We just don’t want to be also-rans, we’re looking to do well this year, says Corinthian boss Michael Golding

CORINTHIAN manager Michael Golding says the club look after their young players well and that he wants his side to be pushing for the title this season.

 

Corinthian opened their campaign with a 2-0 defeat at Ashford United in The FA Cup Extra Preliminary Round, but they bounced back with an impressive 2-1 win at Tunbridge Wells on Friday night, watched by a crowd of 275 at Culverden Stadium.

Tunbridge Wells’ keeper Steve Lawrence kept an impressive Corinthian side at bay and the home side almost snatched the lead on the stroke of half-time when debutant Olelekan Bankole hit the crossbar.

Corinthian fell behind to Tom Bryant’s 72^nd minute header, but the central defender gave away a penalty for a foul on Corinthian sub Connor Johnson and William Johnson Cole tucked home the penalty.

Corinthian claimed a deserved win when midfielder Oscar Housego capped off an impressive performance with the winner four minutes from time after Johnson’s cut back.

One amazing statistic from Friday night was that Alexander Jack Billings, James Billings, Marcus Evans, Michael Hagan, Josh James, Housego and Johnson have all come through the youth ranks at Gay Dawn Farm.

The club also run with a playing budget of £0 and finished in the top six last season.

“We appreciate that it’s difficult when money gets offered to players, we lost one player to a higher level this year but what we offer is good facilities.   We treat the boys right, we try to do things the right way,” said Golding.

“We provide the boys an environment that they want to come and play in. We’ve got a few older boys there who help the younger ones on.”

But Golding is keen to push the club on to become serious title contenders this season.

He said: “We’re looking to push on. We just don’t want to be also-rans, we’re looking to do well this year and that’s something the club wants and we need to be pressing on with.”

Golding was quick to praise his coaching staff of Jon Urquhart and Sam Groombridge.

He said: “We’ve got a fantastic management team this year, it’s just not myself. Sam puts in the hours and Jon with the coaching and Stacey our physio is absolutely amazing.”

Corinthian host Lordswood at Gay Dawn Farm on Tuesday night.

Richard Styles’ first league game in charge of Lordswood ended in a 4-1 home win over Erith Town yesterday after being knocked out in a replay to Peacehaven & Telscombe in The FA Cup Extra Preliminary Round.

Golding said: “We know it will be a tough game. Richard’s assembled a good side, they done well when James Collins was their manager last year, finishing fourth.  Listen, it will be a good game. We’ll set up as we always do, we’ll get the ball down, we’ll look to attack. We’re looking forward to it.”

Corinthian  v  Lordswood
Southern Counties East Football League Premier Division
Tuesday 16^th August 2016
Kick Off 7:45pm
At Gay Dawn Farm, Valley Road, Longfield, Kent DA3 8LY