Vance more optimistic ahead of a big month

Manager Tony Vance was pleased with his injury-ravaged side’s display on Boxing Day away to Tooting & Mitcham United, even though it ended in a narrow 1-0 defeat, but he acknowledged that his side cannot allow those immediately above them to put any more daylight between them in January or else the mountain will become to steep to climb.

‘This is a big month coming up for us now,’ said Vance.

‘We need to get ourselves a little bit away from the bottom of the table because after that we start running out of games.

‘We are going to to have players coming back, so we need to keep in touch and get ourselves out of this mess.’

With November’s postponed game at Binfield having been rearranged for Wednesday 11 January, GFC face half-a-dozen fixtures during the first month of the new year and they currently sit 19th, three points off Tooting & Mitcham United and another two away from Sutton Common Rovers and Bedfont Sports.

However, Vance added that he has renewed optimism following a gutsy display at Imperial Fields on Monday by a squad of 13 including just 11 outfield players – the return of Acey on loan from Bristol City proving inspirational.

‘In terms of his career, it’s not a great move for Ben because he is better than this level, but under the circumstances I knew he was going to be here at Christmas and I spoke to Brian Tinnion [at Bristol City] to ask what are the chances of borrowing him for a couple of games and, let’s be fair, they owe us a favour or two,’ he said.

‘Having Ben available gives us a different perspective on how we can play because he gets on the ball, finds pockets and can pick a pass.

‘The boys enjoyed having that spring in our step and being able to get on the front foot.

‘I thought we were unlucky. We gave it our all, going away on Boxing Day with only 13 players, and I was proud of the performance, to be honest, and to have a positive experience, apart from the result, allows us to get our heads up.’

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