OPPOSITION Q&A
Pete discusses his team ahead of the NL game
SEASON SO FAR
A rollercoaster! That is partly due to the middle of the division being so tight and the fact that anyone can/does beat anyone (sometimes regardless of form).
HIGHLIGHTS
The near-perfect 5-1 victory over FC Halifax Town back in mid-September (live on BT Sport), the 3-0 win at Dorking Wanderers in late October and our current run in the FA Trophy (we face Halifax in the quarter-finals next weekend).
RECENT FORM
In the league – W 1 D 1 L 4 F 8 A 12.
KEY PLAYERS
Tyler Cordner (centre back), Haji Mnoga (centre back/right back) and (when on-form) midfielder/striker Justin Amaluzor.
LOSING EFFIONG
Of course it was disappointing, anyone who scores 17 goals prior to leaving is going to be a massive loss. For whatever reason(s), Inih wanted to leave, so it maybe made sense to let him go. However, what has concerned the fans is the difficulty/the delay in bringing in a replacement, which isn’t meant as a criticism of Ross McNeilly.
THE MANAGER
I have had dealings with Ross McNeilly for a couple of seasons, so I already knew what he was like. He obviously loves our club, he definitely knows his stuff and he doesn’t try to fool the fans with management/coaching manual clichĂ©s. He’s a straight-talking northerner and I’m happy to see where he can take us.
THE LINE-UP
Due to the size of our squad, Ross often has to rotate players, so it’s difficult to second-guess him. However, I can advise you that the line-up for our last game was: Luca Ashby-Hammond, Ollie Harfield (Tommy Willard), Joe Partington, Tyler Cordner, Tyler Frost, Corey Jordan, Jake Hutchinson (Morgan Roberts), Henry Ochieng (Josh McQuoid), Olly Pendlebury, Haji Mnoga, Ryan Glover. Unused substitutes: Karoy Anderson, Michael Klass
BEST OPPOSITION
Unsurprisingly, Wrexham’s Ollie Palmer and Paul Mullin (although I do wish he’d put some studs in his boots!), Woking’s ex-Shots striker/winger Rhys Browne, Notts County’s Macauley Langstaff plus keepers Nathan Ashmore (Boreham Wood) and Laurie Walker (Barnet [former Shots loanee]), and Dorking midfielder Jimmy Muitt have impressed me.
PRE-MATCH FOOD & DRINKS
Football ground food does what it says on the tin (tbh, I’m not a fan). The Crimea pub opposite the ground is always welcoming to opposition fans and the town centre has a typical mix of pubs/food establishments.
PREDICTION
Ask me Saturday’s lottery numbers! It all depends on whether we concentrate on our own game or worry about what Torquay are going to do. If I had to make a prediction, I’d go for a 2-1 Shots win.
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