Moir: Rams showing signs of recovery

The Rams may have fallen to their seventh defeat in nine Southern League games when they lost 2-1 at home to Northwood on Saturday, but their performances are improving as they become more competitive in matches.

Manager Andy Neal has had to completely rebuild his first-team squad after former manager Ian Saunders left the club just a week before the season got under way.

After a whole host of player departures, coupled with the arrival of new faces, there has been a feeling of a second pre-season build-up happening at the club as the new squad settle in and get up to speed.

Chairman Graeme Moir believes the team are getting close now to being able to put a run of form together which will put them well clear of the bottom of the table.

He said: ‘The sudden departure of coaching staff and then players right at the start of the season hit us really hard.

‘At times it was a case of just getting through the games and making sure we were able to fulfil our commitments in the league and cup competitions.

‘But we are slowly getting there now – the new players have bedded in and the performances are steadily improving every week.

‘We are showing that we are more than capable of playing at this level but there are still things we need to work on to ensure we start picking up points regularly.

‘I would say that we need to stem the flow of goals being conceded and when we seem to concede in short spells – where we let in two goals in the space of a few minutes, for example, and we go from being right in the game to giving ourselves a mountain to climb.

‘We will get there, though, and the trip to Egham tonight gives us a chance to get over Saturday’s result quickly and put a win on the board.’

Egham went close to winning promotion in division one central last season but so far this campaign have had a slow start and are currently in 15th place in the table.