Sherborne Town boss hopes score draw can inspire promotion push

SHERBORNE Town manager Jamie Manley is hoping a point against Cribbs Friends Life is the start of a New Year race for promotion.

Manley's side drew 2-2 with the Toolstation Western League Division One newcomers in a clash he believed they should have won.

He said: "It was nice to get a home game and hopefully we can kick on, but it was a couple of points dropped on Saturday.

"It's disappointing because that result helped the top teams out more than anything else, I don't think it really helped us or Cribbs."

Business Cards From Only £10.95 Delivered www.myprint-247.co.uk

myprint-247

View details

Print voucher

Our heavyweight cards have FREE UV silk coating, FREE next day delivery & VAT included. Choose from 1000's of pre-designed templates or upload your own artwork. Orders dispatched within 24hrs.

Terms: Visit our site for more products: Business Cards, Compliment Slips, Letterheads, Leaflets, Postcards, Posters & much more. All items are free next day delivery. www.myprint-247.co.uk

Contact: 01858 468192

Valid until: Friday, May 31 2013

Sherborne started the brighter side, utilising their fast-paced football to net an early opener through Marc Caines, who curled in from the edge of the box.

Town continued to dominate but in the second half Cribbs turned the tables by netting twice before captain Steve Burton headed in a flicked-on free-kick to salvage a point with his first goal of the season.

Manley said: "At half-time we had a chat and said a few things, but in the second half they got back into the game which good sides do.

"They had their spell and got on top for a bit. They scored a couple of goals and we changed our shape a bit, we got the equaliser near the end and we could have nicked it - their lad made a block from a point-blank header."

The Sherborne gaffer is looking to utilise his whole squad ahead of a busy period of fixtures. Raleigh Grove last night hosted the re-arranged Dorset Senior Cup game with Premier Division Gillingham Town, before returning to league action with a trip to Shepton Mallet on Saturday.

The cup clash switched venues after previous attempts to play the tie at Hardings Lane were foiled by the wet weather. Manley said he intended to use the visit of their county rivals to analyse strength in depth at the club.

He said: "I haven't really been able to make any subs because the games have been so tight - so it'll be nice to give the lads that have been playing week-in, week-out a rest.

"We had Sam Jarman unavailable at the weekend and James Thompson was suspended so we've got a couple of options there. We've also got a few lads back and with all the games coming up we're going to need a big squad."

Shepton Mallet lie seven points ahead of the Sherborne, having played four games more and Manley is looking to make up the ground with a victory.

"We played them earlier in the season and they beat us," he said. "However, we'll go there, give it our best shot and hopefully do enough to win the game.

"It'll be another close game because we know Shepton are a good side, they're up the league as well, so it should be a good game and I'm looking forward to it.

"The plan is to take advantage of these games in hand we have to our name - we need to kick on now and start winning games.

"It was a good point on Saturday but obviously with the situation where we are in the league we need to start picking up three points again.

"If you're looking to get promoted, as we are, then we need to start winning games."

By Ryan Peasland

SHERBORNE Town Reserves were thumped 6-0 by their Hamworthy United counterparts in the Magna Dorset Premier League.