Cumberbatch: We cannot afford to lose - EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW

Joint-manager John Cumberbatch knows the importance of getting all three points at basement boys Corinthian Casuals on Tuesday night, writes Stephen McCartney.

His Ashford Town side are languishing just one place above the Ryman League Division One South drop zone.

The two struggling sides met at the Homelands last month and goals from Dan Tanner and George Fenwick helped the Kent side secure a point.

Cumberbatch is hoping his side bounce back from their 4-0 defeat at Dover Athletic tomorrow night.

He said EXCLUSIVELY to www.kentishfootball.co.uk : “It’s a tricky one because despite the fact that they are at the foot of the table, when we played them before there were parts of the game that they weren’t that good in certain areas, but in other areas they showed they can be a good side.

“Looking at some of their results they are very much like us in that they do well against certain teams when you don’t expect them to and like us they struggle.

“But we’re not in a position to look at any other side and say we’re better than them at the moment.”

Bosses Cumberbatch and Tim Thorogood really need to condemn the Surrey side to their eleventh league defeat of the season.

“It’s a six-pointer,” confirmed Cumberbatch. “Basically it’s got to be a confident Ashford that goes out and we cannot allow them any favours.

“Most teams don’t score good goals against us. It’s usually errors on our part and tomorrow we cannot afford any.”

Cumberbatch explained the latest situation with Drew Watkins and Adam O’Neill, who are both on loan from Ryman Premier League side Tonbridge Angels.

“We were looking to negotiate a longer loan period with Tonbridge Angels but Drew suffered an injury on Saturday and we have to review the situation once we know from the physio tomorrow how bad the injury is.

Cumberbatch added: “Again with Adam we have to speak to Tonbridge to see if we can have him for a longer period, which Tim is doing at the moment.

“We haven’t seen much of Drew. Every time he’s featured he’s looked quite impressive but he’s had these injuries so it’s only been a limited period.

“With Adam he’s been a little bit patchy but he’s only got two goals for us but they were very important goals.”

Ashford have concerns over Tom Adlington (hamstring), Joby Thorogood (calf), Anthony Allman (back) but defender Graham Porter is close to training again as he battles back from his long-term injury.

Former Ashford Town boss Tommy Sampson returns to the Homelands when Horsham YMCA visit next Saturday.

“One we could win, not one we should win,” said Cumberbatch. “They are not doing too badly for a team just come into the division.

“Tommy is an old Ashford boy coming back so they’ll be up for it so it’s going to be one where we have to be fully committed.

“But we’ve got to be looking at four points over these two games.”

Visit Ashford Town's website:  www.ashfordtownfc.co.uk

Corinthian Casuals v Ashford Town
Ryman League Division One South
Tuesday 21^st November 2006
Kick Off 7:45pm
At King George’s Field, Hook Rise South, Tolworth, Surrey KT6 7NA