Positive Penn Has Mid-Table Ambition For His Strugglers

It’s not been the return to the National League that the club would have wanted, sitting bottom of the table with just three wins to their name.

But there are positives to be found for the manager - the team have conceded only 27 goals, incredibly just one more than league leaders Chesterfield.

They face fellow strugglers Ebbsfleet United, Oxford City, Maidenhead United and have a double header against Boreham Wood before the end of the year. They also face Southend United at Aggborough.

Penn feels this run of fixtures could shape their season and said: “I make it six big games coming up, they’re all six pointers.

“There’s 18 big points to play for, get a good return and you’re up in and around mid-table. It’s a big period now.

“We have to keep plugging away. If you play well, you keep your shirt. They’ve shown a bit of pride and passion and a little bit of quality."

He also knows how important the club’s fans will be during this huge period.

“We’ve had a fantastic few years, but we really need the crowd to stay with us and they are,” he said after Tuesday’s 1-1 draw at home to Hartlepool United.

"We created enough chances to possibly win the game – we had to defend well against a good Hartlepool team who have just come out of the Football League, let’s have a bit of reality on that, and I think we gave them a good game.”

PHOTO BY CLIVE JONES