Greens boss happy with how his side have started 2012

Bethnal Green United boss Justin Gardner refused to have any complaints after his side recorded their first win of 2012 with a home victory against Bowers & Pitsea last Saturday.

The Greens opened the scoring just after the half-hour mark through the impressive Paul Burnett, before he turned provider for his side’s second goal, setting up Billy Holland just before half-time.

After the break, Bowers pulled a goal back before Ainsley Gaspar responded with yet another successful penalty, taking his personal record up to 29 goals from 29 spot kicks.

Holland then made sure of the three points, before the visitors scored a late consolation.

“It was a great start to 2012 for us,” said Gardner.“There was always going to be some rustiness after the Christmas break and it told in the last 10 minutes when we were struggling a little bit with fitness.

“But to score four goals in your first game in three weeks is great and although I was annoyed with the two sloppy goals that we conceded, I can’t really complain.

“I have to say that I was really pleased for Paul Burnett to get on the scoresheet though, and it is no more than he deserves.

“He has been fantastic for us this season and has really come on leaps and bounds and turned into an important player for the club.”

The Greens boss also reserved special praise for his skipper, who extended his impressive penalty record during the victory.

“Ainsley Gaspar just doesn’t miss penalties,” he said.“In four-and-a-half seasons he hasn’t missed a single one, so that is 29 now.

“However, teams are now targeting him and keepers are all diving the same way, and he told me that he is going to start mixing it up now.

“Don’t get me wrong, I am sure that his run will come to an end at some point, I just hope that it isn’t in a critical game!”

The win extends the Greens’ 100 per cent run to eight matches in all competitions, and lifts them up to third place, but Gardner is not getting carried away.

“If you said to me nine weeks ago when we were 11th, that we would go not just unbeaten, but win every game up until Christmas and the first game of 2012, I would have said that you were crazy,” he said. “It’s not that I didn’t think we could do it, we have the ability.

“And we are looking forward to trying to extend this run for as long as we can and long may it continue.”

This weekend, following last night’s (Wednesday) game against Clapton, the Greens play Sporting Bengal at Mile End Stadium.

However, Gardner’s men are the away side, and the Bethnal Green boss is hoping his side can cope with the relative unfamiliarity.

“Although the game is being played at our ground, we will be in the away changing room,” he added.

“It will be interesting to see how we cope with everything, such as warming up in a different place and being in the away dugouts.

“But we know what we have to do to beat Sporting Bengal. We have beaten them already this season and we know that even though we will be out of our comfort zone, we can do it again.”