However, despite the hard-fought 2-1 victory over AFC Varndeanians that got them back to winning ways on Saturday at a bitterly cold Victoria Park, manager Tony Vance could not quite bring himself to say it was a happy new year.
‘I’m still annoyed about last week, to be honest. I’m still frustrated because that was one that got away. But we’ve got to be strong at home and I had no illusions about today, I knew it was going to be a tough game,’ he said.
‘You hear people say, “oh, they’re bottom of the league” sort of thing, but they’re a good side and we had to scrap like anything to get a win against them last time. They played really well and again here.
‘So that’s a big three points. Their last four games they haven’t lost. They drew with Horsham, just lost to Haywards Heath by one, whereas we got stuffed by them, and they drew with Newhaven as well, who were right up there.
‘So they shouldn’t be where they are, and so it’s probably a very good three points actually under the circumstances.’
The margin of victory could have been more, but the Green Lions had to settle for two goals with the first an outstanding finish by Jamie Dodd that gave them the lead at half-time.
AFC Varndeanians equalised early in the second half through Julian Durand, but Dodd was heavily involved again in the winning goal as his long throw caused a bit of chaos in the opposition’s penalty area and Sam Murray scored a poacher’s goal that takes him up to 22 for the season.
‘Doddie scoring with a right-foot half-volley, not many people would believe you if you told them,’ said a grinning Vance.
‘The second one, funnily enough credit to Danny [Guillemette] the physio because Doddie popped his shoulder in the first half, so shouldn’t be taking long throws, but Danny strapped him up and he was hurling them in as if it wasn’t a problem.
‘But his throw-in, where it got to, was impressive and it was good to get that finish because we needed it.’
It was another experienced head who took man-of-the-match honours, though, with Dave Merris showing he still has a lot to offer in the centre of the park with a masterful display of awareness and composure.
‘I thought he was excellent,’ Vance said. ‘He was so sharp as well in there. He’s just ridiculous, he really is. He’s doing really well for us in there.’
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