As a group we have spoken about how we have given ourselves a platform to kick on for the rest of the season, says Stansfeld joint-manager Billy Hamlin

STANSFELD joint-manager Billy Hamlin says his side could play a big part in the promotion race.

 

The club are currently in sixth-place in the Sea Pioneer Southern Counties East Football League First Division table with 37 points from their 20 games, only five points adrift of the promotion zone.

Stansfeld beat bottom-five side Lydd Town 2-0 at Foxbury Avenue last weekend.

“Lydd came to us with a pretty new side with a lot of youngsters in it and they done well,” said Hamlin.

“We scored two early goals, which knocked the wind out of their sails with our two centre-halves Lennie Wise and Casey Killilea so dominant at the moment we are really confident about keeping clean sheets.

“After we had scored Lydd didn’t really have a shot but then again we didn’t create a great deal but being 2-0 up we felt really comfortable.”

Stansfeld welcome tenth-placed side Forest Hill Park to their Chislehurst base tomorrow, their opponents suffered a 3-0 home defeat to second-from-bottom side Bridon Ropes on Wednesday night.

“We got beat by Forest Hill earlier in the season so we are really eager to out that right.  We are a completely different team now but we still have to be wary and make sure we 100% at it from the start,” said Hamlin.

“It is more or less the same squad as last week. Hopefully we have Jake Britnell back from a slight knock. If he is not fit Rob Hughes will come in who has scored three in three for our reserves.

“There is a real belief in the changing room at the moment. We dropped lots of silly points at the start of the season against teams we believe we should have beaten so that’s disappointing but on the other hand we have gone away to some difficult places and got three points so it evens itself out.

“As a group we have spoken about how we have given ourselves a platform to kick on for the rest of the season.

“We have made a couple of new signings recently and we will have our top scorer Ryan Hassan back soon from injury and Greg Summersby from suspension.

“We always thought February would be a big month because a lot of teams at the top are playing each other and it gives you a chance to make up ground.

“We are lucky to have the players we have considering we don’t pay but that spirit and togetherness has seen us punch above our weight and come the end of the season our boys are under no pressure whereas some of the other teams are expected to go up.  We are not so that could play a big part in the race for promotion.”

Stansfeld  v  Forest Hill Park
Sea Pioneer Southern Counties East Football League First Division
Saturday 8 February 2020
Kick Off 3:00pm
at Foxbury Avenue, off Perry Street, Chislehurst, Kent BR7 6SD