Vance is glad for the break
A WEEKEND break has come at the ideal time for the Green Lions.
In a perfect world Tony Vance may have wanted an immediate chance to right the wrongs of the last two weeks with another run out, but as he surveys a squad suddenly hit by injuries to key personnel, the Guernsey FC manager is thankful that Ashford United have progressed in the FA Trophy forcing the postponement of GFC’s scheduled trip there in BetVictor Isthmian South-East on Saturday. That match will now be played on Tuesday 3 December.
It means Guernsey do not return to action until next month when Whitstable Town visit Footes Lane on Saturday 2 November.
That is still not likely enough to be enough time for ankle injury victim Thomas Dodds nor captain Jamie Dodd to return to fitness after they both missed the 3-1 defeat at Herne Bay three days ago.
GFC also lost Will Fazakerley to a dislocated shoulder in the first-half of that contest and the young striker is now waiting on the results of a scan to determine whether there was any ligament damage caused.
‘It shows in football how quickly things can change – that’s why I’m always realistic,’ Vance said.
‘Our momentum was good, but now we have lost three massive players in Doddie, Doddsy and Faz. In terms of what they provide on the pitch, they are huge for us – in presence and attitude.
‘We now need to cope with that challenge of them being unavailable, so it’s probably a good time for us to get a rest – we could have done with it being three or four weeks,’ he added with a wry chuckle.
Vance hopes that Kieran Mahon, who also went off injured on Saturday, will be able to recover before the next outing, but the manager emphasised that the whole squad of players and management team have a lot of work ahead over the next fortnight.
‘We need the break to get back on the training field and start looking at how we are going to address not having those players,’ he said.
Tom de la Mare took over the captain’s armband at Herne Bay and Vance revealed that arrangement is likely to stay in place during Dodd’s absence.
‘You’re always looking at the next man in line potentially to take over long-term and Del is an excellent leader in his own way. He has also been through thick and thin with us,’ he said.
