SANDFORD skipper Richard Foan want no repeats of last season’s faltering start to the Premier Division campaign when his side host Exeter on Saturday.
Sandford were the new boys to the division this time last year and promptly lost eight of their first nine games up to the halfway stage.
With just one win in the bag and a massive 26-point gap between them and safety, the situation looked grim for Sandford.
Five wins in nine starts after the turn saw Sandford scramble to safety, sealed by an unexpected last-day win over title chasing Heathcoat.
Said Foan: “It was noticeable that a lot of the teams we played in the second half of the season were not as strong as the first time we played them.
“Had we won just a few more of our first nine games we would not have been in the position we were in.
“Maybe we were a bit short on confidence after being promoted? After all it was quite some time since many of us had played Premier cricket
“Maybe we just were not sure what we were going to come across next? I really can’t be sure.
“What I can be sure of is if we get off to better start we will save ourselves a fair amount of worry.”
Foan’s first priority is to steer away from relegation danger. Anything else will be a bonus.
The squad looks stronger thanks to the acquisitions of former Devon pair Trevor Anning and Sandy Allen, as well as overseas player Ferisco Adams.
Adams won’t be playing on Saturday as he has contractual commitments at home in South Africa with Cape Cobras.
Keeper Allen and seamer Anning will be playing and Foan is eager to see what difference they make to his side.
“Our bowling is not that sharp so Sandy will be standing up to everything, which will help us build pressure on batsmen,” said Foan.
“It is great to have Trevor back at Sandford, not just for the wickets he will take but the runs he should score will stabilise our early or middle order.”
In his first stint with Sandford between 2004-08, Anning bagged 104 wickets. His best return was six wickets for eight runs against Paignton, who were skittled out for 31 chasing Sandford’s total of 310.
Anning’s six for 29 haul against Exeter on the County Ground wasn’t a bad day’s work either!
Also new to Sandford this season is Mike Cliff who has batted and bowled for Exmouth, Budleigh, Cullompton and Clyst Hydon in the past.
