Faversham Town may have won the SCEFL Premier title, but the fight to join them in the Isthmian League has only just begun with the battle for Play Off places reaching a climax this weekend and Punjab United manager Chipie Sian is backing his side to succeed.
With the final two places up for grabs, Sian hoping that his Punjab United side can go one better than last year.
Last season, Gravesend-based United had a Play Off place in their “pocket” before falling away at the end of the season.
Twelve months on and despite the manager himself thinking their season was effectively over after they lost 4-1 at home to Whitstable Town two weeks ago, somehow, Sian’s side go into their last game of the season on Saturday – at home to Erith & Belvedere – knowing that three points will send them into post season for the first time ever with a trip to either VCD or Whitstable.
Talking to KSN ahead of the drama, the Punjab boss admitted, “I was fuming after the Whitstable game, and I honestly thought that we had blown it!”
“We have been up there all year, and I had a right go at the lads! I was probably a bit hard on them, but on the night, we froze, and we didn’t play to our standards, and they were better than us.”
“I said to the boys that when we come back to our next game – Easter Monday – that Rusthall and Whitstable will have caught you.”
“But football is a funny old game, and two weeks later, we won at Stansfeld on Monday and are back in the Play Off places with one game left and it is in our hands!”
“But it’s why we love football – it’s crazy!”
“I know that a lot of people haven’t mentioned us in the Play Offs chat; we have been up there, but no-one has really mentioned us as a proper contender!”
“I have told the boys that we do deserve to be there as we have been up there most of the year and if we get through Saturday – which make no mistake will be incredibly tough – it will be because we do deserve it!”
We have been top five most of the year in an unforgiving League and no game is easy which is what a lot of teams have found out.”
“I don’t believe any team will, go out and let the opposition win – Faversham will go to Rusthall to win just as I know that Belvedere will come to us looking to win – it is what it is!”
“It’s in our own hands and the boys have worked so hard to get back into things. We just must take it now on Saturday, and if we don’t, they will only have themselves to blame!”
“We can’t rely on anyone – just worry about ourselves and get the team right and get the job done.”
Last season, Punjab missed out as their League season fell away at the end, and the boss admitted lessons have been learned; he said, “I learned a lot at the end of last season. I relied in NOT bringing in players when having the chance; we have done that this year – Stefan Payne has come in to boost the squad.”
“We had injuries and suspensions that really killed our chances in the final run-in; we lost three games in a week that took us right out of it.”
“This year, we learned that early; Stefan came in, Jack Barry was out injured, he’s back with others and we made the signings we didn’t last year, and they have all been great.”
“We made them at the right time to give us a lift, and it’s helped the whole squad. We are flying at the moment; we are just happy to be there where we are and now it’s in our hands Saturday afternoon.”
Rusthall must beat the Champions and Punjab must then match result on their own Steve Cook Stadium pitch to make post season. “It’s down to us to win on Saturday and not even worry about Rusthall!” Sian said underlining things.
“If we make it Play Offs it will be the greatest accomplishment at this moment! I know that we won the Senior Trophy and promotion already, this will be unreal for me with the chance to go up!”
“We have done well this year – I just feel that we “deserve” the right to be there and if we can get to the Play Offs anyone can beat anyone and it’s so open. There are good sides in there, we are a good side, and I think it will be for anyone to take!”