Met Police boss says it’s do or die time for play-off chasers (From Croydon Guardian)

Visit of Cray Wanderers to Imber Court is a massive game says Cooper

2:00pm Friday 8th March 2013 in Sport By Tim Ashton

Met Police manager Jim Cooper admitted the time has come to make or break their season, and that anything other than a win over Cray Wanderers on Saturday will break it.

After a 1-0 Ryman Premier defeat last weekend at home to Wealdstone, Cooper cut a frustrated figure on the touchline at the Beveree on Tuesday night watching a 0-0 draw with Hampton & Richmond.

The double blank and solitary point has left Met eighth in the table, four points off the play-offs – a mountain that is insurmountable, according to Cooper, without three points off Cray at Imber Court.

“Tuesday night was not an attractive game of football as the Hampton pitch was pretty shocking,” Cooper said.

“However, we did not test the Wealdstone keeper either on Saturday and that is a little worrying.

“We have some very good forwards but it is just not happening for them right now.

“But if we lose to Cray and have won just one point in nine with barely a shot on goal, we’re not going to get into the play-offs.

“For that reason, Saturday is a massive game for us and we have to win.
“We go into it as favourites, but I am not anticipating an easy game at all, they have some very good players.”

Meanwhile, Tom Kavanagh, who missed the Hampton & Richmond derby through injury is, according to Cooper, struggling to come to terms with life in the Ryman Premier Division.

The midfielder is expected back for the weekend, but the 22-year-old, following his move from Sutton United of the Blue Square South in February, is taking longer to settle at Imber Court than Cooper had hoped.

Kavanagh dropped a level to join the Met and, according to Cooper, the drop down is the problem.

He said: “It has taken Tom a little time to adjust to the different level of football.

“The issue is that, at Blue Square South level, the football is more physical, whereas we like to get the ball down and play. That was our downfall against Wealdstone, they bullied us out of the game.”

Meanwhile, Met Police will travel to Godalming Town on March 20 to vie for a place in the Surrey Senior Cup final.

The winner will face Sutton United or AFC Wimbledon at Gander Green Lane on May 7.