Scott: Players can handle pressure

Patrick Corlett • Published 8 Apr 2010 13:00 0 Comments

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Keith Scott.

Football

THE pressure is building at the summit of Southern League Division One South & West but Windsor & Eton boss Keith Scott believes they can handle it.

All of a sudden AFC Totton have hit the top, a position occupied for the vast majority of the campaign by the Royalists.

Windsor visit the south coast club on Saturday trailing by two points following Totton's 3-1 win at Bridgwater Town on Wednesday night but they do have two games in hand.

Having had games in hand and been in front by a margin, the boot is now on the other foot for Windsor as Scott remarked: "We've had the last three games called off because of the weather.

"I said a few weeks ago if Totton win all their games in hand they can go within a point of us and they have done that but after their defeat to VT we have a game in hand.

"In my heart of hearts I thought it would come down to us two. I'm looking forward to the game.

"We haven't played for 10 days, I don't know whether that would be an advantage or not, we shall see."

The gap in matches has allowed Bruce Wilson a rest and Steve Butler extra recovery time but Gavin Smith is unlikely to be available due to personal reasons.

Scott commented: "It has been an advantage in that Bruce Wilson needed a rest and it has been enforced on him and Steve Butler has been struggling but at least should be back for Tuesday. Maybe the rest would have been in our favour but I would have liked to have played in the last three games.

"Gavin Smith will tell me when he is ready to return to playing but I don't want to rush him back. I, and the club, are 100 per cent behind whatever decision he makes."

The Royalists manager does not believe that it is make or break in the hunt for the championship, he said: "It's a weird game and important. But equally important for us are the Uxbridge, Abingdon, Bracknell games, any we have left. We cannot afford to lose them.

"I believe Totton can win their remaining games and I believe we are capable of winning our remaining games.

"We've got to try to take as many points as we can in the remaining six games after Totton.

"I'm not going into the game thinking it's a title decider, we can afford to lose one more game if we have to but I don't want to.

"Whatever the result on Saturday, it doesn't decide anything. It will put pressure on whoever loses though."

Having been chasing the title last season, Windsor are in a good position now to put it right and claim it this year although it could come down to who handles the pressure best.

"I think the players can handle it," added Scott.

"Last year it was probably more difficult because the players hadn't experienced it.

"They lost out on the title but went on to win a trophy.

"Dealing with the pressure and doing it on the field is a different thing. I think the players have been fantastic with all that has gone on and they will deal with it."

This article appeared in Royal Borough Observer 09 Apr 10

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