Manager's Reaction - Leatherhead

"​We’re pretty good at the moment, aren’t we?" commented Manager James Bracken following the 2-1 win at Leatherhead.

"Tonight we played against a few more than eleven and still got away with the win.

"Some of their supporters reckoned we cheated our way through the game. How on earth they’re working that out I don’t know. We’ve scored two good goals and they were gifted a penalty. So I’m not sure how that’s cheating our way through a match. There wasn’t anything about our game that was even tantamount to cheating.

"Leatherhead had five wins on the spin and we’ve come here and thoroughly deserved the victory.

"That second goal was as good as you’ll see in any level of non-league football. Two or three backheels in a move that finishes with a goal. You don’t see that very often.

“We played the conditions fairly well. We were delighted to get the equaliser just before half time which to be fair, the first half was fairly even. They’ve had moments and we’ve had moments kicking into the strong wind. I’d have been happy going in at 1-0 down because I always thought we had at least two goals in us. The equaliser set us up nicely and second half, had we just been a little more cute in the final third, we’d have scored more. 

"You have to approach things differently in that kind of wind and again, we’re still learning. In the first half, unless I’m calling it through from the sidelines, they’re not getting it right. But we’re looking like a group of men that, more often than not, know what we're doing. If they need a little gee-up now and again from me... well, that’s my job.

“Another good performance, another good night and another building block to keep pushing on with." 

Speaking of the penalty save, Bracken gave praise to his brother, keeper and Captain Danny Bracken. “Let’s give my brother (Danny Bracken) credit. Only because he’ll give himself all the credit anyway. I’m sure he’s going to tell me how we’ve got a 100% record since he’s been back. But seriously, he makes a difference to us. He’s a presence. He doesn’t make rash decisions. He’s consistent and makes saves when you need him to. Tonight, he’s not had to make any ‘worldies’. He’s saved the penalty, which to be fair, I called – I’d told him where to go – so I’m taking that credit. He just used his body and my brain. He gives the boys in front of him more confidence. He’s more vocal. But I’m not just going to single out Dan. A lot of the boys are taking responsibility and it needs to carry on.

"We've just got to keep doing what we’re doing, because as I said a couple of weeks ago, who’s going to beat us? Okay, realistically speaking, we’ll lose one or two – of course we will, but if we stay on track, keep our work level up, keep our energy high and stay fit, then who knows what we can achieve."