Right Decision - 27th August
Last week's decision to play Mike Rhodes as a striker reaped immediate rewards for Cheltenham Saracens chief Gerry Oldham.
Former Bishop's Cleeve man Rhodes, who has played most of his senior football as a combative midfielder or defender made the most of his opportunity by smashing a hat-trick in a 3-1 win against Hook Norton.
Oldham plans to repeat the trick when he takes his side to Trowbridge tomorrow for the first game of a busy Bank Holiday weekend. "I've always thought that Mike was a bit wasted as a midfielder or defender," said Oldham. "He has always had an eye for goal so I played him up-front with Jamie Hammond and he scored three. He will do well up there and it gives us real competition for places which is good."
After losing their opening game at Purton, the Saracens' boss wants to see his charges back last week's win with a string of victories. The Bank Holiday weekend with fixtures against Trowbridge and Lydney Town offers the perfect chance to amass points. "We're capable of beating any side in this division on our day," said Oldham. "We've got to put that defeat against Purton behind us now and concentrate on the games coming up. As soon as all of our new signings bed in, I am confident that we'll go on a good run."
Winger Andy Crosskey misses the trip to Wiltshire but could be back to face Gloucestershire rivals Lydney on Monday.
Cheltenham Saracens: Betteridge, Harvey, Shatford, Slender, Finch, Rayson, Rhodes, Tovey, Minnett, Burrows, Hammond, Bermingham, Griffiths, Donaghue, Sheehan
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As You Are - 21st August
Gerry Oldham will resist ringing the changes in his Cheltenham Saracens squad despite last week's 3-1 opening day defeat to Purton.
Oldham, who has set his sights on the Uhlsport Hellenic League Division One West title this term, saw a host of missed chances and two missed penalties hurt his side in Wiltshire last weekend. But rather than mope after the defeat, the Saracens boss will ask his players to up their performance and take any frustrations out on a visiting Hook Norton side today.
"It just wasn't to be last weekend," said Oldham. "Jamie Hammond missed two penalties and another chance that he would usually have taken. We let ourselves down a bit, especially in the second half, and I told the lads that they need to up the performances if we want to compete for the title. The scoreline flattered them a little as they basically had three chances and took them. We had five or six chances and didn't but that's the way it goes sometimes."
Oldham plans to keep faith with the same squad of 16 for this afternoons game, insisting that they be given a chance to right the wrongs of last week. The Saracens boss has also thrown his support behind last seasons' top scorer Hammond, who he still backs to win the Division One West Golden Boot this season. "I will stick with the same lads for this week's game, but they will have to put in a better performance," said Oldham. "I have a really big squad with plenty of depth and I won't be afraid to make changes. Jamie Hammond will bounce back, he's too good at this level not to, and he will still be the league's top scorer."
Full-back Matt Minett is away at a wedding so can't play and winger Andy Crosskey is out with an ankle injury.
Cheltenham Saracens: Betteridge, Griffiths, Oldham, Donaghue, Finch, Shatford, Harvey, Slender, Hammond, Rhodes, Sheehan, Rayson, Bermingham, Tovey, Burrows.
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