`We'll go close to title,' says Robson

From the Echo, first published Monday 20th Oct 2003.

BASHLEY'S recent excellent form has lofted the New Forest club into fourth place in the table, following their latest triumph, a comfortable 2-0 win over Fisher Athletic at Bashley Road.

John Robson's side have now gone three matches without conceding a single goal, picking up all nine available points at the same time.

Prior to the Fisher encounter Bash had picked up two useful 1-0 victories, with late goals, which seems to have brought an air of confidence to the players, who had pretty much settled the issue this time around by about the hour mark.

And the ambition of the new boss stretches further than just promotion, Robson says his team can lift the title.

"We're up there and we're doing well," said Robson.

"We want to stay in the top six and go up this season and to be fair I want to win this league.

"I'm not disputing the fact that Tonbridge are flying, but given a fair amount of luck and the backing that we get off the park, and the players to come back who are injured, we'll go close."

Bash have got some real quality players to return from injury, including Mark Lisk, Stuart Hussey, Graeme Gee, Mark Jones and Dave Wakefield, so if they can maintain the sort of form they've shown in their previous three outings, by the time these players come back into the equation, Robson could well be proved right.

Their latest triumph got off to an excellent start, when Danny Gibbons slotted home a brave knock down from Andy Culliford in as early as the sixth minute.

Bash went on to dominate the encounter, but despite forcing corner after corner and going close on numerous occasions to doubling their lead, they had to wait until the 59th minute before they finally did.

And the just reward for a superb team display came from skipper Craig Davis, who with an excellent touch lifted the ball over the advancing Michael Berger in the Fisher goal.

It was no more than Bashley deserved, and with the previously mentioned injury casualties closer to making their returns, the New Foresters could prove to be right there amongst the title challengers come April 2004.

Bash gave a debut to Michael Tickner, who could be one for the future, proving to be a handful, despite only coming on for the last five minutes.

Bash: Hookway, Cherrett, Connolly (Wallis 44), Gazzard, Darnton, Cook, Mat Jones, Davis, Jackson, Gibbons (Tickner 85), Culliford. Unused sub: Gee.

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