Solidarity will help claim our play-off spot, says Ford

WELLING UNITED boss Andy Ford says his side must win eight of their last 12 league games if they are to compete in the Blue Square South play-off’s at the end of the season, writes Stephen McCartney.

The Wings, who were without a game yesterday, suffered a 2-0 defeat against workmanlike side Hampton & Richmond Borough last Tuesday and are presently sitting in seventh place in the Blue Square South table with 44 points from 28 games.

Even if the Wings beat sixth-placed side Hayes & Yeading United at Park View Road on Tuesday night, they will still be underneath the dotted line.

But Ford, speaking to www.kentishfootball.co.uk following the dull game at Beveree Stadium last Tuesday, says his side must go on an unbeaten run between now and the end of the season to keep their play-off hopes alive.

“We’ve got to win eight, the numbers are going down a little bit more now but we’ve still got to go out and win eight,” he said.

Ford explained why he thinks Hampton & Richmond Borough - now in second place and are fifteen points clear of the Kent club - have cemented their place in the end-of-season lottery.

“Hampton will probably be one of the four teams that are in the play-off’s already,” said Ford.

“The difference was you saw a team that were in the play-off’s last year and that team bar one or two have been together for probably two or three years.

“You look at our team, we have been only together for six months and sometimes even a month and that’s the difference.

“You have to build on solidarity and build on getting the same team out there (every) week, so everyone knows their jobs.

“We’re a little bit away on that but that takes a bit of time to get that in motion.”

But Ford says he is happy with the numbers and quality within his ranks at Park View Road as they prepare for a must-win game against a Hayes & Yeading United side that defeated St Albans City 2-1 yesterday.

“I feel happier with the numbers in the squad and happier with the quality in the squad,” said Ford.

“We’ve just got to get the right balance in the team. I had people on the bench (at Hampton) for once who could change the game but when you give away silly goals like that it makes it quite difficult.”

Visit Welling United’s website:  www.wellingunited.com

Welling United v Hayes & Yeading United
Blue Square South
Tuesday 24^th February 2009
Kick Off 7:45pm
At Park View Road, Welling, Kent DA16 1SY