Our National League South season kicks-off on Saturday away to Chelmsford City.
The Gaffer is happy with his team’s pre-season campaign, and all that remains is to make a positive start at the Melbourne Stadium on Saturday.
“I’m very optimistic,” said Owers at his weekly press call. “I feel like I have assembled a very good squad of players for this level. They have done rally well over this pre-season period, both in training and in most of the games. Now it’s down to the nitty gritty of getting through the league programme and accumulating as many points as possible.
“I think we’re ready. I’m looking at the lads and it looks like they’re ready for it, they know what’s required. Let’s try and hit the ground running and get early victories.”
The Gaffer knows the perils of this level well enough, but he is still very confident that his squad can mount a challenge for promotion.
“I think we can do really well this year. Obviously the proof of the pudding is in the eating, as they say. I’m quite interested to see how the next month or so pans out.
Alex Bass will miss Saturday’s game due to injury. Samir Nabi has also been ruled out of Saturday’s game but there is a hope he will return for Tuesday night’s match against Bath City.
“I know their manager a little bit, Rod Stringer,” added Owers. “He’s got a team promoted out of this division before and it will be a big game for them, a tasty game for them – first game of the season. We have to be ready for that challenge.
“The pitch is one of those pitches that’s surrounded by an athletic stadium so you can, sort of, lose the flow of the game at times while people go and retrieve the ball.
“We’ve done all of our preparation and we just want to get on with it now.”
Chelmsford City Vs Torquay United | 04/08/18 | The Melbourne Stadium | Away Travel Guide | Travel & Ticket Info