Town boss: We can stay up (From Free Press Series)

Town boss: We can stay up

CHEPSTOW Town assistant manager Wayne Samuel reckons his side has sent a clear message to its critics as the season nears its close: "We're good enough to stay up."

The Welsh League Division Three strugglers did their cause no harm on Saturday, with an encouraging 1-1 draw against mid-table derby rivals Goytre.

And Samuel is now hoping they can build on that result, with just a handful of games remaining.

"We asked for a reaction from the boys and I can not fault them because they met every second ball and tackled their hearts out. We had a bit of a sloppy spell in the second half, but overall this was a much improved display from them.

"Questions have been asked in recent weeks about commitment, but I think we proved on Saturday that this side is as committed to the cause as anyone else, there's no doubting that," said Samuel, clearly much happier after a disastrous start to the New Year saw Town slip near the foot of the table.

Samuel's men showed their battling qualities against mid-table Goytre. Mark Dunn got their only goal, which Samuel described as justice served after the referee denied the side a seemingly blatant penalty only moments earlier.

They should have sealed the win when Goytre was forced down to ten men because of a lack of substitutes after their midfielder Scott Taylor went off injured with a badly gashed knee.

"I think we were good for all three points, to be fair," admitted Samuel. "Our application on the field was good and if we'd taken our chances, maybe we would have got the result we deserved."

Samuel went onto defend former Goytre striker Craig Jolliffe - now with Chepstow - who has struggled to match the form that helped him propel his old club into the Welsh League.

"I think it's fair to say that he has probably not been as effective as he could be. I think, though, that this is not down to him. He has suffered with our selection policy. We did want him as an out-and-out striker, but we've been unable to work that because of our squad. Craig, though, has the ability to slip back into the middle behind the front two, if we need him to, like on Saturday.

"I think there is more to come from him, but at the end of the day we need to supply him with the ammunition," said Samuel.

For information on this Saturday's league game, contact the club.