Cobh Ramblers manager Stephen Henderson hasn't let his players off on the hard work, despite being top of the table. Ramblers have enjoyed a fantastic start to the season, sitting top of the First Division with eight points after four games. Cobh e
Cobh Ramblers manager Stephen Henderson hasn't let his players off on the hard work, despite being top of the table.
Ramblers have enjoyed a fantastic start to the season, sitting top of the First Division with eight points after four games.
Cobh enjoyed a comfortable 5-1 victory in their last match over Athlone Town with Stephen Christopher and Christopher McCarthy recording braces, and Cian Coleman notching a late goal on his debut.
Despite the positive start to the season, Henderson is determined to keep the pressure up on the players and keep them working hard ahead of the trip to Cabinteely.
Henderson said: "We may be top of the table but it's important that the lads don't take their foot off the pedal.
"The lads were buzzing after the 5-1 win over Athlone Town and going top of the table. But we worked hard last night - the lads did three six minute miles, they certainly weren't expecting that!
"But it also reminded them that being top of the table means they can't just come up and play a few five-a-sides - if they think that they have another thing coming!
"There's hard work to be done, but there's a great buzz in training as there has been all year so far. Myself, Stuart Ashton, the rest of the back room team, we're all very fortunate to be involved with this group of lads. They want to learn, they want to put a shift in.
"We're top of the table, albeit after four games. But being top of the table at any stage of the season isn't an easy thing to do, so I'm looking forward to seeing how we respond to the pressure, to see if we can go on a run and stay up there."
Cobh travel to a Cabinteely side who claimed an impressive 2-0 victory at the City Calling Stadium last weekend with goals from Kieran Waters and Jack Watson.
Henderson knows the threat Cabinteely contain and hopes his side will be able to stand up to the test and deal with the pitch at Stradbrook.
He added: "Pat Devlin's in charge now and he's brought in a great coaching staff, they've invested in good players and they already have some excellent players. It's going to be a very good game. Pat will have them very well organised, and they'll be very attack minded.
"They have some very experienced players in Jason Byrne, Kieran 'Marty' Waters and Daire Doyle, and some very good young players. So it's going to be a tough test.
"There's a rugby match on it in the morning, and then again in the afternoon before we play. So that might dictate how we play.
"We're somewhat used to it I suppose given our own pitch hasn't been in great nick before the work started on it, but two rugby matches before we play isn't ideal."
