Scoring goals comes natural to me, admits free-kick specialist

Wednesday 16th August 2006
New Gravesend & Northfleet star Mark DeBolla has certainly made the right impression with the Stonebridge Road faithful, writes Stephen McCartney.

 

After scoring a screamer in their thrilling 3-2 defeat at Aldershot Town on Saturday, he netted two beautiful free-kick’s last night as Tamworth were sent packing by four goals to one.

And DeBolla, who is part Italian and Part French but has a London accent, is the club’s joint top scorer with striker Charlie MacDonald, who also netted a brace last night.

“Two great goals if I say so myself!” boasted a proud DeBolla after the game.

“It was a good performance by the lads,” he told www.kentishfootball.co.uk  In the press conference.

“I’m confident in that sort of range, so I’m confident when I take the free kicks.

“It’s not an everyday thing but yes it’s natural.  It’s a good technique to have and I’m glad I can do it.”

DeBolla is looking to build on the Fleet’s impressive start to the new campaign – despite collecting three points from their opening two games.

He said: “I want to push the team forward and me and Charlie are probably going to compete for the top goalscorers hopefully.

“But he’s got his two goals tonight and that’s what his job is.

“The whole team was a lot solid at the back and they never looked like scoring but it was a good goal for them, but you’ve got to hold your hands up but that’s going to happen.”

Tamworth levelled MacDonald’s seventh minute opener with a fabulous left-footed volley from 20-yards by former Alferton Town striker Jon Stevenson after 15 minutes.

“You’ve got to hold your hands up but that’s going to happen,” admitted the former Aston Villa, Chesterfield, Charlton Athletic and Grays Athletic player.

DeBolla admitted he prefers to play in central midfield and is looking forward to Saturday’s home clash with York City.

He said: “I think all the games are going to be hard but we’ve just got to dig deep and hopefully everybody can stay fit and free of suspensions, and we can push up the league and get as many points as we can.”

Experienced campaigner Paul McCarthy was drafted into a three man defence – a move that DeBolla agreed with.

“The team spirit is really high even though we lost on Saturday, but we were 2-0 up and we should have won the game,” he reflected.

“But we have got through that and it showed tonight.  We can get past the bad times and hopefully we can have a lot of good.

“With Macca coming in as well at the back I thought we were a lot solid tonight – he done a good job and he’s experience showed.”

Visit Gravesend & Northfleet’s website: www.gnfc.co.uk

Gravesend & Northfleet  v 
York City
Nationwide Conference
Saturday 19th August 2006
Kick Off 3:00pm
At Stonebridge Road, Northfleet