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00:00Poor opening day, emphatic 5-1 win at Bad Shetley, must be the start you were hoping for there?
00:06Yeah, I thought, yeah, excellent. Couldn't have asked for it. Much better. But yeah, I thought first half we were really good.
00:14You know, half-time coming at the right time for them, because I think another 10, 15 minutes, it could have been 6-7.
00:22Yeah, yeah, yeah. I'd say the game's obviously won in that first half, isn't it? 4-0 half-time, job done really there, isn't it?
00:29Yeah, it was difficult. We won it in the first half, but yeah, it's a shame really, like I say, half-time come,
00:35because they got in and regrouped, you know, there's no pressure on them, then they come out and play a bit more freely,
00:42and yeah, it's a scrappy second half, not the way we wanted it to go. But we can't take too much away from the boys
00:49due to that first-half performance, because it was, it was excellent.
00:52So obviously half-time naturally does sort of just break up that momentum a bit, but as you say, that first-half performance was so good,
00:58you know, you can't really complain about that, can you?
01:01No, we scored some, we scored a couple of good goals along the way, you know, a couple of ricochets, you know,
01:09getting our way through the box, but the boys deserved that, really playing on the front foot and driving the box with that much power.
01:15You're either going to score or get a penalty, so yeah, really happy with the way we attacked today and kept the ball really well at times.
01:22Owen Dean continuing from last season, getting the first two, obviously wins the penalty, sticks it away.
01:27Yeah, it's a big season, learning season for him, you know, he's still a young lad, he's not played this level,
01:35but he's got all the ability, you know, to keep on pushing and going higher, and yeah, really happy for him.
01:41You know, we brought in a couple of players on top this summer, and he's mostly looking over his shoulder a little bit,
01:46where he fits in, but he deserves to be starting the season, you know, keep scoring, he's given us loads of headaches and keep playing.
01:54And the second one, again, he takes that well, doesn't he? Shows good feet and then dinks it in.
01:58Yeah, great feet in the box, and he's one that got a lucky ricochet, but yeah, that was a good goal,
02:05and even with the penalty, you know, we've got some big players in there, you know, with Daz and Cooks that take penalties,
02:11but he wants to take the penalties as well, and he took them last season, he ended the season on penalties,
02:17and he stepped up, you know, for a young lad in a derby game on opening day, you know, massive credit to him.
02:23Daz up and running as well, the third, just in the right place there to put that in, yeah.
02:29Yeah, he just drifts into those places, you know, he sort of knows where the ball's going to go,
02:34and he had a good day today, I think, you know, three assists and one goal, a long time out last season,
02:40and he's still not there yet, but yeah, you can't argue three assists and a goal.
02:47He's obviously still getting his sharpness back, but he must in a way be like a new signing in its own,
02:51with him missing the end of last season, sort of.
02:54Big time, yeah, he's massive for us, and you know, with the boys as well, the buzz when he plays,
03:01you know you're going to get the ball, that's the difference with him, he's two steps ahead of everyone else,
03:06and as a striker or a midfielder, you know you're getting a decent ball from him.
03:11And then Joe, obviously, another good finish from him there, just for half-time.
03:15Yeah, again, you know, Joe plays anywhere, he's naturally a midfielder, but I like him at left-back,
03:22he gives us something different, he's unpredictable, and again, he's one that plays with no fear,
03:27he drives forward, he can go left, he can go right, and yeah, he's real difficult to play against.
03:32That versatility he offers you is obviously something great to have in the squad, isn't it,
03:37so those different positions he can play.
03:39Definitely, definitely, he can do the lot, he's got the whole package, you know, a bit like Max Meighton as well,
03:46you know, he's stepped in today, he's missed a few in pre-season with work commitments,
03:51but he's just Mr Reliable, we've had no issue throwing him in, and he always does the job.
03:56Lyds and Pat back in the week, straight back in today, and obviously, well, Pat didn't have a lot to do,
04:01but he saved the penalty, obviously, when he had to, and Lyds, sort of happy with him as well, happy with both of them.
04:05Both the pairs, like they've not been away, you know, straight back into it, Pat knows the way we play,
04:10and his distribution's so quick, and like I say, yeah, good penalty save, wasn't really called upon too much,
04:16but just the confidence he gives the boys at the back, yeah, he's an excellent keeper,
04:21he's the number one that's going to get better.
04:23And then, yeah, touch on Lyds, you know, Lyds, he's a nuisance.
04:26Yeah.
04:27He's just a pest up there, his work ethic and work rate, and the way he gets his body in front of people,
04:33involved with people, amongst the channels, I'm real happy to have him back,
04:38I suppose I wouldn't want him to come back here, yeah.
04:40And obviously, able to use the bench again in the second half, get people on,
04:44obviously Dwork gets his goal coming on as well, which is obviously good.
04:48Yeah, you've got that competition again, having you on the bench, you know,
04:51you've got loads of options, even on the ground.
04:53Yeah, we've got loads of options on there.
04:56You know, again, first and third year on the bench, people have been playing a lot of different positions,
05:00but, yeah, D come on, and it took him a little while to get going,
05:03but once he got his goal, we grew in confidence.
05:05And, yeah, we saw a good 15 minutes from him at the end, once he got going.
05:11And Flaky come on, you know, I thought he was good when he came on,
05:15his touches and his whole up play was excellent.
05:19It's a shame, really, that the game sort of patted out when he was having those moments,
05:25but he almost rounded it off for a great Guardians.
05:27Yeah, he nearly was seen at the end there, wasn't he?
05:29Yeah, I think so, yeah.
05:31And you've got Liam in, obviously, during the week as well,
05:33which is another one to add to the group, pleased with, yeah.
05:37Yeah, happy he's back, he gives us something different, you know, we're quite a nice size.
05:44He's a hog, you know, he puts his head in, he puts his foot in, he won't shirk anything.
05:49So, yeah, happy to have him back in the fold, and the competition's real good.
05:54Yeah, so you need both sides across the squad, don't you?
05:57You need that sort of real mix in the squad, for sure, so he adds to that, yeah.
06:01Definitely, I think, you know, we had Liam on in the second half,
06:04I don't think it would have gone quite as much the way it did,
06:08but I think he would have ruffled a few feathers.
06:12Thoughts now, FA Cup, Sittingbourne at home, see you, looking forward to you next week there?
06:17Yeah, again, no pressure on that, we just go there and enjoy it,
06:20and see what happens if we can win a few rounds, you know, excellent.
06:23A little bit frustrating, there's so many cup games at the start of the season,
06:27you want to get a run of the league, and get going in that and see where you stand.
06:31But, yeah, we're training again this week, and we look forward to Sittingbourne and being at home,
06:35and being a big crowd, I think.
06:37And a word on the travelling support today, obviously not far at all, but big, loud, vocal support.
06:41Yeah, excellent, excellent, again, you know, the boys appreciate it, we appreciate it,
06:45it makes it more, you know, especially this level, it makes it so much more of a game,
06:50knowing that you've got a crowd there.
06:52And, yeah, that was in full voice at the end, which was great, and I look forward to that next week.
06:57Yeah, and just to say, you know, first ever game at this level for the club today,
07:01you've marked it in style, really, haven't you?
07:03Yeah, sort of started where we left off last year, and yeah, long may that continue.