Charlton pays small price for indiscretions
CHARLTON GAUVAIN is ruled out through suspension but the Green Lions head to a new venue today with morale lifted by that dramatic midweek snatch-and-grab.
While the precocious youngster pays the penalty for picking up five yellows, fellow midfielder Kez Mahon returns from his own ban and a run out on the Greatness Park 3G.
Acting head coach Steve Sharman said that while Sevenoaks represent a new challenge, they know plenty about the home side’s strikers.
‘They’ve got two strikers in Kenny Pogue and Sawyer who have been around the block. We’ve played against them playing for various teams.
‘Sevenoaks are very combative and play in the style of their manager [Micky Collins].
‘Tactically, they are a more traditional side in that they play with a 9 and someone running off him. They like to get the ball into the box and make defenders defend,’ said Sharman, who hopes to chalk up another win today before handing back the reins to Tony Vance for GFC’s next game.
Playing on an artificial pitch should, says Sharman, create no worries for his men.
‘A 3G pitch in most circumstances should suit us in terms of looking after the football. And we are looking forward to going there with plenty of confidence.’
Sharman may have lost one set of young legs in Gauvain, who is expected to play for Rangers against Manzur in the FNB Priaulx League today, but they welcome back another set provided by the other Mahon, Liam, rested against Herne Bay on Wednesday.
‘We took the opportunity to rest Liam and protect his hamstrings. His workload has been so great and so we took the advice of physio Dan Guillemette to take him out.’
Paris Pereira is also back in the squad who take on a side that sit five places and six points better off than GFC in a fairly congested Bostik South East mid-table.
Sevenoaks won 3-2 at Whyteleafe last weekend but Collins’ side saw new face Xavier Vidal score and then pick up a serious knee injury. The 23-year-old, making only his second league start after joining the club, scored with a spectacular first half strike, before suffering a dislocated knee.
GFC squad: Stanton, de la Mare, Tobin, Dodd, Dodds, L. Mahon, K. Mahon, Dyer, Rihoy, Smith, Skillen, Pereira, Fazakerley and Canha.
