Sloan impresses in new role

9:19am Wednesday 15th October 2008

Welton Rovers 0, Corsham Town 2

CORSHAM Town striker Dan Sloan has been urged by caretaker boss Graham Learmonth to convert to centre half following his impressive display on Saturday.

Sloan starred at centre back in the 2-0 win over Welton Rovers in the Toolstation League Premier Division at West Clewes, when he stepped into the breach after Craig Gingell had gone down with illness.

And now Learmonth says Sloan, who signed from Devizes Town in the summer, should continue in defence following his assured display.

Learmonth said: “It probably was a surprise to most of the players, there were a few eyebrows raised.

“But he kept it simple and did everything we asked of him. We were probably waiting for a mistake but he kept it going for the 90 minutes.

“My advice to Dan is to continue doing it, I thought he was outstanding.”

Learmonth said although Sloan was still first choice up front, Booker Woodford, Liam Brown and Jamie Lyons would be able to fill his boots if decided to switch.

The caretaker boss added: “He should have a serious think about it.”

Sloan has played as a central defender in youth football but not at senior level until Saturday, although he has played left back.

Corsham went ahead against Welton through a Tom Smith penalty after 10 minutes.

Adam Taylor’s header was blocked on the line by the hand of a defender, who somehow escaped a red card, and Smith sent the goalkeeper the wrong way for 1-0.

In the second half The Reds won a second penalty when Woodford was brought down by the goalkeeper as he tried to round him.

The Welton custodian was sent off and Woodford picked himself up and put away the spot kick, sending the substitute stopper the wrong way.

Learmonth said: “We were by far the better side and thoroughly deserved it. From one to 14, everyone did their job.

“In the last half hour we probably had four or five really good opportunities to increase the lead but we were a little bit wasteful with our final pass.

“But we did play really well and we had three or four outstanding performances.

As well as singling out Sloan, Learmonth praised stand-in skipper Liam Fullam and new striker Liam Brown for their work ethic.

Corsham are now seventh in the table, the highest they have been since the opening day, but they have played more matches than all but one team in the league, strugglers Bishop Sutton.

Learmonth said: “It’s better reading for us. I know we’ve played more games but at last we’re looking in the right direction.

“We’ve just got to keep it going. To be fair in the last three games we’ve done really well to pick up six points.”

Theatre, Art & Cinema