Tough Task At ‘Combe

SATURDAY PREVIEW

Jamie Stephens was spot on with his summary in our huddle after last Saturday’s game. His immediate review was that it wasn’t our best performance, but it was still a five-point win and we’ve maintained our momentum heading into this week. Any win against an experienced National League side, as Henley are, is still an achievement.
My personal disappointment was that our two previous performances, both away from home, had been of such a high calibre that I wanted us to bring that level back and showcase it on our own pitch, in front of our amazing supporters.
From my perspective, the main reason we fell short of this was our inability to convert when we were in Henley’s 22. This has been a real strength for us in recent games, but on Saturday, we wasted opportunities that could have made the score line look very different. The upside is that it has given us some very clear areas to work on in training this week, and I’m looking forward to seeing the players take another step forward as we head into what is always an intense fixture away at Westcombe Park.

It’s funny how things work out, but we go into this weekend in an identical position to this time last season, with six wins behind us. Last year, it was away at Westcombe Park where our winning run came to an end. We know exactly what it will take to get a result against a ‘Combe side who concede very few points at home and know all too well how to win on their own pitch. It’s going to be a big Saturday.

The Pilgrims started the year with a bang, beating table-topping Brighton away from home. It was only the third defeat of the season for the league leaders and, after a strong first-half performance, the Pilgrims took control and stayed out in front. Bromley visit the Marine Travel Ground this weekend and the reverse fixture was a closely fought contest, with Bromley scoring late on to seal the win. The Pilgrims are focused on backing up last week’s strong performance, but they know they’ll need to deliver the same level again if they are to get the result they want.

MATT CORKER, HEAD COACH