Fleet boss Steve Brown admitted his emotions were put through the mill last night in an incredible finale in which Fleet went out, back into and almost out again of a certain play-off place.
“It was a fantastic result under trying circumstances and the character shown by the team was very pleasing and the winning goal by Daryl McMahon was worthy of winning any football match,” Brown told FleetOnline. “The last 20 minutes was certainly a rollercoaster of emotions for everyone and it was nice to finally hear the full-time whistle blow knowing we had secured the play-off spot.”
The Fleet boss now has the task of focusing his players beyond the Dorchester match in front of a large Stonebridge Road crowd while balancing the needs of two, potentially three play-off games and the Kent Senior Cup Final in the following week or two. “The players have worked very hard to achieve the goal we set at the start of the season,” Brown said, “and it’s very pleasing and rewarding when you manage to attain goals that have been set.”
Brown wouldn’t be drawn on whether he intends to field a full-strength side or give some fringe players a run-out but was adamant he intends to finish the regular season on a high note in front of a big home crowd. “What we have to do now is focus on the Dorchester match and maintain what has become a very impressive home record. If as a supporter you have attended every home game this season you would have watched 27 matches, 18 wins, six draws and only three losses. We have scored 46 goals and conceded only 16. We have kept six clean sheets in a row and the last time we lost here at Stonebridge Road was on New Year’s Day. So of course we want to win this and once we get it out of the way, then we will focus on the play-off games.”
Brown also extended his sympathies to assistant referee Cook who was injured during last night’s match at Concord. “As a club we would like to extend our warmest sympathies to the linesman from last night’s game who we understand snapped his achilles tendon. It’s a terrible injury to sustain and we wish him a speedy recovery.”
