Page 6 - Yate Town v Hayes & Yeading 210821

THOUGHTS FROM THE DUGOUT

Good afternoon everyone and welcome to The South West Interiors Stadium for our second home
Southern League Premier South match with Hayes & Yeading United. May I extend a warm welcome to
Paul Hughes, the coaching team of Peter, Ritchie, Delroy & Clark, the Hayes & Yeading players, officials
and supporters, I hope you have a safe journey to and from Yate today and enjoy the hospitality of our
club.
May I also welcome all our Yate supporters to the club whether you are here every week, a casual visitor
or here for your first visit your support is appreciated and makes such a difference to our club. We’ll
need your support today against what early indicators suggest will be the best team in the league this
season.
For us it’s been an excellent start to the season, in results but even more so in terms of performance.
In our two matches so far we have dictated the pace of the games, been on top for territory conceded
very few chances, only conceding from a poor set piece in two matches. We have created chances and
whilst we would hope to take more of the chances we have created we’d all much rather be in the
position where we are creating we chances & missing them than not creating at all. I felt the score line
at Harrow Borough didn’t really reflect our dominance but perhaps that win was put into greater
perspective with Harrow going and winning 3-0 at Hartley Witney on Tuesday. Whilst Wimborne are
unlikely to trouble the top half of the table this season we did everything we could in the game without
getting the 3 points. The first half was played almost entirely in the
Wimborne half and we created 5/6 excellent scoring opportunities
whilst coughing up very few at the other end, we’d love to be sat
here in a match between two teams on 6 points but we’ll take the
4 from 6 from our opening two matches.
Today’s test is as big as it comes at this level. Hayes have a
formidable forward line and have scored 9 goals in two games
against two other top teams in this division so far. After
Tuesday’s match Hendon manager, Lee Allinson, described
Hayes forward line as the best at step 2, I don’t think it was a
slip of the tongue when he suggested it could be the best in this
league and the level above! One look at Hayes performance in the
FA Cup last season shows you what they are capable of.
In team news we will be without Jamie Adams (unavailable),
still without Thuo, Hopper, Ashmead and Sam
Kamara tweaked his groin in the warm up on
Tuesday hence why he didn’t enter the fray and
will be touch and go for Saturday. Josh Allen
may recover to be involved in his first squad.
Despite the gravity of the test for us today
where our big pitch may well suit the
attacking athleticism of the opposition we
will try to be on the front foot once again. We
will go forward, we will look to play with
tempo and intensity and whilst the vast
majority of the clubs in this league will have
greater resources I know the supporters
want to see the team be bold, confident,
play with no fear and go forward with
purpose. There will be times that we fall
down but let’s see what the season holds and
what we can achieve with belief,
togetherness and positivity from each and
every one of us, the players, the staff,
committee, directors and supporters. Let’s hold
these values and see where it takes us today!
Get behind the players today, encourage and
support as best you can & I think they’ll respond.
Up the bluebells!
Let’s go to work!

Paul