I want us to start putting a run together and move up the table, says Holmesdale boss JP Collier

The Bromley-based outfit thrashed James Collins’ Corinthian 6-1 at Oakley Road last weekend and sit in tenth-place in the Southern Counties East Football League table with five wins, two draws and five defeats so far this season.

“We come off the back of a good 6-1 win last week against a very good Corinthians side,” said midfielder Collier.

“It was a game we all enjoyed. I think James is clearly doing a good job there with a young squad and reminds me of when I took over two seasons ago at Holmesdale. I am sure over time that team will only get better.

“It was a very open game and unlike previous games we took our chances and they didn’t.

“I have to say my goalkeeper Alex Hyde made some saves he had no right to get to, and is probably up there with one of the best performances he has had in a Holmesdale shirt.

“I know that is the standard he can play to when called upon and I would now challenge him to deliver more performances like that.

“I think that goes to everyone in the team.  There is no point us winning 6-1 one week and then losing the next. I want us to start putting a run together and moving up the table.

“I made my feelings known after we lost to Erith Town. I am not a manager to rant and rave every week about things but I was very clear after that game, and the pleasing thing for me was the reaction I got both in training and the game.

“I don’t think we have found a consistent level of performance to date and no disrespect to anyone we have played this season but I don’t think any team has been that much better than us.

“We have given silly goals away and conceded at poor times in games and not taken our chances.

“The game that summed that up for me was against Fisher.  We should have scored four goals in the first 15 minutes but we didn’t and gave them silly goals. That just can’t happen if we are to progress as a team, this is all stuff I have told our players.

“It’s no hidden secret that I ask our lads to play a certain way and anyone in our team that wants to do their own thing has quickly been moved on. If we play my way and we lose I take full responsibility for that.  If people just do what they want they are no good to me or Holmesdale.

“Everyone plays their role in our team and if one don’t stick to the plan then it tends to breakdown.

“We can’t all be the finished article, otherwise we wouldn’t be playing at this level, so I ask players to play to their strengths and let the attacking players express themselves in the correct areas.”

Collier takes his side across the border to play Crowborough Athletic in the league tomorrow.

The Crows are in eleventh-place in the table, having collected five wins, a draw and eight defeats from their first season in the league.

“Moving onto tomorrow, we play Crowborough, a team we beat only a few months ago in the Cup,” said Collier.

“I think when you beat a team and then have to play them soon after there is a case of them wanting to put the record straight and I fully expect a reaction from them.

“I know they have had a change in manager recently and picked up a few good results of late.

“We approach the game as always with a plan and I have every confidence that we can come away with the three points, should we play to our full potential. These are all words though and prefer we need to do our talking on the pitch.”