Critics are answered (11.03.05)

AFTER winning the tactical battle against promotion hopefuls Cambridge City, Maidenhead United boss Dennis Greene feels his team can finally start to put some daylight between themselves and the relegation battlers.
He said: “The pressure is off a little bit. Anything we get now against Bognor is a bonus. If we had lost to Cambridge, it would have been a must-win game.”
The manager added he had prepared his players all week for the match at City, and put together a gameplan to stifle the second-placed side.
He said: “We trained all week. We knew how Cambridge went about things, they’re good at moving about, so we had to try and get the advantage elsewhere.
“We put an extra man in midfield and dominated the game. They couldn’t get their full backs forward.”
Greene was pleased to see the preparation pay off, but he said he was more delighted with the high level of desire and commitment shown by his players.
The Magpies have now taken 17 points from 12 games, a tally which the boss feels would have pushed them into the top 10 if they had kept a similar record from the start of the season.
And Greene is expecting his side to continue their good form in the home match against Bognor Regis Town tomorrow (Saturday).
He said: “They’ll be completely different to Cambridge. They (City) liked to work it back to front quickly, while Bognor like to pass it around and move it side to side all day. It’s up to us to try to capitalise on their mistakes.
“It’s a massive game. If the other results go our way, we will be a long way ahead.
“I’ll be keeping my fingers crossed for a really good weekend.”

Rob Bixby made his Maidenhead United debut on Saturday following his month’s loan signing from Hayes to cover Andy Dugdale’s three game suspension, which also began on Saturday.
Bixby is a 20-year-old defender who has come through the Hayes Fedo youth training scheme.
He is a big, solid centre-back who clears his lines well.
Bixby made his Hayes debut in January 2003 and last season earned a fairly regular start in the side before ending the season on loan to Berkhamsted Town.

Brian Connor played his 366th game for United on Saturday, which lifted him above Dave Woolley into sixth place in the all time appearances list, just one game behind former skipper and now Marlow manager Tim Cook.
Ben Townsend missed Saturday’s game with a hand injury, while Simon Patterson was out with a groin injury.
Defender Rob Paris has returned to Kingstonian.
Michael Perrineau-Daly has also been released.
Next week Andy Dugdale continues his suspension and is joined by Craig O’Connor who misses the next game with a one-match ban.

Magpies marathon man Andrew Ogierman will again be running the London Marathon on Sunday, April 17, on behalf of the Royal National Institute of the Blind.
There will be a bucket collection at the Weymouth game.
Alternatively supporters can make a donation over the internet by visiting www.justgiving.com/andrewosemarathonpage.

End of season presentations will take place at 7pm after the last home game against Grays Athletic. There will be food available and it is also hoped that there will be a bar promotion.