16thjan05

Lordswood aim to keep hold of youngsters

LORDSWOOD manager Paul Piggott admitted he was disappointed with his side after they squandered a 2-0 lead at the break to go on to lose 3-2 at Greenwich Borough on Saturday, writes Stephen McCartney.

Their 12th league defeat of the campaign leaves the North Dane Way outfit rooted to the foot of the Go Travel Kent League table with only nine points with 13 league games to go.  They have won only two league games and are seven points adrift from second from bottom side Erith Town.

Lordswood, however, got off to a dream start against the South East Londoners.  After controlling the ball Sean Hetterley pushed the ball into the area for Andy Doerr to run onto and slotted home past Borough goalkeeper Michael Holder from ten yards.

Richard Radbourne's header from Mike Cunningham's free kick into the penalty box gave the Medway side a 2-0 interval lead.

Piggott, however, admitted he thought things would finally change for the better but Greenwich has other ideas with second half goals from Peter Garland (penalty) and headers from Errison Ahwan and former Dartford defender Lee Coburn sealed their fate.

Lordswood, however, squandered a late penalty after Doerr's goal-bound header was instinctively punched clear by Joshua Olabayo - who was sent off - but Hetterley blazed the penalty over the bar.

"When the confidence is low and things aren't going for you to be 2-0 up at half-time you think things are going to change," said the Lordswood boss.

"But unfortunately we gave away some sloppy goals.  We missed a penalty in the last couple of minutes and you think the world's against you."

Piggott, however, has taken the positives out of the game.  Although still bottom of the table, he has some good youngsters in the squad and that can only bode well for the future - only if the club can keep the vultures away and persuade them to stay for next season.

"There are a lot of positives out of the game," he said.

"Going 2-0 up in the first place, we are scoring, we are looking good as a team going forward, but we are lacking that little bit at the back, defending as a team."

Although the club is supportive of their current plight, Piggott is still confident his side can climb up the table, starting with next Saturday's clash with seventh placed Beckenham Town at North Dane Way.

"Every game is a must-win game," he said.

"We still have to believe in ourselves - we just have to turn that belief into results, which we know we can do.

"We still believe it - we've got to believe it," he insisted.

"The club are 100% behind us, they have been very good.  They can see what we are trying to do - build a young squad of players that are going to turn the club round.

"We have a future with them, it's just that we need to keep them together."