White - let's finish on a high

Sportsdesk • Published 16 Feb 2010 11:36 0 Comments

FINCHAMPSTEAD boss Neil White has admitted his team's season is "on a knife edge" as they enter a crucial phase of their Hellenic League campaign.

Finch currently sit just below mid-table in Division One (East) and know that the next few results will define their season.

A run of victories will see them battling it out for a top six finish, while a series of defeats could see them dragged into the relegation scrap at the foot of the table.

Finch's inconsistent campaign continued last weekend as they went down 2-1 at home to Milton United and White is looking for an immediate response at Kintbury Rangers this Saturday.

He said: "Our season is so finely poised at the moment. It's such a tough league and it could go either way so it's important we put a run together.

"Last weekend was our first defeat since the New Year so we're not a million miles away but we need to get something out of this Saturday's game.

"Kintbury are in a similar position to us so it will be a close call but we want to be looking up the table rather than over our shoulder."

Bobby Hogg is the major doubt ahead of the weekend as he struggles to overcome ankle and knee injuries, while Scott Bursill faces a late fitness test on the strained hamstring which forced him to limp out of the Milton game.

On the plus side, both Dean Thomas, who played the last 10 minutes against Milton, and Bob Yorke-Goldney are both returning to full fitness after long injury lay-offs.

Finch were certainly unlucky not to come away with at least a point last weekend as Milton snatched a controversial 70th minute winner through Anthony Alleyne.

Both sides had chances to break the deadlock early on, with Bursill going close for Finch with a superb long range effort, but Ian Concannon then struck first with a trademark poacher's finish in the 28th minute.

However, Milton's lead last just two minutes as Pat Selby tied things up with a fine header and the hosts created a couple of chances to take the lead before the break, with Tom Hopper and Junior Arquimbau both going close.

The hosts also managed to keep quiet Milton's potent strikeforce of Concannon, Alleyne and Finch old boy Danny Isaiew, who struggled to make an impression on his return to Finchampstead Park after leaving the club in October.

In the end, however, Milton struck the decisive blow when Alleyne turned and fired into the Finch net with 20 minutes remaining, although the home bench were left fuming as the United striker appeared to haul his marker Hogg to the ground just before receiving the ball.

"Alleyne pulled Bobby Hogg to the ground and that left him free to score the winning goal," White said.

"It was really hard to accept as we battled so hard and deserved a point even though Milton played the better football.

"I was really annoyed at the officials as it was so blatant."

Finchampstead: Howard, Wright, Carter, Bursill, Hopper, Prentice, Arquimbau, Hogg, Selby, Knight, Wyatt. Subs: Thomas, Merritt, Kell.

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