We've probably got the best team spirit, claims Erith & Belvedere boss Chris Cosgrove

ERITH & BELVEDERE manager Chris Cosgrove says he is worried about playing on Harlow Town’s artificial playing surface on Saturday.

The Deres arrive in Essex sitting in the bottom five of the Ryman League Division One North table following last Sunday’s 4-1 home defeat to high-flying Witham Town.

Cosgrove has targeted 46 points from their 46 league games to retain the club’s Ryman League status at the end of the season and have collected 17 points from their sixteen league games so far.

Harlow Town are in sixth-place in the table, with 28 points from 16 games, two points adrift of the team above them, Dereham Town.

The Hawks have lost one of their nine league games at The Harlow Arena and are the second Ryman League club to install an artificial surface following Maidstone United, who are unbeaten in nine home league games this season.

“We’re worried about the 3G pitch because when you’re playing on it week in week out they’re used to it so it’s a massive advantage for them to be playing on it,” claimed Cosgrove.

“We do like to play the passing game, we’re a very good passing team.  I’ve always tried to promote passing in a game and play as much football as we can and maybe it will suit our passing game.

“It’s going to be another tough game. Harlow are a good side, they’re only sixth, and all we can do is give what we can. We’re going to be big outsiders to go up there. We’ll just give our best. We’re not expecting nothing but if we can give our best and see where it takes us. It’s all we can do.”

When asked whether his side will be training on a similar playing surface to Harlow’s leading up to the game, Cosgrove replied: “We train on a similar surface. Our training ground is similar to that so we do train on a similar surface every week.

“It’s tough but we’re going to pass the ball, try and get our wingers going and get the ball to our forward’s feet and bring people into the game and give it the best shot we can.”

Cosgrove complained that his side have been playing some tough fixtures during the past few weeks, which has seen his side pick up three points out of 12 available since parting company with Martin and Joe Ford.

He said: “Whoever does these fixtures isn’t being very kind to me. I suppose it’s better playing them now. It gets them out of the way!

“I’ve looked at the fixture list and soon we’ll be playing teams around us. Hopefully we can keep putting these performances in. We’re losing by the odd goal to Aveley and we could have lost by the odd goal against Witham and these are against teams at the top of the league.

“If we can put these performances in against teams that are not doing so well, I believe that we can turn the corner.”

Despite losing nine league games this season, Cosgrove insists spirit in the camp is good.

He said: “The spirit is massive! The spirit in the camp is massive. They are so hurting losing the games. They’re doing everything I ask of them and they’re massive. The spirit is great and they are so disappointed.

“The spirit of the camp is good and we’re very close nit and it’s hurting them because they want to do it for themselves, they want to do it for me and they want to do it for the committee and they want to do it for this club. They love playing for this club and our spirit is second to none.

“If I was looking in their eyes before the game they’re so up for it and they want to do things.

“We’ve probably got the best team spirit, there’s no better team spirit I would say than us. We’re all fighting for each other.”

Cosgrove wants to hear from a striker who can put the ball in to the back of the net and does not want to receive a lot of money for doing it.

When asked what is missing from his side, the manager replied: “Putting the ball in the net basically!” 

Meanwhile, Bexley Borough, who are top of the Haart of Kent County League Division Two West – which is three levels below the Kent Invicta League – have today pulled off a major transfer coup by signing much-travelled striker Ross Cable.

Joint-manager Jamie Leggett has praised chairman Liam Kelly for bringing the player to the club, which plays their home games on the artificial pitch at Sporting Club Thamesmead at Bayliss Avenue.

He said: “We’re building on and off the pitch all the time.  Liam Kelly is working so hard off the pitch – he’s a great chairman and the signing is a signal of intent.”

Bexley Borough thashed Crockenhill's reserve side 16-0 in the league last Saturday.
 
Visit Erith & Belvedere’s website: www.erithbelvederefc.co.uk

Harlow Town  v  Erith & Belvedere
Ryman League Division One North
Saturday 23^rd November 2013
Kick Off 3:00pm
at The Harlow Arena, Elizabeth Way, Harlow, Essex CM19 5BE