We have naturally been disappointed with the start to 2017, losing all three of our games, says Corinthian boss Michael Golding

Friday 20th January 2017

CORINTHIAN manager Michael Golding says he wants his side to get back to winning away when struggling Beckenham Town visit Gay Dawn Farm tomorrow.

Golding’s side have suffered three defeats in their last three games.  They went down to a 4-0 defeat to Exmouth Town in The Buildbase FA Vase Last 32, before losing 1-0 at home to Whitstable Town in the Macron Southern Counties East Football League Challenge Cup.

“We have naturally been disappointed with the start to 2017, losing all three of our games so far and excited two cup competitions in the process,” said Golding.

“The FA Vase match down at Exmouth was a good experience for the squad, but we came up against an experienced side that were too good and physical for us on the day and fully deserved their victory.

“The biggest disappointment from the day was that 400 people who came through the gate didn’t get to see the real Corinthian side that can perform well on our day.”

Reflecting on their Cup defeat to Scott Porter’s Whitstable, Golding was bitterly disappointed with his side after failing to break down a resilient 10 men.

He said: “The League Cup defeat to Whitstable was frustrating as they went down to 10 men after 35 minutes and we conceded a poor goal right on the stroke of half-time, which allowed them to put 10 men behind the ball and defend for the whole of the second half, which they did very well, but we were disappointed in ourselves that we lacked the quality to open them up and create too many clear cut chances.”

Golding admitted he is pleased to see the back of Ashford United, after suffering their fourth defeat of the season to Danny Lye’s side.

Ashford United won 4-1 at home to Corinthian on Tuesday night.

Golding said: “Tuesday night at Ashford was a slightly better performance than the previous two matches, but giving a good team like Ashford a 3-0 lead at half-time was clearly not in the game plan and despite a strong second half showing from ourselves, Ashford were good value for their win.

“I’m just glad we don’t have to play them again this season, having lost to them four times!”

Corinthian, in eleventh-place in the Southern Counties East Football League Premier Division table, host second-from-bottom side Beckenham Town tomorrow and Golding wants to get back on track.

He said: “We go into tomorrow’s match with a good training session behind us on Thursday, where we worked on a couple of areas that we feel have been letting us down recently, but we know just how hard the game will be with Beckenham fighting for their lives to stay in the division.

“They are starting to score goals again and we need to be aware of this going into the game but we know we also have the ability to create chances and score goals.  We just need to start being more clinical, having a bit more belief in ourselves and more importantly defending better as a team, to reduce the number of goals we are conceding.

“I am positive that Beckenham will turn things around this season and I hope they do as they are a good club run by decent people. They play a good brand of football and possess some dangerous attacking players within their ranks, so we are ready for the threat they carry.

“On a personal level, it will be good to see Billy Walton – a friend and former coach.  Bill will no doubt have stamped his style on the side, so we know exactly what to expect.  I just hope they turn things around, starting next week!”

Visit Corinthian’s website: www.pitchero.com/clubs/corinthianfc

Corinthian  v  Beckenham Town
Southern Counties East Football League Premier Division
Saturday 21st January 2017
Kick Off 3:00pm
at Gay Dawn Farm, Valley Road, Longfield, Kent DA3 8LY