Gaffers Chat 03/11/2020

Another bizarre week in a very strange year although an exciting one for Leafe fans, with two league matches and an FA Trophy game to talk about.

Must also mention our new SPONSOR A PLAYER which will be launched on the club’s website VERY SOON. In a nutshell, £75 will sponsor your favourite player for the season and all funds will help Leafe boss, Harry Hudson’s efforts in funding the first team. Christmas is coming so it might make a superb pressie for the Leafe fan in your life (MORE DETAILS TO FOLLOW).

Time, then, to sit down for five minutes to chat with Harry about what has been a busy ten days or so.

Harry, not sure where to start really, given the hectic week. Let’s start at the beginning. After a slow start and going a goal down in the first minute, what are your thoughts on the away victory at Sittingbourne?

After the dreadful start I felt that we controlled the game albeit with Sittingbourne allowing us to build from the back. In the 1st half we created some openings, but I asked the boys to inject pace and urgency to our play in the 2nd half – thankfully we did this and scored three goals in 15minutes. 

I was disappointed to then concede a really poor second goal which gave them something to believe in and made the last 10 minutes a touch nervy!

Last Tuesday evening I guess you’d have to call it the best performance of the season so far, and a five-nil home demolition of Burgess Hill Town? Everything seemed to click on the night. How did you see that one?

I thought we were frightening going forward and the movement and intent from our front three was excellent. I actually do not think we defended particularly well and we failed to keep the ball as well as I would have liked when they went down to 10 men but I think I am being over critical there! We will take a 5-0 all day!

Aaron Watson bagging four goals. Quite something that? I think he now has six in two games?

Yeah Azza is finding form at a really important time for us. His 4th goal on Tuesday was one of the best goals I have ever seen live! 

Let’s move to last Saturday and the heartbreak of a penalty shoot-out defeat at the hands of Chesham United. You must have been pleased – and proud – of the performance the boys put in against higher opposition (Chesham play in the Southern League Premier South) in the FA Trophy?

I thought we started very well and to be honest could have put the game to bed in the first 25 minutes – again our forward players were very threatening. 

Chesham were always going to have spells in the game and put us under pressure in the 2nd half but I felt we enough opportunities to get our 3rd and kill the game (including our missed penalty!). To concede in the 96thminute with the last kick of the game was deflating and we took that into the shoot-out to be honest. The manner of the defeat is really hard to take and we could have certainly done with the prizemoney!

We’ll be unveiling the SPONSOR-A-PLAYER plan very soon. You’d urge fans to dig deep -again - with this initiative and there’ll be some nice benefits available? The funds will help you maintain the first team?

Yes, this will be an outstanding initiative for the first team and help us massively moving forward. I want to take this opportunity to say a huge thank you to you Steve for spending so much time, effort and resource to get this off the ground (aw shucks! – SH).