ROCKS REVIEW: Bosses won't fear leaving out in-form players

The Rocks management are not afraid to leave out in-form players as they continue to build the foundations for a promotion push.

Joint bosses Darin Killpartrick and Jamie Howell say they will select the right team for each game - even if it means risking upsetting those left out.

Last weekend at Corinthian Casuals it was the turn of winger Dan Royce to start the afternoon on the bench as they went with three central midfielders and only one wideman.

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Royce got his chance when he came on for the second half to help the Rocks recover from a goal down to win 2-1 - their eighth victory in 12 league games.

Others who have found themselves on the bench despite being in good form this season include strikers Luke Nightingale and Dean Maynard, midfielder and captain Michael Birmingham and defenders Jon Marzetti and James Crane.

It’s a nice selection headache for the Rocks, for at this time last year their main problem was whether they could borrow enough players week to week to field a team and a couple of subs.

Killpartrick and Howell said no-one was guaranteed to keep their place.

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“It’s the same again this weekend, when we go to Dulwich Hamlet,” Killpartrick said.

“We may go back to two wingers or we may go with three in the middle. We will weigh it up. Sometimes we won’t decide until we get to a ground and have a look at the pitch and the conditions.

“Different games suit different formations and players and now we have the squad to be able to pick and choose. Let’s hope it continues.”

The Rocks have been helped so far by good luck with injuries, and again have a virtually full squad to choose from on Saturday at Dulwich, a side they beat 2-0 at Nyewood Lane just over a month ago.

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The game will give them another chance to go second, but the top teams in the division are all winning regularly so the Rocks know they have to maintain their winning form.

Killpartrick has relaxed hisself-imposed ban on looking the league table and admitted: “I’ve had a peek. It’s nice to be fourth but we will keep taking things a week at a time and not getting carried away.

“Dulwich will make it difficult for us. They lost at Corinthian Casuals the other night and will want to show they’re better than that.”

His fellow joint boss Howell said the half-time change in formation at Corinthian Casuals showed the Rocks had the players to adapt to different scenarios.

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And he praised winning goalscorer James Fraser, who is starting to score regularly after being told to get forward more often and try his luck.

“He took his goal so well,” Howell said. “We’ve told him he needs to start scoring more goals, and so far he’s doing just that. He can hit a ball well from long distance and we’re looking forward to seeing more from him.”

Full-back Matt Whitehead is the main injury doubt for Saturday with an ankle problem.

The only other concern is this week’s rain restricting the amount of training that’s been possible.