Concanen happy to play mind games
ALDERNEY are happy to keep playing the underdogs role in a three-way FNB Priaulx League title race that might just have been a four-way fight had North not spurned a 2-0 lead at the champions on Saturday.
Speaking after his brave Alderney side had been held 1-1 at Blanche Pierre Lane, player-coach Josh Concanen said that they were happy to be underdogs or, at least, let his big brother and team spokesman Steve publicly say they are not contenders.
‘He is probably a lot smarter than you lot give him credit for. He knows how to play the mind games and he enjoys being the underdogs and, most games, we come into, we are.
‘But we put up a heck of a fight for an underdog today.’
Concanen said his team were the better side at St Martin’s, denied the win by a late Brent Marquand goal after Jason Atkins had headed them in front.
He insisted the Saints goal should have been scrubbed out.
‘I’ve gone over to head it, a lad has gone to kick it and, instead, kicked me in the ribs. The ref has said “play on” and he’s given it (the goal). So it is what it is.
‘I felt we dominated for a large part of the game and I was walking around at the back watching a lot of it.’
Saints coach Leon Meakin saw it a shade differently.
‘We were on top in the last 20 and being able to make quality changes helps.’
As for the league, Meakin said they are in good shape.
‘This time last season we had 18 points after nine games and this time we have 22, so we are making progress.’
Match reports in Monday's Guernsey Press.
