Second Tobin returns for rare midweek sting
MIDWEEK AWAY were once two of the most despised words in Tony Vance’s vocabulary.
It often meant scrambling around to get 14 travellers and, ultimately, a defeat.
But entry into the Bostik South East means a whole lot fewer Tuesday nights somewhere south of London and the Green Lions are better prepared as they head off today for a clash against struggling East Grinstead Town.
After Sunday’s loss the Green Lions have slipped to 14th in the table, three points and four places ahead of ‘The Wasps’.
Twice last campaign Vance’s men dealt with ‘The Wasps’ in the manner you would deal with the pests in normal everyday life.
With Ross Allen still on board, GFC beat them 4-2 at The Lane and then 2-0 away, the latter seeing Robbie Legg on target before his sad knee injury.
This season it’s been a tough start to the campaign for tomorrow’s opponents.
They lost all four of their opening matches before getting off the mark with a 3-1 home win over VCD Athletic.
The Wasps return to league action after a bit of fun in the FA Cup qualifying rounds these past few weeks. But after two KO wins they were knocked out by the odd goal in three at Bostik Premier outfit AFC Hornchurch at the weekend.
Vance will have to re-jig his midfield, with Craig Young unavailable, but the only other new absentee is Kyle Smith who, like Young, is work-tied.
The now UK-based Harry Tobin gets a call-up under the dual registration rule and the GFC boss has no fear about any rustiness on his part due to the fact that he’s been playing for a club at one level below the Green Lions.
His availability, and with Cal Stanton also on the mainland, it means that the Lions will take just 13 on the plane to Gatwick.
Reviewing Sunday’s home defeat by Sittingbourne, Vance said that while he was disappointed with the first half showing, he was encouraged by the second.
‘When you consider they are up to fourth in the league and we matched them, we deserved a draw.
‘We didn’t take our chances, they did.’
