Basingstoke trip not easy: Dryden

9:00am Tuesday 2nd September 2008

Comments (0)   Have your say »

MANAGER Richard Dryden has warned Worcester City against taking their unbeaten away record for granted tonight at Basingstoke Town.

An opening-day victory at Bognor Regis Town, the 1-1 draw at Weston-super-Mare and Saturday’s 2-0 triumph at Bromley have given City seven of their 10 points to date in Blue Square South.

“People will expect us to go down to Basingstoke and get a result but when you see Fisher beating Dorchester 4-0 after having not won a game, it’s a strange league.”

Richard Dryden

Such a run of form on the road, in contrast to just one win from three at St George’s Lane, has filled the team with confidence ahead of their trip to the Camrose (7.45) to face a side yet to win this season.

However, Dryden has been left puzzled by some of the results in the league of late, most notably Eastleigh’s 5-0 drubbing by struggling St Albans on Saturday and Dorchester’s 4-0 defeat at Fisher Athletic.

He said: “It was a good win at Bromley. We started well and it was nice to finish the game with a clean sheet.

“I have been involved in many games as a coach and a player when you go 2-0 up early on then sometimes concede one and it’s backs against the wall to hold on to a result.

“People will expect us to go down to Basingstoke and get a result but when you see Fisher beating Dorchester 4-0 after having not won a game, it’s a strange league.

“Looking at all the results in the league, if you were a betting man it’s going to be hard to predict results.

“Some of the big teams are getting beaten and you can’t predict the top five. There’s not going to be an easy game.”

Winger Matt Dodd is unlikely to be fit after picking up a groin strain at the weekend, while the Hampshire trip could come too soon for midfielder Dave Bampton (foot).

Captain Craig Wilding, who marked his return to the attack in place of Mark Owen with a goal at Bromley, is available for the last time before starting a three-match ban for his red card at Weston-super-Mare.

Dryden added: “Mark had been doing a great job for us but I wanted to put Craig up front.

“I probably haven’t helped Craig at all in the last few games he has played.

“I asked him to play in a position that he is not used to and I hope he can put the last few games behind him.

“I have seen it at other clubs where players won’t try unless the ball is near them but Craig isn’t like that — he works hard.”

City’s last visit to Basingstoke saw them lose 7-6 on penalties in an FA Cup fourth qualifying round replay in October 2006.