ESSEX: Clubs to target Christmas wins

By dward

BLUE Square South sides Chelmsford City and Braintree Town both want to win their respective festive double headers but for different reasons.

City, six points clear at the top, want to win both their games against Thurrock to keep themselves in the promotional driving seat while Braintree, who take on Bishop's Stortford, need points to keep in with a chance of making the end of season play-offs.

After a stuttering first half performance on Saturday at home to Hayes & Yeading United, City returned to form in the second half to run out 2-1 winners.

"We deserved it in the end and Jason Hallett coming on lifted everyone and we could have scored more goals," said manager Jeff King afterwards. "Both games against Thurrock will be hard because they've been doing well lately.

"But as I've said before we just need to worry about our game, play the way we can and pick up the points.

"Six points clear and also top at Christmas is great, but we can't go thinking we don't need to be trying.

"We must keep our feet on the ground – we won our league last year and we've just got to keep going.

"It would be a great prize to win this league for a club that, three years ago when I came here, was struggling."

City are expected to have flu victims Jeff Minton and Justin Miller back in contention after missing last Saturday's game and King added: "We did miss Jeff in midfield but the other players did well some in different positions and we've got a better squad to do that this season."

City go to Thurrock on Saturday and then host the return on New Year's Day with both games kicking-off at 3pm, while Braintree entertain Bishop's Stortford on Boxing Day and travel to Woodside Park on New Year's Day.

The Iron's caretaker manager, Bradley Quinton, told the Chronicle he was gutted at his side conceding a stoppage time equaliser in their 2-2 draw at Dorchester Town on Saturday, and he wants maximum points from the two local games.

"We were coasting and fully deserving all the points but where the referee somehow found the four minutes of stoppage time I don't know and he couldn't tell me when I asked him," he explained. "There had been no trainers on the field and no reason for the extra-time.

"But it gave them time to scramble a late, late equaliser after a mistake by our centre-halves – I was honestly gutted.

"The lads were distraught at the end, the referee's performance overall was poor but there's nothing you can do about it."

Quinton said it was a repeat of their last away draw at Havant & Waterlooville where the home side grabbed a late equaliser in the eighth minute of stoppage time.

"We are now totally focussed on winning both our next two games and picking up all the points," he said. "Everyone is now available with players back from injury and suspension and I believe we can still make the play-offs this season."

On the manager's job he said: "I've spoken to the chairman (Lee Harding) and we'll have another chat about it in the New Year and I'm still really keen to take it."