Toby happy with new strike force (From The Wiltshire Gazette and Herald)

Toby happy with new strike force

CORSHAM TOWN: TOBY Colbourne aims to make it third time lucky in his bid to reach the 30 goal mark this campaign. And he believes the break up of last season's prolific strike partnership could help him.

For the second time in succession, Colbourne finished last season with 29 goals and admits this time round he will be going all out to break that 30 goal hoodoo.

The Corsham Town striker was one half of a 66 goal partnership last season with now Chippenham Town player Alan Griffin, but Colbourne is confident his departure will not affect the goal flow.

In fact, after being re-united with his former Westbury United strike partner Jerad O'Pray, Colbourne believes there will be extra creativity and even more goals to look forward to at the Southbank.

He said: "It is a shame to lose Alan Griffin but with Jerad O'Pray now at the club I don't think his departure will be a total disaster. I am really looking forward to playing with Jerad again because he will share the work load with me a lot more than Alan did and that will hopefully free me up to do some things that I was less able to do when playing alongside Alan.

"It has been frustrating to finish on 29 goals twice in a row and I am more determined than ever to reach that target. Jerad could well help me get a few extra goals."

Griffin and Colbourne scored well over half of Corsham's goals between them last season, but with John Eldred, Scott Lye and Jack Cullis all capable of finding the net from midfield, Colbourne is hopeful others will now be able get their names on their score sheet.

He said: "Jerad is a totally different player to Alan. He is far more creative and will bring the rest of the players into the game far more than Alan ever did.

"We may be losing a few goals from Griffo but I would expect players like Eldred and Lye to get more goals from midfield with Jerad in the line-up. I think his creativity will more than balance up the goals we have lost.

"People said that Alan and I did not link up very well but I think 66 goals between us showed they are wrong. Alan was brilliant for the club and we will miss him, but Jerad is an ideal replacement."

After finishing runners-up in their first season in the Western League top flight last campaign and winning the Wiltshire Senior Cup, Colbourne knows expectations will be high for this season.

"We have to be realistic," he said. "While I would love to think we could challenge for the title I think we will be aiming for a top six finish, look to retain the Senior Cup and enjoy a good run in the other competitions.

"I think it will be a much tougher league this time round, especially with Calne, Radstock and Willand coming into it, and we can't think we have an automatic right to just carry on where we left off.

"Out of the Wiltshire sides, I think it will be ourselves and Calne battling it out to be the highest side from the county in the division. Calne got into the habit of winning last season and with two of the best centre backs in the league and good goal scorers I expect them to do well."

Corsham will have to do without last season's inspirational skipper Nigel Curtis after he announced his retirement but Colbourne is confident Andy Coombes, a summer signing from Devizes Town, will be an ideal replacement.