ROMSEY Town manager Andy Samuels was happy to admit he had “been proved wrong to a point” by Brett Stanley in Tuesday’s 5-1 Sydenhams One win at rock-bottom Folland Sports.
Stanley, normally a wide midfielder, had been telling the boss for weeks that he could do a job up top, but Samuels had always stood by his established strikers.
But with one or two players missing for the trip to Follands Park, he had a late change of heart and granted Stanley’s wish – and was rewarded with a four-goal salvo from the former Fleet Town and Hamble Club man, sandwiched around a Tom Ashton penalty.
“Brett’s fairly new to the group and, to be fair, he may not have had as many chances as he’s wanted,” said Samuels.
“But he’s trained really well and got a lot of goals and he’s always said to me “play me up front, Andy, and I’ll score for you.'
“On Tuesday he got his opportunity and he proved me wrong to a point. Maybe he is a forward!
“I very rarely change my mind about a starting line-up, but I mulled it over on Tuesday and decided to play Brett up top – and the best way to prove me wrong is to show it out on the pitch.
“It was an important win for us. Follands have just appointed (ex-Romsey boss) Carl Bennett as manager and it was his first game in charge. It could have been a potential banana skin.”
Promotion-hungry Romsey are seventh in Sydenhams One, eight points behind third-placed AFC Stoneham with four games in hand.
Intriguingly, it’s Tim Cole's Stoneham who visit the Bypass Ground on Saturday (3pm).
“Stoneham have been impressive of late, so it’s a good test for us,” said Samuels.
“I think (leaders) Christchurch will go on and win the league now and there are four or five teams, including us, battling it out for second and third place.
“The Follands win sets us up for 11 ‘cup finals’ to come.”
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