We won't give up on the title race, says Jenkins

IAN JENKINS insists his Cray Wanderers side will bounce back and claim a vital three points when Chipstead visit Hayes Lane on Sunday, writes Stephen McCartney.

The Wands surrendered second place in midweek when they fell to a disappointing 2-1 defeat at home to Metropolitan Police, which saw their opponents leapfrog over them into second place.

And by the time that Chipstead visit Hayes Lane on Sunday afternoon, the Wands could be out of the Ryman League Division One South play-off zone, if the sides below them pick up points.

Jenkins, speaking to www.kentishfootball.co.uk following his side’s poor performance against the Met, revealed he may take his under-the-weather side out to the pub the night before the game, to let his players bond together.

But he warns them not to drink too much, especially as they need to complete the double over the Chips, having thumped them 6-1 at their place last November.

“We will bounce back against Chipstead,” Jenkins vowed. “Obviously, they’re a team we beat 6-1 at their place. No doubt my players will approach the game thinking we’re going to win it.

“Hopefully we can go out and perform and play well. We need to start performing, especially being at home. The supporters who come to watch us can’t be enjoying the way we’re playing at the moment.

“We’re normally a footballing side and we haven’t been playing. Hopefully we’ll have a decent crowd and entertain them.”

Jenkins, like Ashford Town assistant Hugo Langton, believes up to ten or eleven teams can claim the four play-off berths at the end of the season.

As things stand tonight, Jenkins’ charges are seven points adrift of league leaders Kingstonian, although the Surrey giants have four games in hand.

When asked what he’s going for, Jenkins replied, “Title, at the end of the day. There’s still a lot of games left. We go on a run, which every club is saying in the top nine, ten, eleven, go on a run and they can go and do it.

“I don’t think Kingstonian are going to get away with it, they’ve got to play all the top sides around them yet - we’ve got to go there (over Easter).

“Until it’s mathematically impossible (we’ll be going to) win the league, we’ll just carry on. You’ve got to believe it.”

Jenkins will hand fitness tests to goalkeeper Glen Knight (ankle) and inspirational left-back Colin Luckett (groin) ahead of the game.

Visit Cray Wanderers’ website: www.craywands.co.uk

www.kentishfootball.co.uk will be covering this game

Cray Wanderers v Chipstead
Ryman League Division One South
Sunday 1^st February 2009
Kick Off 2:00pm
At Hayes Lane, Bromley, Kent BR2 9EF