Dale Eve prepares for Bermuda matches with Hanley Town clean sheet
Dale Eve warmed up for Bermuda’s upcoming Concacaf Nations League match with a fine performance for Hanley Town.
The Bermuda goalkeeper produced a string of saves on the way to keeping a clean sheet in his side’s 2-0 win at home to Bootie in the Northern Premier League West at Payaro Stadium.
“The boys were unbelievable, I think everyone played at 110 per cent,” Eve said on Hanley’s official Twitter account. “Not the best weather, the pitch is a bit soggy but regardless we dug through it.
“I was just trying to stay sharp and keep the boys going. You let a goal in and it’s a different game, so if you can get to it, fair play.
“We have a very, very good defensive unit and I am very comfortable with trying to keep as many clean sheets as possible.”
The 28-year-old joined the Stoke-on-Trent -based club on dual-registration terms from Hereford FC last month and made his debut in 1-1 draw at home to promotion contenders Clitheroe.
Saturday’s result was much needed for Hanley, who are 16th in the 20-team league and find themselves in a relegation battle. They are three points clear of the automatic relegation places and level on points with 17th-placed Widnes, who remain in the relegation play-off position.
“We need as many points as possible,” Eve added. “If we can get games like that with wins for the rest of the season then I think we will be all right.”
Eve will now switch his attention to Bermuda’s remaining Concacaf Nations League B group B fixtures against Guyana and Haiti.
“I go away with Bermuda to play two games so it’s a good start to the campaign,” he said.
Bermuda sit third in the Concacaf Nations League B group B on four points with two matches left to play against Guyana at Flora Duffy Stadium on March 25 and leaders Haiti in the Dominican Republic three days later.
Not only will victory over Guyana keep Bermuda’s Gold Cup qualifying hopes alive but will also secure their League B status for the next instalment of the Nations League to commence in September.
Relegation would make it even harder for Bermuda to qualify for the Gold Cup, which they achieved in 2019 after finishing fifth in the Nations League qualifiers.
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