Time to mind the gap says Vance
JAMIE DODD’S defensive line have silenced a few Isthmian league hotshots in recent weeks, but they are likely to come across one of the biggest of them all at ‘The Lane’ tomorrow.
Big Jeff is back in town.
Jeff Duah-Kessie has fond memories of playing here. Last season the tall and weighty No. 9 blasted a hat-trick in a 5-3 win for Phoenix Sports.
To a lesser extent the big man has been knocking in the goals again this year, seven in the Isthmian South-East to lie 10th in the scorers list, so the GFC defence will have to be at their most physical to combat his threat tomorrow.
But they have kept him quiet previously and having racked up three clean sheets in the last four, Dodd and co. are as mean as most in a division which has a long list of teams contesting a play-off spot.
‘He will always score goals, he’s a handful,’ said Tony Vance yesterday.
‘But we kept him quiet at their place and it’s not all about him. They are all a threat and they will be coming in for revenge, so we’ve got to be at it.’
Vance said he recognises the potential for a harmful gap opening between themselves in eighth place, and the last play-off spot.
There is now a four points difference and Vance does not want it to grow, so it is imperative GFC start turning draws into wins.
‘Only losing four out of 18 games is an achievement not to be sniffed at, but we have got to stay in the mix or a gap will start to open up. At the top Hastings will start to run away with it.’
The main GFC team news is that Alex Scott has now left for Bristol City and may well have played his final game for the Lions.
‘Hopefully he has played his last game for us – and I mean that in a nice way,’ said the coach.
Tom de la Mare is still away and Kieran Mahon injured, but everyone else is available and, most likely, Matt Loaring will be the main beneficiary from Scott’s departure.
