MATT EGGLESTON insists Wokingham and Emmbrook can still move away from the foot of the table, but admits they do need to beat fellow strugglers Brackley Town Saints on Wednesday night.
Sumas are rooted to the bottom of the Hellenic Premier Division, five points adrift of 19th placed Bracknell Town after throwing away a 2-0 lead against Oxford City Nomads followed by a 6-0 midweek defeat to Ascot United.
But joint-manager Eggleston is refusing to throw the towel in and feels the festive season could offer some welcome joy to Wokingham fans.
“We put ourselves in this position,” he told The Wokingham Paper.
“There’s no-one else to blame apart from ourselves.
“I still believe we can get out of this if we can get the same players on the pitch week in, week out.
“It’s hard when you’re making eight changes every Saturday with a squad and it’s unfair on the players to try and build the confidence and get everyone working together.
“I’m confident if I can get the same 16 that I took to Oxford.”
He added: “Everyone moans about the Christmas period and lots of games.
“We’ve got a few games coming up. Unfortunately we’re not playing this weekend but my university lads are back so hopefully, as far as I’m aware, we will have a full squad to pick from over the Christmas period and I expect us to pick up some points.”
Included in the squad for the first time this week was Australian teenager Blake Stewart, who has agreed terms with the club following a spell abroad and after failing to earn a contract in the Football League.
“Blake Stewart has come from playing in the second division of the Spanish league,” Eggleston explained.
“He’s come over to England and has been at Chesterfield on trial and he’s been training with us as well.
“Chesterfield have released him and we’ve signed him so he came into the squad on Tuesday.”
He continued: “He can play right side of midfield or up front.
“When he plays up front it’s the ball in behind where his strengths are and technically he’s fantastic.
“We’ve seen 30 minutes of him in a real game and we look forward to seeing him next week in the squad again and try to get some more game time and see what he’s all about.”
After a weekend break, Sumas travel to Northamptonshire to face 17th placed Brackley Town Saints on Wednesday night, a side nine points ahead of Eggleston and Dan Bateman’s men.
And Eggleston is well aware his side need to start getting victories soon before it’s too late.
“We need to go there and win,” he admitted.
“Let’s not hide behind it.
“If we go there and win and get three points, we drag them further into us and we start looking at climbing the table.
“Right now, we go there with a strong squad and see what happens.”
