.

“I didn’t think last week was going to happen for us after Jack Simon harshly got sent off early in the second half but they boys reacted brilliant to that and fought for one another and dug out a well-deserved victory on a great goal from James McDonald and a great through ball from young Archie Miller.”

Tunbridge Wells are now 10 points clear of the relegation zone and Greenfield hopes for a much better game at Culverden Stadium tomorrow.

He said: “We played and lost 1-0 to Tunbridge Wells recently in a midweek game and it was a poor game of football to be honest that night, one that I didn’t think either side deserved to win so we’ll be looking to put that right tomorrow down at their place.

“The boys should be feeling better after last week’s result against Corinthian so looking forward to go down to one of the more senior SCEFL teams in front of a decent crowd.”

Hollands & Blair finished runners-up to promoted champions Greenwich Borough last season and Greenfield admits to be feeling disappointed during his first season in charge of the club.

“It’s a shame that we had this bit of a skid towards the end of the season as a top five finish was looking on the cards not so long ago so in that respect it’s a disappointing end to the season,” admitted Greenfield, who was Paul Piggott’s first-choice left-back.

“However, when you step back and look at what happened last summer with both the quality and quantity of players we lost and with it being my first season in charge of the club, along with the fact that it’s only the clubs second season in the league, then I guess a top half finish isn’t bad taking in all those factors.

“We will always strive to be better and want to aim higher for sure and be as competitive as we possibly can be as a club.

“Again this season we have finished higher than a lot of established teams so I think the boys should be proud of their achievements.

“We’ve had a chance to blood in a few of the 18s and 16s and I think it’s important to a club like Blair that we give the youngsters an opportunity to play and if they are good enough they will certainly get the opportunity under this management to play.

“So all in all not a bad season that nearly promised a little bit more but faded away so we’ll look to improve next season and the hard work begins now throughout the summer.”

Visit Hollands & Blair’s website:  www.hollandsandblair.co.uk

Tunbridge Wells  v  Hollands & Blair
Southern Counties East Football League Premier Division
Saturday 22^nd April 2017
Kick Off 3:00pm
at Culverden Stadium, Culverden Down, Tunbridge Wells, Kent TN4 9SG