We can still be up there, says Common boss

Little Common Football Club can still be among the leading teams in its division this season, according to manager Russell Eldridge.
Little Common and Langney Wanderers are due to meet at the Rec tomorrow (Saturday). Picture by Simon Newstead (SUS-151021-103918002)Little Common and Langney Wanderers are due to meet at the Rec tomorrow (Saturday). Picture by Simon Newstead (SUS-151021-103918002)
Little Common and Langney Wanderers are due to meet at the Rec tomorrow (Saturday). Picture by Simon Newstead (SUS-151021-103918002)

While Common’s record in the cups has been excellent, their form in Macron Store Southern Combination Football League Division One has been up and down on the whole.

But last weekend’s 2-1 win at a wet and windy Selsey moved Common up three places to seventh, and extended their unbeaten run in all competitions to five matches.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

“I think we’ve got to believe we can get up there among the leading teams,” Eldridge said. “As we’ve proven already, we can beat any team on our day; it’s just a matter of being consistent and putting together a run of results.

“If you can put together three or four wins on the trot, that can take you quite a way up the league. We’re definitely more than capable, but it’s not going to be given to us; you have to earn the right to get the three points.”

Common are currently nine points outside the top three and if they are to reel in the clubs above them, they will need to win games like the next two on their fixture list.

Weather permitting, Common are at home to fifth-placed Langney Wanderers tomorrow (Saturday) and second-placed Crawley Down Gatwick next weekend.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

“Anyone can beat anyone in this league and it’s important when we play against teams that are up there, that we take three points off them to close the gap - otherwise that gap becomes too big,” continued Eldridge.

Langney - who are managed by former Bexhill United boss Kenny McCreadie - are five points better off than Common having played two fewer matches.

The teams have already met once at the Rec this season and it resulted in one of only two cup defeats Common have endured so far, albeit only after a penalty shoot-out.

“We’ve got enough about us to get the three points,” Eldridge added. “I’m sure they’ll be coming here very confident, but we’ll be focusing on what we do rather than on other teams.”

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Ricky Mote picked up an injury against Selsey and is unlikely to be fit. Paul Feakins, Zack McEniry and Jake Sherwood are also injured, but on the flip side, Common hope to have some players back. Kick-off is 3pm.

Don’t miss out on all the latest breaking news where you live.

Here are four ways you can be sure you’ll be amongst the first to know what’s going on.

1 Make this website your homepage

2 Like our Facebook page at facebook.com/pages/Sport-Sussex

3 Follow us on Twitter @SportSussex

4 Register with us by clicking on ‘sign in’ (top right corner). You can then receive our daily newsletter AND add your point of view to stories that you read here.

And do share with your family and friends - so they don’t miss out!

Related topics: