5 Feb 2006 - Graham Fenton - Post Ashton

Standing in for the absent boss Harry Dunn the Assistant Spartans Manager Graham Fenton had spurred on his troops before the Ashton game.

“I told them that this was a really important game for us and that three points were vital in terms of maximising the potential of our games in hand on those above us in the league” he said.

“To that end we started really well with Scott Bell taking his goal in the early minutes with great style and we settled comfortably into the game. However we seemed to take our foot off the gas and Ashton started to come back into it. Resting on our laurels was not an option and I told the boys at halftime that we had finished the first period poorly and that we needed to raise the tempo of the game to that which is more of our strengths” Fenton added.

“ In the second half we played with more width and it paid dividends. Although this was not before Ashton’s second equaliser, which was a good goal for them – involving a flowing passing movement – put a poor goal for us to concede. We had lost some of our positional play and we paid the price.

“At the end of the day however we showed the great character which runs throughout the squad by coming back to snatch the winner in the dying moments and it was something we deserved as I believe we were the better team.”

With striker Scott Bell recording his second hat-trick in as many games Spartans supporters have been reaching for their record books in search of when this last happened at the club.

“ I don’t know the answer to that yet” said Fenton “but Scott has done ever so well over the last three games – never mind the last two. For me he has been the Man of the Match for all those games.”

Looking forward to this Saturday’s match in the quarter final of the Chairman’s Cup at Croft Park against Osset Albion Fenton echoed the sentiments of Manager Harry Dunn, who is enjoying a well earned break in Spain as part of his pearl wedding celebrations. “After the FA Trophy defeat against Welling we set out our stall to try and win promotion as well as the Chairman’s Cup and the Northumberland Senior Cup. We won’t take Osset lightly however although fitness doubts to Anth Lowther, Richard Forster and Chris Graham are something we are going to have to deal with. A far as myself is concerned, I shall see how I am during the course of the week. “The other unknown surrounds ex–Newcastle midfielder Jamie McClen, who we have always said, we would let go if a League club was interested in him. But he certainly adds something special to our armoury.”

Coming home with a crucial away win under his belt how has the former Blackburn player settled in to life at Croft Park?

“I am really enjoying myself both on the pitch and off” he commented. “With Harry’s support I have learned a great deal in terms of the management side of the business and how to deal with players in the ways appropriate to their individual characters. The best thing, however, is that we are not far off being a half decent side and it’s great being a part of that development.”