LEIGHTON Town manager Craig Wells was involved in a war of words with some fans on Saturday as his side slumped to a fifth straight league defeat.
There would have been no shame in losing to Evo-Stik League Division One Central leaders Godalming Town on most days, but the manner of their home 4-1 defeat – coupled with their four previous poor results – saw tempers flare at Bell Close.
With Wells’ men 3-0 down in just 17 first half minutes, some Town fans began to voice their frustrations at the players, but the manager took exception to some of the things that were said, and let them know about it in no uncertain terms.
“We’re on a horrendous run,” said Wells. “I agree with a lot of what’s been said by the fans at games and on Facebook, but when I hear such ill-informed comments, like I heard on this occasion, I’ve got to bite back.
“The players know I’m not happy about things, but when some of them are getting the sort of whipping that they did on Saturday I couldn’t let it go by without saying something.
“People should know I’m not the sort of manager to roll over and have my belly tickled. I’m going to say what I think.
“Individuals were getting a right kick in and I didn’t want to stand for it.”
Town’s defeat to Godalming leaves them 18th in the league table, but they have the perfect opportunity to bounce back on Tuesday night as they travel to bottom side Woodford United – the first of three away games in seven days.
Taking on two other sides in the bottom half of the table in Chertsey Town and Chalfont St Peter, the boss is adamant that they will soon turn their season around.
Wells points to Town’s form against teams in the lower half of the table as a sign that their next win isn’t far away, even if they do struggle against teams in the top half.
He also resents some claims from fans that he doesn’t care enough.
“I’m absolutely positive that we’ll get better, very soon,” he said. “No doubt about it.
“Lots of things contribute to a defeat at our level of football. We have been struggling with injuries and people not able to play for whatever reasons – it all adds up to a bad day at the office.
“The coaching staff at this club don’t take a single penny for doing the job we do – so it’s not nice hearing people having a go at you for not caring.
“Like I say, I can agree with a lot of what the fans have said in the last couple of weeks, but not the ill-informed rubbish.”
Godalming raced into a three-goal lead after just 17 minutes of play at Bell Close to effectively end Town’s hopes of gaining any reward from the game.
Wells decided to start with a 4-4-2 formation in order to give Ben Gallant more support in attack as Bill Morgan was unavailable, and against a big side this gave Town some physical problems at set-pieces.
On a cold afternoon in front of a disappointing crowd of just 79 fans, the visitors started at full throttle and took the lead on seven minutes when a high cross from their left flank was diverted into his own goal at full stretch by Dan Hewitt.
For a Town side who looked to be lacking confidence, this was a real hammer blow so early in the game.
Six minutes after their opener the visitors scored a second goal with a superb strike by Scott Harris.
The Godalming midfielder was left unmarked on the edge of the penalty area and when he received the ball he struck a magnificent shot.
Even if Town had three goalkeepers in the net they would not have stopped his superb effort.
And in the 17th minute the visitors scored their third from a corner as the ball broke loose to captain Ryan Lake and he drove his shot into the ground that bounced high into the back of the net with the home defence nowhere to be seen.
At this point it looked as if the visitors could score at will and many Leighton fans were wondering just how many goals their team would concede before the game was out.
Leighton had their first real chance in the 20th minute when they won a corner on the left which Leon Simpson headed towards the far post and Stuart Deaton hooked the ball home to give Town a glimmer of hope.
Two minutes late Town went close to a second goal alter a good move involving Gallant, Bialal Hassan and Enzo Silvestri saw the latter fire a fierce shot goalwards, but Somerville in the Godalming net made a terrific save to maintain his side’s two-goal lead.
Following their goal, Town were now playing with more spirit but in the 28th minute sloppy defending saw them concede another goal from a corner.
Simeone was quick to lose his marker as the corner came across and he headed powerfully home to restore the visitors’ three-goal advantage.
In the 30th minute Bilal Hassan flicked the ball past his defender and raced towards goal, but as Somerville advanced from his goal, Hassan tried to lob the ball over him and his effort was way too low and easily caught by the keeper.
A minute later Simpson laid a pass through the visitors’ defence but it was just too far in front of Jerry Nash and the keeper was able to collect the ball.
Having done all the hard work in the first half, it was difficult to know if the visitors eased up after the interval but Town had a lot more possession and exerted more pressure.
But Town could not turn this into chances, although late in the game Craig Maisiri, Gallant, and Simpson all had shots either blocked by defenders or saved by the keeper.
In the second half Town played some decent football and teams are certainly not beating them by simply playing more football, but Town seem unable to match the physicality and power of their opponents.
There was no lack of spirit from Town, but some new faces might be needed to stop the rot.
Town now travel to Woodford on Tuesday night – weather permitting – for another important game as they aim to get their season back on track.