Former captain believes Bromley point was a good one

SAINTS defender Ben Martin says the side would have taken a point prior to kick off on Saturday after Leon McKenzie’s hotly disputed 65th minute strike earned Bromley a point at Clarence Park.

The Saints looked on course for all three points after Dave Hutton’s early goal but a suspiciously offside McKenzie was on hand to fire home and deny City a third straight win – not that the result has deflated the Saints according to Martin.

“I think overall we are happy but at the same time when you’re one nil up and you concede a goal that all of us, especially at the back, thought was offside it’s frustrating,” Martin told the Herts Advertiser.

“It was a bit fortuitous as well because Adam’s (Everitt) put his body in the way and it’s come off him and gone straight to their forward but it happens.

“We’ll take a point from today and we’ll definitely take seven points from nine.”

McKenzie’s goal denied Martin and his defensive colleagues a third straight clean sheet but the centre half says a return of just one goal against in three games is enough to keep them happy.

“Considering we’d conceded a few goals leading up to Christmas it’s great,” he said. “Today we were so close, about 20 minutes away; I thought it was there but one goal in three games is a good return.

“Going into Christmas with 10 points and then being undefeated since the start of New Year we’d definitely have been delighted with that on New Year’s Day.”

The former City captain believes the improved defensive displays of late are the result of a team effort and highlighted the importance of front men Ollie Palmer and Inih Effiong.

Martin added: “The fact the lads up front are getting through so much work stops the opposition from getting in quality balls to us, they’re just pumping them straight on mine and Ryan’s (Frater) head.

“You’ve got to give a lot of credit to Adam Martin too. He lost his father and since that New Year’s Day game I think he’s been absolutely immense.”

After six weeks without a game prior to the New Year, the Saints now find themselves in the immensely frustrating position of having a blank Saturday this weekend. Eastleigh’s continued participation in the FA Trophy means the scheduled match has had to be rearranged and with nobody else free to fill in the Saints have to make do with another Saturday without football but Martin says the squad will make the most of the situation with a bit of team bonding on Friday night.

“We’re in Monday, Wednesday, Friday (training) and I think we’re all going to go out on Friday night,” he revealed.

“It’s frustrating not to have a game but also at the same time it’ll be nice to all go out and have a few beers together.”