March Town confident of keeping play-off position to the end of the season
March Town have no intentions of falling out of the United Counties League Premier South play-off places after occupying a top-five slot all season.
A 4-1 win at bottom side Godmanchester Rovers on Saturday kept them two points clear of Newport Pagnell who head the chasing pack, and The Hares also have a game in hand.
They are also in the finals of the Cambridgeshire Invitation Cup and the Hinchingbrooke Cup, with dates for the big games yet to be decided.
This Saturday Ash Taylor’s men start a seven-game league run-in when they entertain tenth-place Northampton O.N.Chenecks, who are on a three-game losing run.
Assistant manager Simon Roberts said: “We played ON Chenecks at their place and showed tremendous character to get a win (3-2) over there and we will be hoping for the same at our place. Hopefully, we will have another big crowd.
“The fans know that we need the points so they will be vocal and cheering us on. Ash will put the players through their paces on Wednesday with a nice high-intensity session and I’m sure the lads will be up for the challenge, as they should be for the remainder of the season.
“I know it’s a cliche but we are taking it game by game and keep chipping away, doing the right things and trying to win. We’ve been in the play-off places all season so we don’t want to drop out right at the end.
“The boys have been superb all season so as long as their mentality is right and they remain focussed I see no reason why we should not stay in there. It’s now a case of whether we finish third, fourth or fifth.”
Cheered on by a travelling contingent that probably outnumbered the home support, March took a 22nd-minute lead at Godmanchester through man of the match Harvey Henderson.
Captain Craig Gillies made it 2-0 three minutes later with his 21st of the season and that’s the way it stayed up to half-time. Toby Allen’s fourth goal since returning to The Hares made it three on the hour. Goddy quickly pulled one back but Gillies wrapped up the scoring with his second of the afternoon after 70 minutes.
Matt Foy missed the game due to a holiday, Dan Cotton was absent after having an injection for his bad back and Ben Tait is still missing with a long-term ankle injury.
Roberts added: “It’s no secret that Godmanchester’s pitch does not allow you to play great football so it wasn’t pretty, although I do think we had some good passages of play.
“Ash gave the boys some instructions before the game and they executed them well. The character of the boys was really good, they scored some good goals and it was a nice, convincing win.”
Under-18 player Oli Belton made his debut from the bench after impressing in training during the week and Roberts said: “We had five Under-18s in training on Wednesday and Oli was outstanding. He has great tenacity, he was good on the ball and composed so he deserved his chance.
“He didn’t have long to make an impression against Goddy but he did well, put himself about a bit and I am sure he will go on to be a very good player for March Town.
“The Under-18s (management) have done an absolutely superb job with the youngsters and we have some outstanding young players.”
Henderson was named Hares’ man of the match and Roberts said: “He scored a good goal and won most of his headers. He’s had a topsy-turvy season and been in and out of the side but the past few games he has done quite well. He’s only 20 years old and he is going to be a great player.
“He was named man of the match but Danny Emmington alongside him was also superb and Craig Gillies scored a couple of goals.”
March Town: Gill, Henderson, Brumby, Withers (Williams), Emmington, Green, Burrows, Allen (Biggs), Gillies (Oladarin), Escorcio (Tsaguim), Saunders (Belton). Star man: Harvey Henderson. Attendance: 326.
