Rocks Review: Howell's warning follows spying mission

The joint manager watched Dulwich held to a 2-2 draw on Tuesday night at Wey Court, where the Rocks put their promotion ambitions on the line on Saturday.

The Nyewood Lane troops are in a fine run of form, with last Saturday’s 6-1 hammering of Walton Casuals their fourth straight league win.

But Godalming will have been buoyed up to fight back and claim a draw from Dulwich’s visit, a result which kept the Rocks six points clear.

Howell said: “Godalming look a very good team. They’ve got quick wide players and try to play it out to them as much as they can. We’ll have to be on our game.” The Rocks head north with injury problems gradually starting to clear.

Skipper Dan Beck missed last Saturday’s victory after a knee injury at work but should be fit to return this week.

Utility man Sonny Cobbs is recovering well from a hamstring injury but may have to delay his comeback until Folkestone’s visit to Nyewood Lane a week on Saturday – when centre-half Ben Andrews could also be fit for action after getting over knee surgery.

Defender Tim Bond and midfielder Lewis Ide are longer-term casualties while winger Callum Saunders is unlikely to feature again because of work commitments.

But Howell and fellow boss Darin Killpartrick are delighted at how their latest two temporary additions, Sutton defender Osa Obamwonyi and teenage Brighton midfielder George Hayward, are settling in.

Howell said: “We’ve had a lot of new faces coming in but gradually they’re getting used to what we expect of them and how we play.

“Osa’s got the sort of big presence we need at the moment while George is comfortable on the ball and suits our style of play.

“We’ve all got options up front where we have Steve Harper, Ashley Robinson and Terry Dodd effectively battling for two places. But they’re all getting games and are all scoring goals.