Spartans keeper Conor Grant reflected on the away point at Droylsden and was happy to see his point take a point from the Butchers Arms. A rather low key affair in Manchester saw both sides struggle to test both Grant and his Bloods counterpart Yannick Nlate although the latter did produce two excellent stops to deny Craig Hubbard and Matthew Wade. Former Gretna stopper Grant believes the point shows that Spartans have advanced since last season.
“You always want to take a point away from home and they aren’t a bad team so we are happy with the draw. We haven’t played brilliantly but we have taken a point and I honestly think we would have lost that game last season”
The away point was sealed with a second consecutive clean sheet for Spartans with yet another different back four. Left back Ian Watson replaced Danny Parker with skipper Joe Kendrick moving to centre back to partner Nathan Buddle. With so many different choices in defence for manager Tom Wade it can be difficult for keeper and back four to gel as a unit but Grant is certain with more game time they will get it right.
“It’s not perfect yet but it is getting there and any clean sheet as a goalkeeper is a positive. We are getting better and the more we play together the more we get used to each other. We are learning just how each other play as a defensive unit and we will get better”
The Evo-Stik Northern Premier League campaign takes a break now as Spartans prepare to welcome AFC Fylde to Croft Park for their FA Cup First Qualifying Round tie. Despite being drawn at home Spartans seem to be going into the tie as underdogs but Grant feels that nobody should rule out his side.
“There’s a new spirit and we shouldn’t fear anyone. We’ve had a good start to the season and yes Fylde is going to be tough but we are at home, it’s the FA Cup, it’s eleven against eleven and anything can happen. We just have to give it a good go which we will”