Terry Pinpoints Success

Last updated : 25 February 2005 By Stray Shots Team

Results on Tuesday night sent the Shots down to eighth in the table — while being only two points off second place Accrington Stanley with a game in hand.

But the boss has pinpointed the successful signing of a striker as being the difference between those that will and won't make the play-offs.

Terry Brown told the Aldershot News, “Tuesday night was great for us, we were cheering on Accrington to get an equaliser and they did and Exeter lost to York. The best thing about this race is that it's in everyone's own hands, there's no difference between any of these sides.

The side that can get the striker or midfielder in will find it makes all the difference.

“It was a gamble letting people go and getting people in, it was a gamble with Hugh [McAuley] and Aaron [McLean] because getting people better than them to come in isn't easy.”

With supporters of the TEN contenders for four Play-Off places all trying to guess who will be the lucky ones, Brown points to the form table as giving some clue.

He said: “It's fantastic, our own form is very good, I keep hearing people all doom and gloom saying that we lost to Hereford and drew with Halifax, but the only team to beat us comprehensively has been Hereford and as I've said before, they beat us twice last year and we waited until the Play-Offs to beat them!”

No doubt Shots fans will remember the Bees controversial 3-2 victory at the Recreation Ground in November, where the Shots put in their performance of the season so far.

Many Shots supporters placed the blame for defeat squarely at the hands of referee Darren Deadman after controversially awarded their last minute goal having earlier ruled out Jon Challinor's goal for a foul on Barnet keeper Scott Tynan.

Barnet may by 11 points clear at the top of the table but their form is beginning to falter.

The Bees haven't won since January 22 and in that time have been dumped out of the FA Trophy (4-1 by Carlisle) and been out-played in their last two matches which culminated in defeats by Hereford (2-0 at home) and Accrington (4-1) on Saturday.

The sudden slump has given boss Paul Fairclough his toughest time in charge at Underhill and the England National Game XI boss is expected to re-shuffle his pack for the Shots visit on Saturday – possibly playing three up front.

Target man Liam Hatch is Fairclough's only doubt as he has an ankle injury so Lee Roache stands-by to partner to Conference's top scorer Giuliano Grazioli, who now sits on 20 goals.

Ex-Aldershot Town defender Anthony Charles is expected to be on the bench.

With their dip in form, Brown reckons they are travelling to Barnet at the perfect time.

“It's a fantastic time to play them, we've done all the right things, I had a good look over the video of the last time we played them, and I think that it was one of the best performances so far.

“On the day we didn't defend that well, but we're a bit stronger at the back now and with this new striker it's a good situation,” said Brown.

However, with a squad of just 16 players, including two that are transfer-listed and one work experience player, Brown is all too aware that his side can't afford to pick up injuries.

After an almost fully fit squad last week, the boss now has all his players back in training.

Defensive duo Tobi Jinadu and Brett Johnson have returned this week and even long-term casulaty Roscoe D'sane has been able to do light training following his successful operation for tendonitis earlier this month.

Martin Reeves is also available should Brown feels his services are required, but the midfielder has been troubled with injury since his debut at York — even though he has managed to turn out for League Two side Rushden & Diamonds in the meantime.

So come 5pm on Saturday the Shots could be back up to second in the table, and with the table so tight, every point counts.

“Barnet's problem isn't that they haven't got good players, it's getting over the finish line, the pressure is on them,” the boss added.

“It won't be the end of the world if we don't win, there's still 36 points to play for, but if we go to Barnet and win like I expect us to do, then they'll be right back in it as well.”


With Thanks to the Aldershot News