With no game to worry about this week Seasiders Manager Alex White took time out to look at ahead at the games to the end of the season starting with the Good Friday game at local rivals Nailsea & Tickenham, and then on to Easter Monday at home to Bridgwater United (1pm kick-off).
White said, “We know both teams will be looking for revenge after our two wins, as we would, so it’s important we approach them with the right mindset because we know form counts for nothing in local derbies.”
“Nailsea & Tickenham will be looking to put a dent in our promotion hopes and Bridgwater are still very much in and amongst the play-off mix and need the points.
“Both will be tough with a bit of spice but will be two very different challenges, so we’ve got to be mentally prepared.”
White was not concerned about having another break Saturday, he said: “It’s been a bit of a stop start second half of the season.
“We’ve picked up a few knocks and niggles again and we didn’t have many at training last Thursday but it gives everybody an extra week to recover and although you can’t replicate match fitness in training, derbies always start at 100mph, so hopefully lack of game time last week won’t be a problem, but you can never say never.”
“We know that the season is going to flash by very quickly in the next month with game after game from now on, all high-pressure games with a lot riding on them for us.
“But all the teams in the top six are playing each other and so not everybody can pick up maximum points.”
“It’s impossible to know what the real positions are in the table, but we know what we’ve got to do mathematically to get into the play-offs and we want to get that done as soon as possible to take the pressure off a bit.
“Ultimately, we’ve got to stay in the pack at the top with Helston and Falmouth and take it as far as we can so there’s something to play for in our last game at Helston.”
And White knows that if Clevedon can keep their nerve until the end of the season, then anything is possible. He said:
“If they slip up, we’ve just got to make sure we keep picking up enough points to keep the pressure on and make that last game of the season a title decider.
“Even if it’s not, and we don’t do it, the game will be great preparation for the challenges to come in the play-offs.”
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