Barkingside play Ware in quest to beat the drop

Barkingside manager Matt Frew feels his side’s position near the foot of the Ryman North table belies the quality of their squad.

Frew’s side currently sit 20th in the table, while their next opposition Ware are 13th.

And it is alongside the Hertfordshire club in mid-table where Frew believes his team belong.

“With the players we’ve got, we’re a stronger squad than what people see. We should be mid-table,” said Frew.

“I hope Ware approach the game thinking it will be easy for them. I think it’s false where we are (in the league).

“I’m not going into any away game thinking of taking a draw. People may think I’m mad for that but I’m going into every game wanting to win.”

When the sides last met in September, the game ended in a 1-1 draw at the Cricklefield Stadium.

‘Side conceded a soft equaliser in that fixture and it is a result that still frustrates Frew.

“When we drew 1-1, there was only one team in that game and that was us. We gifted them their goal,” added Frew.

“It was a backpass that was intercepted. When we drew, it frustratetd me. When I look back at our results, we’ve gifted teams points too often.”

With the weather having taken a turn for the worse in recent weeks, Frew feels the state of the pitch could affect the results this time.

“It’s hard to play football at the minute because the pitches are so heavy. It’s hard to play it on the floor.”

“In terms of players, I think the wide boys will decide the game. It will be a case of who wants it more on the night. All we can do is roll our sleeves up and work hard.”