Keynsham Town FC are still keeping within touching distance to league leaders Wellington after a 2-1 away win at Portishead. Ben Harris scored his 8th goal of the season with defender Jordan Anstey scoring the second. However it was a big day for K’s keeper Ashley Wintle who played in his 100th game for the club.
The Keynsham Number 1 has been at the club for 3 seasons now and a lot has changed in that time. “The first year I was here we were struggling down the foot of the table, over the last couple of seasons a lot of the more experienced players have left and we’ve brought in some younger players which have improved the squad. We were in a relegation battle now we’re challenging for promotion.”
Wintle had taken over from Matt Dunk, who now plays as a striker in the 3rd team, in the 2014/15 season. Teenager Ben Nicholls is his under study making 3 appearances in two seasons, filling in between studying. “To be honest of not seen much of Ben this season as he’s ventured of to university but he’s a good lad.”
Combining a teaching role with playing Wintle tries to give advice where he can, “he (Nicholls) keeps me on my toes but I just give general tips here and there to improve his game.”
When asked what the aims were for this season Wintle reflects on last season too. “Challenging for promotion was our aim last season but our away record was poor. This year we have managed to sort that and aim to finish in the top two.”
Keynsham are an amateur club and so getting to 100 appearances shows a great amount of commitment, something which Wintle is quick to point out. “Considering we play for a club that don’t pay their players we have a good solid close knit group that don’t want to leave and are enjoying their football. Credit to Chris King and the staff for getting the team to play the right way.”
The Portishead game also saw Michael Preedy make his 50th appearance for the K’s and in the starting line up alone there was the experience of 807 Keynsham all time appearances over all competitions; with 91 goals. This backs up Wintle’s praise for manager King and his assistants for making a Keynsham Town FC into a club players want to play for.
Wintle is now 12th on the all time appearance’s for Keynsham over the last 11 seasons. Rob Sheriton is leading the way with a staggering 287 appearances with 22 goals. The only other player still at the club in the 100 club is Pat Davison with 186 appearances with 59 goals in 5th place. Ben Harris and Jason Adams could soon join the 100 club with 94 and 88 appearances respectively.
Keynsham’s next home is against 11th placed Wincanton Town at home on Saturday 21st, make sure you get along to the AJN Stadium for the 3pm ko.