Taking one game at a time – Bowers & Pitsea striker Matt Price (Image: Gareth Nash)
Bowers & Pitsea striker Matt Price is enjoying his time at the Len Salmon Stadium after rediscovering his goal-scoring form.
Bowers sit in third place in the Isthmian North Division and are looking to bounce back to the Isthmian Premier Division at the first time of asking.
Price assesses their season so far.
“I would say it has been a good campaign so far,” he said.
“We have been on quite a good run, I think we have only lost once in 14 so in the last 14 games, compared to the previous 14 games, we have gained more points.
“We have just got to carry on building and keep going.”
Price made his Bowers debut at the end of October and has made 17 appearances, netting on 11 occasions.
The ex-Canvey Island forward praises manager James Collins for bringing his joy for football back after a disappointing spell at Brentwood Town.
“I have got to give testament to the gaffer, I think he brought the enjoyment back for me,” he stated.
“He allowed me to play as myself and be me on a football pitch and I think that has helped massively.
“I am now scoring goals and I don’t think I had that at Brentwood this season.”
Bowers have two vital Essex derbies coming up against Brentwood and Maldon & Tiptree, two teams also fighting for a place in the play-offs.
Price says it is important to take one game at a time.
“I think the teams that are usually in the play-offs are the teams that beat everyone outside of the play-offs and can maintain those results,” he stated.
“When you drop points against teams that are fighting in and around the relegation zone, that is where the difference is made throughout the season.
“We are going to go into every game wanting three points, we are never going to be happy with a draw or take a loss.
“As important as the games are, we have got to take one game at a time and keep assessing where we are at.
“They are big games but we will deal with them and take on one game at a time.”
Price previously had spells at Billericay Town and Brentwood, the latter was earlier this season where he made nine appearances.
The 30-year-old doesn’t look back on those stints with good memories.
“I could go into a few different things at Billericay but there is no point, it is what it is,” he said.
“I enjoyed my time there with the boys, they were absolutely fantastic, but I am not one to sit there and bite my tongue.
“I will say what I think and unfortunately, that made me not popular amongst some of the fans.
“I am not going to lose sleep over that and it is what it is.
“With Brentwood, it is a good club but personally, I think the chairman is a little bit too involved.
“That is a different story but everyone has their own opinions.
“I think my time was cut short just for not enjoying it at the end of the day, I think that is more on me for deciding to go back there for the wrong reasons.
“Both clubs will do well, I would like to see both of them get promoted, but at the end of the day, I don’t want to see Brentwood get promoted because hopefully, we are the ones beating them.”
Bowers took on table-topping Lowestoft on Saturday and fell to a 3-1 defeat despite Price halving the deficit with 11 minutes remaining.
Price believes they were unlucky to not inflict a fifth defeat of the season on the league leaders.
“Reflecting back on the Lowestoft game, I think it was a tough one,” he said.
“We came in at half-time rather deflated.
“I spoke to their manager (Jamie Godbold) after and even he admitted that we could have been 4-0 up at half-time had we been more clinical.
“That is why they are top of the league, they are resilient and score goals maybe when they shouldn’t and don’t deserve to.
“They get through games and walk away with three points and I think that is all that matters.
“I don’t think you should look too much at it, you can only control what is in your power and that is every game that you play.”
“I just think we need to take one game at a time and on the last day of the season, we will know if we have done enough.”
Bowers’ main aim is to seal promotion this term and as the buisness end of the season approaches.
Price thinks if they can maitain their impressive run of form, they will give themselves the best possible chance of promotion.
“I was speaking to one of my mates and I just pointed out to him, the last three, four games, the oldest person within our back four has been 21 and an average age of about 19,” he said.
“You have got to give a testament to the gaffer again and it is also a testament to the boys as they have all dug in for each other.
“Everyone has put a real shift in and everyone is pulling together in the same direction and that is massively important.
“I think if we can get a run together and carry on doing what we have been doing, we will be amongst the play-offs.
“It is the old cliché, you can only take one game at a time.”
