HELLENIC LEAGUE: College to keep faith in passing mentality (From Swindon Advertiser)

HELLENIC LEAGUE: College to keep faith in passing mentality

6:10am Friday 3rd February 2012 in Sport By Ned Payne

NEW College first-team coach Rob Hopkins insists his side will continue to play a technical, passing game and not adopt a ‘win at all costs’ strategy.

The Swindon outfit are fifth from bottom in Division One West after moving up from the Wiltshire League Premier Division at the start of the season, but Hopkins says it is performances, and not points, that count.

“We knew it would be an extra challenge when we came up, but we said it was not about the league table and more about the performance on the pitch,” he said.

“We don’t play a style of football which is win at all costs. It’s about possession and quality on the ball, which doesn’t lend itself to making it easy against some opposition.

“Of course players and coaches want to win, but as long as we’re playing the right way, then we’re happy.”

Hopkins expects New College to be at full strength for their trip to Cirencester Dev tomorrow, against a side that have blossomed in the last couple of months.

“They didn’t have the best of starts but recently they have rocketed up the league, whether that’s because they have changed anything drastically I don’t know,” continued Hopkins.

“It’s certainly not going to be an easy game. It’s a local derby and as a lot of the lads know each other that adds a bit of extra spice as well.”

New College had their second-round Supplementary Cup game at home to Newbury abandoned on Tuesday due to the cold conditions.

The game was locked at 4-4 after 90 minutes when the referee decided the pitch was too hard to continue, a decision Hopkins backed.

“We should have had an extra 30 minutes for extra time, but the pitch had frozen solid,” he said.

“The temperature had dropped quite drastically with 10 or 15 minutes to go, and it was probably the right decision because it was becoming a little bit treacherous.”

The fixture has been rescheduled for Tuesday, February 28.