Football
Spa boss hopes for festive cheer

DROITWICH Spa boss Richard Goode is hoping for a late Christmas present when his side travel to Archdale 73 on Monday (11.30am) in Midland Combination Division One.

Spa go into the game on the back of a dramatic 6-4 defeat at Hampton on Saturday and Goode said he hopes there are three points waiting to be collected.

“Boxing Day is a massive game for us, we really need to get something from it,” he said.

“I’m hoping as a late Christmas present we’ll return home with three points and it would also be nice to take a few fans with us, giving the perfect chance to get out of the house after the previous day’s festivities.

“We beat Archdale 2-1 in my first game in sole charge and actually had a bit of luck with an own goal that day, I would happily take the same again.”

Spa fell 2-0 down inside seven minutes on Saturday before Steve Pitt pulled one back before the break.

Hampton restored their two-goal cushion at the start of the second half before Spa scored three without reply to lead for the first time. Chris Thurbon netting twice and Darren Charles scoring from the spot after Leighton Davis had been fouled.

The hosts hit back with three goals of their own though to emerge with all three points after a roller coaster of an afternoon.

“It certainly wasn’t the easiest afternoon on my nerves,” Goode said.

“In all honesty the game shouldn’t have been played but both sides were keen for it to go ahead.

“Conditions were very difficult and defending was almost impossible. I said after 20 minutes it could finish 8-8, and I was almost right.

“It was disappointing to fall 2-0 down so early, especially as I spoke at length about the importance of the game before hand but the lads showed excellent spirit and character to get themselves ahead.

“I felt their equaliser at 4-4 was off-side and to make matters worse their fifth goal takes two big deflections on the way in.

“It was deflating to lose after such a dramatic afternoon and whilst I feel we’re not getting the rub of the green at times, we’re still making too many mistakes alongside that.”

Despite the difficulties of the campaign so far and sitting two places off the bottom of the table, Goode says he still believes his side have enough to climb away from trouble.

“I can see they are giving me their all and continuing to play with a good attitude. I am confident they will get us out of the position we are in.

“I enjoy the challenge of trying to get the best out of the players and I enjoy working with them.

“From when I took the job on on my own I knew it was not going to be easy, but you have to keep going and I’m sure we’ll bounce back.”