gethampshire - Reading Evening Post

I was not surprised to be told by Boro’s new manager, Steve King, that I was being released.

It’s the nature of the non-league football beast that new managers want to work with players they have managed previously.

As you read this, myself and a few of the other lads will be on our way to Magaluf in Majorca - for Paul Harkness’s stag. No doubt there will be a few stories to tell - but what goes on tour stays on tour! Harks gets married a week on Sunday.

So, maybe we’ll be on the beach reading 'yesterday’s Sun', as you do on holiday, and news of Farnborough’s new manager will reach us.

I was at the Evesham game on Saturday, and it was good to see all the boys again. I’m in regular contact with a lot of the lads, but it was nice to see everyone in the Platinum Lounge as well.

It was a decent win too, because Evesham were a very awkward team, so getting that early goal was important. It was all a little bit nervy at the end after conceding a goal, but a win is a win, and from what I hear that has really been the case for Boro over the last month.

Last week was so disappointing from a personal point of view. People might think it is a bad attitude to have when I didn’t stay to watch the Banbury game, but as soon as I knew I wasn’t involved I really didn’t want to be there.

I went to see my mates at Ascot against Holyport and they won 7-1, so it was an entertaining afternoon. My housemate scored a hat-trick, and it was nice for me to be there and see that. He always bags a few goals, but I was starting to think he was exaggerating his goalscoring exploits, so it was good to see it for myself.

I’m pleased to say that my issue away from football is sorted now and I’m just happy to be back playing again.

It was something that has been playing on my mind, which is why I sat out the Gloucester City game, but it’s resolved now and I’m back, focused and ready to go for the rest of the season.

On the back of the Oxford defeat getting the win against Clevedon was all that mattered, and we did that.

That was about it and there’s no doubt that our form is a little questionable at the moment. In the first half we played without cohesion, and although they took their goal well, it was poor defending on our part. Richard held his hands up and said he thought it was going wide, but we shouldn’t be finding ourselves in that position.

The weather has made it a really frustrating few weeks for us - even more so because it leaves the poor result against Oxford City lingering. It sticks in the mind a little bit, and now we all just want to get out there on the pitch.

The weather has meant that training has been difficult as well, and we have had a few indoor sessions to keep us going. We had a tough spinning class last week, and on Saturday we trained with the Badshot Lea guys over in Farnham. We had a long five-a-side session, which is not really my thing to be honest. You need to be strong and quick, so I guess I’m never going to excel.

I have to say that Saturday’s defeat against Oxford City was without a doubt the worst performance since I came to the club.

To me it ranks up there with the 3-0 loss at Fleet last season — it was just poor from start to finish and I don’t think there was anyone of us who came out of the game with any credit. It was a huge disappointment and we have to learn quickly from our shortcomings. We simply weren’t at the races, and we have to step it up.

It’s been another good week for us, and it’s great to edge a little further ahead in the league.

After our win on Monday night it was good to see the results go in our favour again the next day, taking us eight points clear at the top. I know other teams have games in hand, but it’s all about getting points on the board, and we have them. Now all the others are under massive pressure to get a win every time they go out and play.

The match against Stevenage was our showpiece game of the season, and it was tough going for us. I was certainly feeling it the next day.

Although we lost and they certainly deserved their win, I do think we can take heart from some periods in the game. But, at the crucial points we just came up a little bit short.

The last few days have really summed up how football works.

On Saturday I was really disappointed not to play, and then on Tuesday I was back in the side against Stourbridge and scoring from the penalty spot.

It’s been a while since I last wrote and I think I need to start by clearing up recent criticisms of me that have appeared on a Boro fans’ forum.

I appear to have a tiny minority of support against me at times and of course each fan has a right to their opinion but a sponsor board and a ticket stub should not be a free permit for unchallenged personal abuse.  Whilst my reaction could and should be better I felt it was a mark overstepped.

It’s my birthday today. I am 27. Hopefully I can have a little present of being fit for full training tonight.

I am certainly ahead of schedule regards the injury to my knee and I was able to have a good run around the pitch before the boys took on Wingate & Finchley on Tuesday evening.

I managed to get 45 minutes under my belt this week against the RAF. It was good to be back out there, even if it was a freezing night in front of all of eight fans.

The groin held up pretty well for that half until I went for an over-elaborate long ball and tweaked it a little bit, but I was happy enough. I will need a fitness test on it before Saturday, but I’m hopeful of getting a place on the bench.

It’s a bit of a difficult time for me at the moment, with my groin injury. It’s hard to say how bad it is because when I’m walking around during the day I don’t even feel a problem, but it’s obviously stopping me from playing.

I had a big session with our physio Steve at the Army barracks on Monday, in which I was basically naked on a bench whilst he felt my groin through my unmentionables. Lyall walked in on us at one point and I think he wondered what exactly we were up to, but it was painful enough that I wasn’t really that bothered what he thought!