Manager rues missed chance (02.02.06)

FOUR points out of six should have given Maidenhead United boss Carl Taylor good reason to celebrate this week.
But as the York Road supremo pointed out: “It’s disappointing not to have had six.”
His comments relate to Tuesday night’s dreadful draw at home to Basingstoke, a game which produced fewer than four clean shots on goal.
Taylor admitted Basingstoke were there for the taking, but claimed injuries had prevented him from going all out for a win.
He said: “We didn’t have enough courage and we were disjointed because we’d lost Nana (Badu) through injury before the game.
“He was awesome on Saturday and without him there wasn’t the drive or pace up front to trouble Basingstoke.”
Asked to explain why he had fielded a team including six defenders and a holding midfielder, Taylor added: “It was the same line up on Saturday, except for Nana, and nobody complained then.”
It was Badu’s pace which caused Hayes problems, but on Tuesday Taylor left speed merchants Dean Bradshaw and Yashwa Romeo on the bench, with the latter only making an appearance in the last 15 minutes.
Taylor admitted he would have liked to have introduced Romeo earlier, but said events had overtaken him.
He said: “I was going to put him on just after half-time, but then Basingstoke got in the ascendancy.
“I didn’t want to concede a goal at that time and then have to chase the game, so I delayed it.”
On the subject of tomorrow’s (Saturday’s) tactics for United’s trip to league leaders Weymouth, Taylor was just as forthcoming.
He said: “I’m not going to Weymouth to put 10 men behind the ball. We’re going for it and I don’t expect any stick for it.
“I’m an offence-minded manager and I want to get back to that. I don’t fear Weymouth. You know exactly what you’re going to get from them, and I think our defence can deal with them.”
United’s initial line-up should resemble Tuesday’s, but with some notable additions.
Taylor explained: “Everyone is fit from Tuesday. Nana says his foot isn’t broken, and Yash (Romeo) will be one game fitter and sharper.”
But Taylor has also been busy on the transfer market this week, signing wide midfielder Mark Graham from St Albans City and Dean Green from Enfield Town.
Graham, a former Northern Ireland B international, made 18 League appearances for Queens Park Rangers and one for Cambridge United.
He has also had spells with Hornchurch, Braintree Town, Aldershot Town, Canvey Island and Billericay.
Green, a fleet-footed striker, began his career at Fulham before moving into non league.
Good form at Hampton led to a move to Conference outfit Farnborough Town in October 2001, where he stayed until the summer of 2004, before joining Enfield Town.
On the flip side of the coin, Graham Porter is suspended for the Weymouth game, and so is expected to conclude his loan spell and return to Gravesend.
Badu may or may not be fit in time, while Abdul Osman, Eric Kwakye and Bryan Smith are still on the injury list.
Nonetheless, Taylor is hopeful.
He added: “I’m looking forward to it.”