March Town United v Downham Town. Picture: DEREK DEKAUWE

Whaley relieved March Town United avoided potential Boxing Day banana skin

Story by: GAVIN CANEY, Reporter Friday, December 30, 2011
8:30 AM

MARCH Town United boss Brett Whaley admitted he was relieved his side didn’t suffer a Christmas hangover after wrapping up another vital win on Boxing Day.

Ridgeons First Division top six (top two promoted)

P W D L GD P

1) Thetford Town 13 12 0 1 +32 36

2) March Town Utd 16 11 1 4 +23 34

3) Debenham LC 18 11 1 6 +12 34

4) Godmanchester Rvs 14 10 3 1 +19 33

5) Whitton Utd 16 9 5 2 +16 32

6) Halstead Town 16 9 2 5 +17 29

*table correct as of December 26

Whaley’s in-form charges moved up to second in the Ridgeons First Division with a 2-0 home win over Downham Town – their fifth consecutive league victory.

And even though promotion-chasing March were far from their best, Whaley insisted three points was the only late Christmas present he wanted.

He said: “It was a bit of a potential banana skin for us. We had 16 days with no training, no nothing, from our last game against Thetford.

“We don’t pay players hardly any money and it’s Christmas so I didn’t expect them to not enjoy themselves with their family either. We could have come unstuck, in the middle of a good run, by a Boxing Day game at 11am.

Ridgeons First Division Boxing Day results in full

Cambridge University Press 1 Godmanchester Rovers 2

Debenham LC 2 Stowmarket Town 1

Halstead Town 4 Brightlingsea Regent 0

Ipswich Wanderers 2 Whitton United 1

March Town United 2 Downham Town 0

Swaffham Town 2 Fakenham Town 1

“We were pretty average and it was a lethargic performance but we won and that was key for us.”

March’s gift-wrapped opener came courtesy of Matt Franks’ own goal before Ondre Odain secured the win with his fourth goal in as many games as a March player.

Whaley insisted his team must continue their run in January if they want to continue an unexpected promotion challenge in the New Year.

The Hares boss said: “We need to take one game at a time because we’re a new side and the question is when that dip comes, how are we going to pick ourselves back up again?

March Town United’s January league fixtures

Monday January 2 – Fakenham Town – Away

Saturday January 7 – Halstead Town – Home (Free entry)

Saturday January 14 – Cornard United – Away

Saturday January 28 – Stowmarket Town – Away

(3pm kick-off unless stated)

“If we win all four games in January, then we’ll have won nine on the trot. Only then can we have a look and see whether promotion is a realistic aim.”

Centre-back Adam Sutton missed the Boxing Day win with a hamstring injury and is doubtful for Monday’s league game at Fakenham Town (3pm kick-off).