14thdec05

Wednesday 14th December 2005

We shouldn't be where we are in the league - Abbott
EXCLUSIVE

Non-league goalscoring legend Gary Abbott makes his first ever trip to windswept Merland Rise on Saturday as Cray Wanderers aim to go five league games unbeaten and climb further up the Ryman League Division One table, writes Stephen McCartney.

But it won't be easy against a Banstead Athletic side that have picked up 11 points from their last five games, including wins against Newport IOW, Dover Athletic and Metropolitan Police.

The Tadworth based side have climbed up the table themselves into the lofty heights of sixteenth place - five points behind the Kent side.

And the 41-year-old striker, whose banged in the goals for clubs including Welling United, Aldershot Town, Barnet, Enfield and Slough Town, revealed in an EXCLUSIVE interview with www.kentishfootball.co.uk that they must be in fifth place come February.

Cray, however, remain in one cup competition, where they'll travel to Staines Town in the London Senior Cup, after Dartford knocked them out of the Kent Senior Cup last night.

Jon Main's 16th goal of the season wasn't enough as the Southern Leaguers progressed into the last eight, courtesy of goals from Ryan Hayes, Eddie McClements and Dave Martin.

And looking ahead to their trip to Banstead, Abbott revealed: "To be fair, I don't think I've been there - we've got to go there positive and get three points."

Speaking about his side being 12th place in the table, he insisted: "We shouldn't be where we are in the league. I think everyone knows that. We've got quality players in our team, we just haven't really performed to our best and we've got to start now.

"The manager (Ian Jenkins) has said we've got to be in the top five in January/February."

Abbott is the fourth highest goalscorer at the club, that have scored a whopping 67 goals in all competitive games this season, but eight-goal Abbott wants more.

"I've scored eight goals at the minute and I'm looking to get more than that but I think I've assisted quite a lot," he said.

"To be fair, the two youngsters up front, (Jon Main and Michael Power) have scored the goals and it's good.

"Hopefully they'll learn from me as well and hopefully I can keep fit and keep knocking them in as well."

Abbott, however, is confident he'll still be playing next season. He said: "I just want to carry on playing at the minute. I feel fit, I feel good and I'll carry on and see what happens at the end of the season."

Banstead Athletic v Cray Wanderers
Ryman League Division One
Saturday 17th December 2005
Kick Off 3:00pm
at Merland Rise, Tadworth, Surrey KT20 5JG