As UEL men’s football 1st team prepare for the winter break, it’s certainly been a tough start to life in the BUCS Premier South for Yasin Abidou’s players. UEL find themselves a place above the relegation spot but level on points with Chichester at the bottom, though the latter have a game in hand. This means going into their final two fixtures, UEL will see both as two must-win games to ensure safety and another year in the top division.
“It’s been a bit of a shock, obviously, we’ve walked the last few season, it’s been a bit easy but this year the step up has been tricky,” MacDevitt said.
McDevitt cited form and the side’s confidence. He feels that confidence has let them down this year. The team are clearly used to winning games and the shock of three consecutive defeats wouldn’t have helped. If they can redoscover some of their old confidence in their last two fixtures that will help.
Fortune
It’s certainly proved a culture shock for the Blue’s after seven consecutive promotions. UEL have failed to pick up a single point from their first three games, conceding 10 goals in the process. This was followed by a change in fortune for UEL as they picked up two well-deserved victories against South Wales and Chichester 1st teams.
The win against South Wales was spectacular, given the away side’s league form and status as defending champions. Before travelling from Wales to play UEL at Hackney Marshes, the Welsh side had gone 11 months unbeaten and were also reigning champions in the cup.
UEL’s win over the Welsh highlighted the inner belief that the 1st team clearly had that they could compete in this league, despite losing several key players to graduation since their promotion. This victory gave UEL a new-found belief and although results haven’t gone their way since it’s easy to see why.
Abidou’s team have struggled with injuries within the side and work around a gruelling schedule that sees many players playing and training twice a week due to their commitments with semi-professional sides away from university life.
Forced
The injuries have meant that a change in personnel throughout the side has been forced upon Abidou. Second-year full back Tom Bailey has had to fill in at centre half and MacDevitt, who usually plays as a forward, playing at full back.
Asked about his new role, MacDevitt had mixed feelings but admits the team’s performances were more important than his personal preference.
“Playing right back is interesting, I enjoy it but don’t think it’s where I’m best. Sometimes you’ve just got to fill in for the team and where I’m playing so much outside of university it has allowed me to control my body better.”
The loss of graduates Richie Robins, Stefan Nielson and Johan Caney-Bryan have looked to be one of the many factors behind UEL’s struggles, as all were influential during their four-year stints at UEL. UEL have since brought in other scholars. Abidou has replaced Robins between the sticks with ex-MK Dons Youth team player, Tom Wyant.
Wyant’s performances have been particularly pleasing for UEL and MacDevitt was keen to praise his team mate.
“He’s been top drawer for us to be fair, some of the games we have lost but it could have been a lot more if he wasn’t in goal. All of the lads that have come in have been great, but the one person who’s come in and fitted in the best has probably been Tom.”
Earned
UEL have also offered some of the current second and third year’s scholarships, which shows the faith that Abidou has in his current squad. Former Second-team captain Cemal Agdelen has made the step up to the first team, and full back and club chairman Mohamed Sheiknor has earned his scholarship status.
These are the players that Abidou has given the responsibility to, to keep UEL in the division and it still appears that UEL’s fate is still in their own hands. UEL travel to Chichester on the final day where, depending on other results, safety is a real possibility. UEL’s other fixture is against top-of-the-table South Wales. A win will fill the team with hope and MacDevitt knows the team have no option but to go for the maximum six points.
“We don’t really have a choice other than to get a win somehow, if we play like we have played against the likes of South Wales earlier in the season then I think we’ll click together and stay in the league.”
It’s clear MacDevitt feels the club is still on course for another good year, and ultimately survival will be just as rewarding as their previous league titles. If UEL do manage to avoid relegation, it will be seen another massive achievement for Abidou and his young team.
