Oakwood boss hails 'vast improvement' despite Selsey defeat

Oakwood boss Mark Gilbert called his side's display in their 2-0 away defeat to Selsey in Division 1 on Saturday '˜a vast improvement'.
Oakwood boss Mark Gilbert hailed 'a vast improvement' from his team despite falling to a 2-0 away loss to Selsey in Division 1 on Saturday. Picture by Derek Martin.Oakwood boss Mark Gilbert hailed 'a vast improvement' from his team despite falling to a 2-0 away loss to Selsey in Division 1 on Saturday. Picture by Derek Martin.
Oakwood boss Mark Gilbert hailed 'a vast improvement' from his team despite falling to a 2-0 away loss to Selsey in Division 1 on Saturday. Picture by Derek Martin.

The Oaks had visited the Seals on Saturday, November 3 in the Division 1 Cup and were thumped 7-0 by the hosts.

Gilbert said: “If we had cut out the mistakes we would’ve been OK, but it was a vast improvement. We had a few chances ourselves and we didn't take them.

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“We’re a team in progress if you like. We’ve got a few new players in and they’re getting to know each other.

“If I’m honest a draw would’ve been a fair result but they took their chances when they had to and we didn’t. That was the difference.”

SEE ALSO Club pay tribute to ‘Mr Oakwood’ Alf Bridges | Crawley Town return to Oakwood for training | Wasps relish FA Cup clash against ChichesterOakwood started brightly as they forced Seals ‘keeper Connor Kelly into two fine saves. However, the hosts took the lead on 32 minutes as Linden Miller calmly finished after being put in one-on-one by Ollie Hambleton.

After the restart, the visitors created chances. Kelly held well from a free-kick before the Oaks had a goal ruled out for offside.

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Despite Oakwood pressure, the Seals added a second. On 79 minutes Joe Bennett beat three Oaks players from the byline and smashed in low and hard from 15-yards out to seal the win for Selsey.

Oakwood travel to second-from-bottom Mile Oak on Saturday. Their opponents are just two points behind Gilbert’s side and the Oaks boss has called it a ‘massive game’.

He added: “They’re bottom of the league and fighting for their lives, the same as we are so it’ll be an interesting game. I hope we do win it because otherwise they’ll go above us and we’ll drop into the bottom two. It’s a massive game for both of us.”

Oakwood: Stratton, Saurombe, Ayanlaya-Daniel, Gallagher, Manville, Agate, Gilbert, Routley, Tourey-Drammeh, Olabiyi, Gomes. Subs: Polat, Ionut.