Football
Goode threatens changes

DROITWICH Spa boss Richard Goode has warned his side it may be time to start making changes following Saturday’s 3-2 Midland Combination Division One defeat at Stretton Eagles.

Not for the first time in recent weeks, Goode was left bemoaning individual errors which proved costly for his side as they continue to struggle at the wrong end of the table.

“Ever since I’ve been on my own in this job I’ve been desperate to get settled selection and stick loyal to the players,” Goode said.

“But the time might be coming where I have to start shaking things up a bit because the same mistakes are being made week after week.”

Spa went ahead on Saturday when Stu James’ cross was headed into his own net by a defender but poor defending allowed the home side to equalise in the 32nd minute, the fourth game in a row Spa have conceded between the half hour mark and half time.

They regained the advantage before the break when Brett Mould did well to release James and he confidently beat the keeper.

More poor defending allowed Stretton to equalise in the second half before they sealed all three points from the penalty spot.

“It is a concern that we keep starting games brightly but then falling away, as is proved by the time of the goals we keep conceding,” Goode added.

“The mistakes have to stop though. The players need to take a look at themselves and ask whether they are doing enough to cut the errors out and I have to look at myself and see if there are things I could do better.”

Turning his attentions to tomorrow’s crucial home clash with FC Glades Sporting, who sit just three places above Spa in 14th, Goode believes his side can take all three points.

“We played them a couple of weeks ago and it was a pretty poor game really,” he said.

“I didn’t see anything from them on that day that doesn’t make me think we can get all three points if we play to the levels we can.

“It is a massive game, I’m up for it and I hope the players are too. At times in the second half on Saturday I wondered for the first time whether some of them had lost a bit of belief, but we have to believe throughout if we are to climb the table.”

Goode reserved praise for Andy Crowther who made his debut in midfield and hoped to be able to welcome Tom Blunt and Andy Keenahan into the squad for tomorrow.