Flackwell's improved form would suggest side is emerging from transitional period

Flackwell Heath boss Chris Ayres. Photo: Charlie Carter

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Recent results would suggest Flackwell Heath are emerging from a transitional period this season to put themselves back in potential play-off contention once again.

Having finished in the play-offs last season and reached the play-off final only to go down to a heavy defeat at the hands of Berkhamsted, Flackwell began this season with similar aspirations.

But having lost last season’s prolific strike force, Wiktor Makowski and Michael Harding to teams from levels above in the summer, it was always going to take some time for the Heathens to rediscover themselves.

A painful FA Cup exit at the hands of Maldon & Tiptree - after an undefeated start to the campaign in the league – also tipped them into a bit of a slump, from which they’re now very much emerging.

Tuesday’s 4-0 win at Marlow was their third on the spin and lifts them to 12th in the Southern League Central Division standings, 11 points off the play-off places but with games in hand over most teams above them.

“We had a tough spell after we came out of the FA Cup,” he said. “We found it a difficult time. The boys were all on a little bit of downer when we saw the draw and realised, we were one game away from being on TNT. The boys struggled for a bit of form after that.

“But we’ve since had a bit of a rejig, with players coming in and going out and I think, hopefully now, we’ve settled down. We’re on a good little run now and are scoring goals. Yeah, we’re in a much better position.

“We lost the front two, Michael Harding and Wiktor Makowski who have gone on to better things.

“That’s good for us as a club and pleasing for me that we’ve been able to help them on their journey. Our goalkeeper Jack Brooker also went to Australia, and he was a big part of our team. But we’ve got a lad in Henry Upstell from Slough who’s been excellent for us. I think we’ve got that togetherness up front now with Juwon (Akintunde) and Lucas (Wynn) having come in. I think we’re in a lot better place and things are feeling more positive.”

The Heathens raided Oak Tree Road for a deserved three points on Tuesday thanks to four unanswered second half goals.

Jack Shakespeare put them on their way with a cool finish in the 50th minute, and though Marlow missed a penalty minutes later, the visitors kept their composure to ride out the storm and finish strongly.

Ben Stallard slammed home a left-footed shot from 25 yards to put the result beyond doubt while counter-attacking goals from Bruce Nsang and Lucas Wynn in the closing stages completed a comfortable away win and capped off a commanding second half display.

“We thought it would be tough, and it was to be fair, up until we got the second goal,” said Ayres.

“The game was in the balance even though I felt we’d been the better side. We’ve got a lot of local players, and they know what the Marlow Flackwell rivalry means.

“But I thought last night, some of the football we played in difficult conditions was outstanding. We thoroughly deserved to win. We had the little blip with the penalty, but Henry (Upstell) made a great save, and we ran out convincing winners. Some of the play on a difficult pitch I was really pleased with.

“Ben Stallard scored a terrific goal with a strike from 25 yards on his left foot. He’s got back in the side recently and he’s part of the engine room for the team. It was a great finish and then there was two good counter attacking goals when they were having a go, trying to get something from the game. We won possession and played it forward quickly through Lucas and Bruce. It was really pleasing to come away with the win and four goals.”

Heath will now look to string a consistent run together in the final months of the season to potentially gatecrash the play-off part. They may need a few favours to do that, but a top five finish no longer feels an unachievable aim.

“I think game by game is the way to look at it, because it’s a tough league,” said Ayres. “I think the key to it is trying to put a run together of six or seven games and you find yourself creeping up the table. When you go Saturday, Tuesday, Saturday and you get three wins it makes a massive difference. Five weeks ago, we were looking towards the bottom end and worrying about that but now we’re looking up. Can we still get into the play-offs – we could, but we’re going to have to go on a big run to achieve that and maybe rely on other results. We knew it would be a transition period, but we now feel we’re getting through that period.”