Mark Butler admitted that he was disappointed with the defensive aspects of last night's game against Oxford City, but was accentuating the positives after the entertaining 3-3 draw.

Speaking last night to the Official Website, Mark described Oxford as "a decent side" and called the match a "winning draw", stating that he and his squad felt they should have won the game whilst also offering messages of encouragement both to his current squad and the exciting crop of youngsters in Mick Snowden's Under-18 team.

We started by discussing the number of goals that have been flying in at the club's games in recent weeks, with Mark in pragmatic mood:

"It's always been entertaining down here.  We've always scored and conceded goals - there's no doubt you get value for money!  We played well tonight, certainly in the first half and in the first half an hour we were very, very good.  I would say that the middle section of the game was a bit scrappy.  I've got to give credit to Oxford, but I don't believe they were every completely on top of us." 

"I do think that they had more chances than us and didn't have to work anywhere near as hard to create those chances.  The manner of the goals we're conceding is a little bit of a concern and we've had a chat about that.  We'll take a long, hard look at ourselves on that"

"There's been an awful lot of positives tonight, when you look at the fact that we've rested some players tonight who are further down the line in terms of fitness, because we've had people away, like Gamin Bamford, Bones (right) and Gavin Smith.  We've given game time to them, because they aren't quite there and we've got ten days to get them there.  In that context, the result is all positive, because we're only disappointed we didn't win."

Mark had included young players Danny Byron and Gareth Teuten in his squad for this match and had positive words for both players, saying he was "quite impressed" with both before going on to elaborate:  "Gareth Teuten was good in the first half.  It's not easy to come straight into the side and understand our tactics, it's important to spend some time with the group.  I thought they did well and I'm trying to send a little message out to our young players as well.  Both boys will spend some time with us, they'll go back and play some Reserve Team football as well.  I've said to Danny Byron that his objective for this season is to play Reserve Team football nearly all the time and get the occasional game with us as part of his development. I wanted to give Gareth Teuten a taste of this level to show him what he's got to aim for.  He will also go back and play some games for the Reserves, but we will look to introduce him at various stages."

Mark admitted he had deliberately used this match to blood the midfield duo:  "I want the rest of the Youth Team to know that there is a route to the First Team.  We will play youngsters, especially if they're good enough."

With the Southern Combination Cup Final the next match on the horizon, last night's game signalled the end of the pre-season matches and Mark assessed the squad's preparations in a positive way:  "I'm very happy with how it's gone.  I'm disappointed with the goals we've conceded today because I'd given the boys a target that I wanted to win the match.  We knew that things might not go to plan.  The first game [at Selsey] was always going to be tricky, while the second game [at Fleet] against good opposition was always going to be tough, the same with the Bromley game, because we were always going to make changes.  That was the plan and we stuck to it.  We had the bravery to stick with the plan when people were saying we needed a morale-booster, and we did beat the two intermediate sides in Bedfont Green and Feltham, then had a great result against Ashford.  If we'd defended anywhere near properly we would have beaten a very good Oxford side.  I would say that, apart from the fact we need to do some defensive work, we're on target." 

Mark was upbeat about the challenges that follow;  "We have a Cup Final on Saturday, and I can't wait now.  We're nearly ready now, I think everyone's champing at the bit, and people are looking over their shoulders because no-one's guaranteed their place.  The lads all know that and I think they're buying into it, and I want them to do that because I'm going to need every single one of them.  One or two will get the nod at the start of the season, it might take one or two a few weeks to get into the side, but they'll be there and they've got to take their chance.  We will need everyone - it's coming together.  It'll be great if we can get a little bit of silverware on Saturday and we'll be trying to win it, there's no doubt about that, but I'm sure Chipstead will as well.  Hopefully we'll be able to celebrate the start of the season on Saturday with a little drink and a trophy and then start the League season next Saturday."