We have to give ourselves a chance, says O'Connell

Friday 16th April 2010

MARGATE boss Iain O’Connell says his side are capable of winning away to Tooting & Mitcham United tomorrow to keep their survival bid on track, writes Stephen McCartney.

Margate have only two games to maintain their Ryman Premier League status and travel to Imperial Fields third-from-bottom in the table and just two points (taking goal-difference into account) from safety.

But four of the five sides at the bottom of the table do have games in hand over the Blues, so six points against Tooting & Mitcham United and play-off chasing Hastings United (who arrive at Hartsdown Park on 24 April) could be enough to stay up.

“Yes, you’re probably right, but I said we can get those six points,” O’Connell told www.kentishfootball.co.uk on the eve of their MUST-WIN game.

“Obviously the results went our way last night, so yes, I’m looking forward to the games.”

Margate - without a win in four - travel to play a Tooting & Mitcham side that are sitting in eleventh place with nothing to play for but pride.

“We played them already this year, we beat them 2-1, my first win, Margate’s first win under my reign, so if we can repeat that performance - as we played very well that day - I think we’ve got enough in the locker to get a result.

“We’ve got to give ourselves a chance. We’ve got to win tomorrow to give us a chance against Hastings. We’re looking at the Tooting game and concentrating on that.

“We beat Tooting once before so they’re obviously beatable. We know how they play. We kept (striker) Paul Vines, who is a danger up front, quiet, hopefully we can do that again.

“We have to go into the game with the belief and confidence that we’ve shown and get a result.

“I’ve told the players we basically need to win. We have to go into the games with three points on our mind. There’s nothing else we can do. We’ve got to go and win both games.

“I can’t fault the lads for their commitment - they’ve been excellent. Let’s hope we can continue that and (collect the six points).

Essex based O’Connell isn’t really thinking forward to the game against Tony Dolby’s highflyers, as he explains.

“I’m hoping by then that Hastings are actually in the play-off’s,” he said. “It would help but we will have to wait and see.

The Margate boss will asses the fitness of midfielder Sam Jones before kick-off.

Visit Margate’s website: www.margate-fc.com

Tooting & Mitcham United v Margate

Ryman Premier League

Saturday 17th April 2010

Kick Off 3:00pm

At Imperial Fields, Bishopsford Road, Morden, Surrey SM4 6BF