Griffin will fight for the shirt (From The Wiltshire Gazette and Herald)

Griffin will fight for the shirt

4:17pm Thursday 15th December 2005 in Football

STRIKER Alan Griffin was left battered and bruised but delighted after scoring his first league goal for the Bluebirds in the 2-1 victory at Yate Town on Saturday.

Sporting a blackeye from his tussles with centre backs Scott Brice and Lee Jefferies, the former Corsham Town striker could not hide his smile after his goal proved to be the crucial winner.

On 54 minutes, after good work by Mark Badman, the ball rebounded to Griffin who smashed the ball first time on the volley into the top right corner and in off the crossbar.

It was a well deserved goal for the striker who is determined to make this opportunity count, after being in the shadow of James Constable and Dave Gilroy since the start of the season.

Griffin said: "The two boys at the back were competitive but you expect that in local derbies in this league. I'm a big lad, I expect it.

"Then the ball's come off the centre back and I have struck it. I have not had many opportunities to hit the back of the net but this time it's gone in.

"It was really important to get the win and I was chuffed to get the winning goal.

"Away from home we have been unlucky. There were perhaps a couple of matches we deserved to lose but some we deserved to take more from.

"These are the games we have to win to get to the top."

Griffin said he was looking forward to more starts and would fight off the challenge from any new players.

He said with steely determination: "From the start I just wanted a chance to play a game and hopefully I will get more chances.

"To come up from the standard I have been playing at is a jump but I was confident I would do well if I was given a few games.

"I have had a few matches and scored. Now I need to score more."

"At the moment I hold the shirt and I'm not going to give it up easily."