“As we had planned and prepared for all week, actually. A tough encounter versus a team full of energy and pace. With that said, their goal came about from two errors but we managed to hit back instantly with a good assist by Tommy and an even better finish by Stu. Our first-half performance was bitty and lacked any rhythm but that thankfully changed in the second-half and the players raised it a level or 2, showing the intensity and quality they have displayed in the last two weeks.
We then managed to go ahead from a set-piece, thanks to Beach adjusting his header in the box and if we really wanted to we could have got 3 or 4 like we always tend to do, however we decided on this occasion to shore things up with 10-15 minutes to go!”
Rawlings was not on the scoresheet, so did Moors manage to shackle him?
“Tommy had a fantastic chance in the first-half but the quality in to him was average. I think I will be demanding he returns the new pair of boots he decided to wear yesterday. On a serious note he caused problems all game and his defensive headers and work rate in pressing were important yesterday.”
Hendrie nabbed a goal but Beach too... Good strikes?
“Each week Stu tends to outdo the previous week’s goal but his naughty chip was something special yesterday. I’ve been more pleased with his work rate for the team and he has bought into what it takes to start for GNP.
The Beach header won us the 3 points and there were some real celebrations, which shows how much it meant to Beachy and how popular he is with the lads.”
How did the defence do?
“I can’t remember many saves, if any, Wardle had to make, bar the goal Moors scored and that’s been the trend for the last 3 weeks. The strikers and forward players are doing so much work off the ball, the centre-midfielders are used to being outnumbered and yet always perform better than the 3 they are up against and defensively we have been so much better. There is still work to be done before we can be the best defence in the league but we’re not far away, that’s for sure.”
Who impressed you on the day and who was your ‘man of the match’?
“Scotty Hammond played well defensively and turned defence into attack with good speed and again probably should have got himself a goal but Wil Beach was the standout performer and the easy choice for M.O.M!
Beach has now had a good, consistent run in the side and is playing well each week. His running with the ball is probably the best in the side and the constant threat he holds gives us another good option as we try to grind teams down. We saw glimpses of Beach’s quality in pre-season but now that he’s aware you have to be at your very best each week if you have any chance of starting here, he’s risen to the challenge.”
Your views on Moors?
“As expected and prepared for, their build-up play was good, they have pace and a good change of speed throughout the team; we nullified their attacks in the second-half and we really did show the full strength of our play in that period.”
Hendrie goes on holiday I believe, so how will you shuffle your pack?
“The team has been quite consistent over the last 3 games with 2-3 changes on average and the performances have been the best to date. The players who haven’t had much of a look in or have recently been injured need to start giving me a headache in training and when they appear from the bench. Likewise the lads who have started the recent games; they need to work twice as hard because whilst the boys on the bench have been professional they aren’t happy and our bench is full of quality. Everyone knows how to get into the starting 11, so it’s down the players who start!”
Next up for the Pharaohs? Sorry, the Raiders?
“Feckenham away and there are things we need to work on this week in preparation for the game, for we sure as hell won’t allow any complacency. We knocked Feckenham out the Les James Cup last year when we were a league below them, on their pitch and after their best player Jamie Gifford joined us this season, I’m sure they will do everything they can to take points off us. So we need to be ready!”
How do you assess the current league situation?
“No different from what I said after last week’s match; I expected Boldmere and Northfield to win this weekend and both did.
No disrespect to BGS but with the resources at Northfield's disposal and being at home you would have to say that they are favourites to take 3 points next weekend and with Boldmere in cup action, it would mean Northfield going a point behind Boldmere.”
Yours in football…
Shamir Alam, Manager, GNP Sports…
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