Vase heartbreak giving Saints the edge (From Bucks Free Press)

Vase heartbreak giving Saints the edge

11:17am Thursday 11th March 2010 in

• Skip social links
• Print
• Email
• Comments(0)

DANNY Edwards believes last season’s FA Vase semi-final heartbreak is counting in Chalfont St Peter’s favour this season as they stride towards the Spartan South Midlands League.

They were beaten on penalties by Glossop North End last April but Saints are finding that every cloud has a silver lining.

On Tuesday night they came from 2-0 down at Kingsbury Tigers to lead 3-2 and then withstood late pressure to take the points that moved them eight points clear at the top.

Edwards said: “We came from 2-0 down and I’m not sure if we’d have done that in the past.

“But the experience of losing in the semi-finals has taught this team character. Playing in front of 2,000 people has taught us how to handle pressure so the last few minutes at Kingsbury were nothing.

“They threw everything at us but we were winning our headers and making our tackles, whereas previously the players might have hidden a bit.”

Ben Stack, Barry Brosnan and a Charlie Strutton-forced own goal turned the game on Tuesday night after Saints had brushed Hillingdon Borough aside 5-1 last Saturday.

Adam Louth (2), Strutton, John Carroll and Brosnan were on target then and although second-placed Tring have two games in Chalfont Edwards knows from experience how tough it is trying to catch up games in the final few months.

He said: “Last year we had six games in hand at this stage of the season and I think we needed 15 points to go top.

“It puts a huge amount of pressure on you because you have to win every game you go into.

“We should probably have won the title in each of the past two seasons but we had so many games to make up and it cost us.

“I’d be amazed if there weren’t a few more twists and turns left this season, but we’ve only got two more midweek matches and as a squad we’re looking fresh.”

On Saturday Saints go to Haringey Borough, who beat Hillingdon 8-0 in midweek.