Smith calls for Lydney to stick together ahead of final push for survival
Lydney Town Manager Lee Smith has called for his squad to stick together and called on the community to continue to support his side ahead of their final 12 league games.
A 1-1 draw at home to Cirencester Town on Saturday saw Smith’s side stay three points clear of the Hellenic Premier drop zone and after seeing Lydney produce a battling performance – including an impressive second half display, Smith praised his side for continuing to improve and they will be looking to move up the table.
“We were good value for a point on Saturday against a good Cirencester side, but yeah, for us it’s all about just keeping on improving and getting better by the game.
The squad is the best I’ve had since I’ve been at the club and going into the New Year we had to add some players to help us improve and they have done that.
O’Rian Reid has decided to stay after approaches from two other clubs and credit to the Chairman [Neil Hook] in helping me with what I’ve needed along the way.
It’s a bit of a cliché but everyone says “we shouldn’t be as low as we are in the table” after we play them, but the fact is we are, so we need to keep improving and hopefully we can push clear of the bottom two,” said Smith.
It was a tough start to the season for Lydney, with results just not falling their way. But after a November that yielded 13 of their 21 points in the league, going two weeks without a game in December, their momentum has halted.
Following promising signs against Cirencester Town though, and with a new front two in Ibby Olateju and the returning Matt Green, Smith is calling for his squad to stick together and show their quality and ignore the side’s around them for the rest of the season – particularly those with games in hand.
“We are not where I or the club want to be, but the league is tough,” said Smith. “We’re a good side when all the lads are available, so we just need to stick together and be a close knit changing room and us as a management team continuing to be positive. which is key to a good dressing room,
“Other sides with games in hand won’t effect us because we know we can’t do anything to effect them, so all I worry about is Lydney Town and what is in our control.
We have twelve games to get points and we will all be trying our hardest to win as many points as possible from those games,” Smith added.
February sees Lydney play three crucial home games in between trips to Droitwich Spa and Mangotsfield United, but before that run, they head to a Royal Wootton Bassett side who will be full of confidence having beaten Tuffley Rovers and drawn at Hereford Pegasus in their last two outings.
Ahead of Saturday’s trip to Wiltshire, Smith has called on Lydney’s supporters to continue to make their voices heard and back the squad.
“Bassett are a young squad with quality in good areas, but we’re going there confident and with a full squad – which I’m very happy with.
Hopefully with a good following of fans, who have been superb cheering the lads on this season home and away, keep it coming as it is much appreciated and we can repay that support with another good performance,” Smith said.
Lydney Town head to Royal Wootton Bassett Town in the Hellenic Premier this weekend, kick off 15:00
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