GNP SPORTS' MANAGER SHAMIR ALAM REACTS TO HIS TEAM'S 1-2 WIN AT BARNT GREEN SPARTAK...

A 1-2 win at Barnt Green Spartak. What is your reaction to that result? 

"First of all I’m pleased with the result; we go into every game with a winning mentality and after being knocked out of the FA Vase I wanted a reaction. We didn’t really get that in terms of the first-half performance and I felt we allowed GJ's lads to play too much but we regrouped during the second-half and we were dominant from start to finish. The most important thing is to keep winning and then trying to get to the playing style we desire."

What pleased you most about the team’s showing?

"Despite all the injuries and 3 new players making their debuts, we showed glimpses of how we can dominate games. What we need to do now is to take that into training and then keep improving in matches. Whilst the clean sheets are not quite there, the defensive unit put their bodies on the line & defended well and they were well supported by the midfielders and attackers tracking back to shut out BGS..." 

Any new injuries to report?

"Yeah, it wouldn’t be GNP without winning the hard way. New full-back Jack Taylor suffered a thigh strain, so we are hoping he’ll be back in a week or two." 

Two new forwards scored goals. Any comments about them? 

"First of all, I’m pleased Gifford and Dale have agreed to join GNP. We want to be successful on all fronts and to do that you need 4 or 5 top strikers and we have now by adding those two. Gifford is not 100% but with 13 players available, having to go away to BGS, he had to just get on with it and I’m glad we took the risk. He netted a fantastic goal to open up his GNP account and get us off the mark. Dale is lacking some sharpness due to being on holiday for 2 to 3 weeks but he was still dangerous each time we attacked and showed a calmness to score the penalty to fire us into the next round." 

Your Man of the Match?

"Torin Coleing (Toz) has shown some real glimpses of the kind of centre-midfielder we lacked last season. It’s only been glimpses as Toz joined late into pre-season and he knows there’s work needed, fitness-wise before he can be really effective. But I thought that yesterday he was one of the main reasons why we controlled the tempo better than we have previously. His vision, calmness and skill of making the game look simple is what we need off him each game now." 

Next up Boldmere?

"I’m looking forward to this one; they have had a great start to the season, one that I’m sure has shocked many and it should be a cracker. They have only conceded one goal away from home so we have to be at our attacking best but they haven’t come up against Stu, Gifford, Rawlings and Dale yet, all whom will be available for selection this Saturday. I know my strikers aren’t happy to see a Boldmere player leading the goal scoring table, so let’s see if Boldmere can stop a motivated GNP front line.

Defensively we are getting better and stronger each game, there is still so much improvement needed but in two league games last season Boldmere didn’t score a single goal past us and our defence is better this year, so I can imagine that that will be playing on the Boldmere players' minds all week leading into the game." 

Yours in football...

Shamir Alam, Manager, GNP Sports...