Heath keep pace
Flackwell Heath FC: Chris Ayres' side are again on the coattails
Flackwell Heath manager Chris Ayres has stated that his players will be focusing on improving their penalty-taking skills in the upcoming weeks, following Jethro Odumosu’s missed spot kick in their 2-0 victory over Virginia Water at the weekend.
Prolific striker Odumosu had the chance to increase his goal tally this season, as well as the Heathens' lead at Stag Meadow, when Michael Harding was fouled in the box and a penalty was awarded by the referee.
However, rather than hit the back of the net, the ball landed outside of the ground and unsurprisingly met with groans from the travelling fans.
As Ayres explained to the Advertiser at full-time: “I think that makes it five penalties missed now this season, so we really need to address that.
“It could have been 0-0 and important for us to score that spot kick. Adam’s team are tough to beat here, they do well against the top five sides.
“Maybe Jack Brooker should have taken it. Jethro stood up, as Michael was injured winning the penalty, and missed. Marcus (Mealing) has missed two and Jethro has missed his last three. Like I said, this is something we need to work on.”
Moving away from the negative aspects of the clash, Ayres expressed satisfaction with how his team responded after their defeat to Rayners Lane on Saturday, January 27.
“I’m glad we’ve bounced back [to winning ways], I thought we showed great character today,” he said. “Yes, It was a bit of a nonevent [for 40 minutes] but we had that moment of quality in the final 10 of the first half that got us the lead.
“At half-time, we just asked the boys to keep being defensively organised and winning the battles in midfield.
“We thought we could then score another goal on the break.
“Unfortunately, we didn’t, but we’ve managed to keep a clean sheet.”
Ayres added: “Defensively we’ve been really good lately, the exception being the Rayners Lane match. They probably deserved to win the game, they’re a good side
and we’ve just got to keep winning our games. I’ve seen they just scraped home today, 3-2, at Wallingford & Crowmarsh. We’ve just got to keep doing our bit, keep putting the pressure on, and we’ll see what happens. That loss isn’t [going to define our season]. This result today strengthens our spot in second, it pushes us further away from the other teams. We’ve just got to worry about ourselves and then we’ll see what happens at the end of the season.”
Flackwell Heath faced Chalfont St Peter at Wilks Park on Tuesday evening. The Saints most recently lost 3-2 to Wokingham & Emmbrook at Mill Meadow.
-
Virginia Water 0, Flackwell Heath 2
Flackwell Heath surpassed the 50-point mark in the Combined Counties League Premier Division North on Saturday with a professional win over fellow promotion hopefuls Virginia Water.
Goals from Jack Shakespeare and Lewis Patrick delivered the Heathens this valuable victory at Stag Meadow seven days after they were beaten by table-toppers Rayners Lane at Wilks Park.
In a match characterised by a dearth of notable opportunities, the dependable midfielder Shakespeare (42’) managed to find the back of the net with a well-executed finish to the bottom left corner.
Shortly thereafter, Flackwell Heath supporters were once again seen rejoicing as defender Patrick (44’) unleashed a strike that sailed sublimely into the back of the net.
Jethro Odumosu (63’) later squandered from the penalty spot but that did not matter much as Chris Ayres’ men remained focused and alert to secure three points which strengthened their place in second ahead of Tuesday night’s (February 6) clash with Chalfont St Peter.
For Virginia Water, this defeat – and results in other games – has seen them fall into seventh place having been fifth on Saturday morning. Adam Sams’ men turned their attention to AFC Croydon Athletic in the Specsavers Senior County Cup on Tuesday evening.