BRAINTREE: Garvey fears weather is thwarting push for play-offs

By dward

BRAINTREE Town manager Robbie Garvey believes his side's chances of staying up with the leaders in the Blue Square South is being thwarted by postponed games because of the recent weather.

The Iron had another blank day on Saturday when their Cressing Road ground failed an early morning referee's inspection postponing the scheduled Weston-Super-Mare game.

Rain on top of the melting snow brought by the big freeze made the pitch waterlogged.

But four of the other leading clubs around them all played and picked up maximum points leaving the Iron on average three games behind and three points off a play-off position.

"It's frustrating but there's nothing you can do about the weather and despite great efforts by our groundsmen the pitch still had too many puddles for it to be played," Garvey said. "As a player myself I know it's difficult just to keep training because you naturally want to play matches."

Worried over the lack of match practice Garvey organised a friendly game at home against AFC Sudbury on Tuesday evening adding: "Everyone had a run out with some playing longer because they needed it and I'm grateful for Sudbury, who also lost their league game on Saturday, for agreeing to come for the match."

One new face taking part was Iron's latest signing, centre-half Tom Champion, who has joined from Blue Square South neighbours Bishop's Stortford.

Tom joined Stortford from Barnet in 2005 where he made several first team appearances.

Still only 23, Tom is equally at home in midfield and played over 100 first team games for the Woodside Park side.

"Tom is a player I've kept my eye on all season and he has done well at Stortford and was part of that effective central defensive partnership with Paul Goodacre, which I was keen to have here once Paul had signed for us," Garvey said.

"With Lynvall Duncan and Tom Bruce, I now have plenty of competition for the back four, with the added bonus that they can all play in different positions which is essential at our level and with the small squad I have at the club."

Garvey has released winger Alex Rhodes who had been on a month's loan from Oxford United and defender/ midfielder Phil Starkey.

"Alex was only a short term loan to give him matches at the same time as helping us and he's gone off to find full-time football and we wish him well," explained Garvey. "Phil again wanted to play more regularly and with three or four other players here who can play at right-back and right midfield, his chances were limited so I've allowed him to go as he wished."

Starkey is now expected to sign for Blue Square South rivals Welling United.

"I'm pleased with the balance of the squad we now have but obviously if I felt I could improve it with a particular player then like any good manager I would have to try and sign them," Garvey said. "Having said that you need to keep a settled squad to keep continuity and we are doing that and all we now want is to keep playing games."

On Saturday the Iron face a tough away game at Havant & Waterlooville, a side that beat them at Cressing Road earlier in the season.

"We were poor that day, gave away two silly goals. We were missing one or two key players and we really didn't deserve anything from the game," Garvey said. "They lost at Dover Athletic on Saturday which is always a difficult place to go to and get something from there, so they will be looking to get back to form on home territory against us on Saturday.

"But we will go there with a full squad to choose from, we have no injury worries," he said. "We're all looking forward to it."