Cumberbatch: We know what our problems are - EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW

Ashford Town’s joint-manager Marc Cumberbatch will be hoping his side emulate their performance at Kingstonian on the opening day of the season - but pick up points this time around, writes Stephen McCartney.
 

Despite going down 2-1 at Kingsmeadow, Cumberbatch will be looking to bag some points tomorrow.

Ashford have failed to win in their last nine competitive games, but have picked up draws against Corinthian Casuals and Walton Casuals in their last two league games.

“We have to be positive even though we haven’t lost in the league for two games, they were matches we were looking to pick points up,” Cumberbatch reflected EXCLUSIVELY to www.kentishfootball.co.uk

“We will be focusing on how we played against Kingstonian in the first match and look to reverse the scoreline.”

Cray Wanderers knocked Ashford Town out of the Westview Cup at the third round stage in midweek, winning 4-2 in front of the lowest crowd of the season at the Homelands.

“It was a very difficult one from the start,” recalled Cumberbatch. “The loan signings weren’t able to feature with them being cup-tied and then we lost Anthony Allman before the game through an incident at work a few hours before the game and we realised that he wasn’t going to make it.

“We knew it was going to be difficult but having said that, we were disappointed with the way we gave the goals away.

“We’ve got a good idea what the problems are but there’s not a lot of time to put them right.”

There were, however, some positives to take from the game, with the emergence of Nick Fenwick and Joe Hitchings.

Sixteen-year-old Hitchings has been waiting patiently for his chance, and made a goalscoring debut for the club.

“There were some real positives with the two substitutes that came on,” praised Cumberbatch.

“We were very pleased with what they did for the time that they were on. And of course there were one or two other performances on the pitch that we were very pleased with.

“It was good to see Tommy Adlington and that his suspension hasn’t affected him and he played one of his better games of the season, especially in the first half where a lot of our attacking moves led to a goal.”

Drew Watkins (thigh strain) is rated 50/50 to play against Kingstonian tomorrow but definitely ruled-out is defender Dan Tanner, who is expected to miss at least two weeks with strained ligaments.

“They are always strong and physically strong and they will be definitely well organised, knowing their manager Stuart McIntyre,” predicted Cumberbatch.

“They’ve got James Rose up front. I’ve personally known him for a long time, and on his game he will always create problems for you.

“We’ve got a three-game spell with tomorrow, Monday (at Folkestone Invicta in the Kent Senior Cup) and next Saturday against Metropolitan Police that are vital games for us for all the obvious reasons.”

Meanwhile, Scottish defender Barry Crawford has left the club.

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