Meridian VP have – by the standards we have set ourselves – had an indifferent start to the season without hitting the levels we would have hoped to, admits Meridian VP boss Dwinder Tamna

MERIDIAN VP manager Dwinder Tamna says he is expecting an entertaining affair when his side play Hassocks in The Buildbase FA Vase First Qualifying Round on Sunday afternoon.

The Charlton-based outfit are in eighth-place in the Southern Counties East Football League First Division table, with a 50% record from their opening four games.

They began their campaign with a 2-1 home defeat to Snodland Town before beating Kent Football United 4-1 in Dartford.  They came away from Lydd Town with a 2-1 defeat but beat Bridon Ropes 3-2 at home on Bank Holiday Monday.

“Meridian VP have – by the standards we have set ourselves – had an indifferent start to the season without hitting the levels we would have hoped to,” admitted Tamna.

“The signs are positive though and the squad is already showing the togetherness required to do well in the league this season.

“The management and players' see promotion as a realistic objective for the season, so as a group we are working towards achieving that.”

Reflecting on his side’s start to the campaign, Tamna, who is also the clubs chairman said:  “After the disappointment of an opening day defeat to Snodland, in a game that stats suggest we should have won, showed that the league is a lot tighter this season than maybe expected.

“In our second game away to Kent Football United, we were clinical in a 4-1 victory with a hat-trick from striker Douane West and an opener from captain Tim Moffatt.

“The captain repeated the feat with a long-range goal in our third game away to Lydd Town, which was overturned in the second half for another bitter 2-1 defeat. 

“Meridian VP then had the SE7 Derby game to right wrongs from the Saturday, which we did in a 3-2 victory over our groundsharers in a very entertaining match.

“New signings, who have strengthened the ranks, Jacob Skelly and Leslie Juch, with two goals, scored in a battling performance, which not only helped us climb into the top half of the table but sets us up nicely going into Sunday’s FA Vase game.”

Sussex-based Hassocks are in the bottom five in the Southern Combination Premier Division, which is one level higher than Meridian VP and they have collected four points from their opening five games.

“We are very positive going into this game and had a good training session at our new training facility,” said Tamna.

“As a squad we have a few injuries to consider but feel we have the necessary strength in depth to cover.”

Currently struggling with knocks are experienced campaigner Martin Begg, who is suffering with a dead leg, Tomi Alabi and Brima Daramy.  However, Jerome Richards and Joe Richardson both came through training without any problems so are available for selection.

“I’m expecting an entertaining affair at the Meridian and if we play to our strengths we can look forward to a positive result on Sunday,” added Tamna.

Meridian VP  v  Hassocks
The Buildbase FA Vase First Qualifying Round
Sunday 1 September 2019
Kick Off 3:00pm
at Meridian Sports & Social Club, Charlton Park Lane, Charlton, London SE7 8QS