Senior quick to spread the praise

2:25pm Thursday 25th September 2008

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ALTY fans already knew Chris Senior was quick - but nobody realised just how quick.

On Tuesday night, the pacy striker scored after just 11 seconds to lead the Robins to a 1-0 win over Mansfield Town.

It was the quickest goal he had scored in his career - suprising even himself - but Senior was not prepared to take the plaudits for the result.

He told SAM Sport: "It was superb, obviously the result's the main thing but to get such an early goal is great.

"It sets you off, gives you that early confidence to go on and hopefully push for another one. That didn't come but tonight you could see the confidence after a few good results and now hopefully we can pick up and carry on from where we left off today.

"I haven't got a clue what my quickets goal was before that. When I came off the lads were all saying it might be a Conference record.

"Its something nice to enjoy personally but the team performance was unbelieveable, we worked our socks off and got our just desserts with the result.

"We can't wait to play Rushden on Monday now, we'll go there full of confidence.

"Everybody will be backing against us so hopefully we can spring a surprise."

The victory against Mansfield - who started the game in fourth place in the Blue Square Premier - provided a welcome lift for Alty after 10 days of turmoil.

Fans had called for the head of Graham Heathcote during Saturday's 1-0 win over Lewes, leading to verbal exchanges between manager and supporters.

But Senior insists that has not affected the players and that they remain behind Heathcote and fully focused on improving results.

He said: "It hasn't really affected us.

"I think Graham was justified in making sure we got off the pitch at the end of the Lewes match because fans have got their say but we enjoyed the result Saturday, we won and it was much needed.

"We've been working hard for the last few weeks but hopefully now we've got the confidence to win games and we can carry on where we left off.

"I wouldn't have said it badly affected the players but confidence is starting to come back now."

One of the most impressive aspects of Tuesday's victory was the fluid formation employed by Heathcote.

While in possession of the ball, Alty lined up almost in a 3-4-3 formation, with full backs Shaun Densmore and Matt Doughty pushing into midfield and widemen Lee Elam and Chris Senior joining Colin Little up front.

When the opposition had possession, however, the entire team tracked back well, forming a solid 5-4-1 unit.

And Senior credits the system with giving Alty more scope to get at Mansfield.

"We had a little change up," he added.

"Graham mixed it up a little bit and we went with three up top and it seemed to work, giving us a few more options than we have with just a flat two because we had three up who were all interchanging.

"The main thing was hard work and if you work hard you find yourself in little pockets of space and then obviously try and do your business from there.

"I've played on the left before and Lee's played on the right but on Tuesday we switched round.

"At times we did interchange and Colin found himself out wide, with me or Lee down the middle."