Sam Magri may have saved his debut goal for his 78th appearance in a Fleet shirt but the defender was adamant one was coming. He has twice come close in recent weeks, notably at Harrogate and then at Barrow, but registered on the scoresheet finally in the first half v Boreham Wood.
“It was my first goal and I was due one,” Magri told BBC Radio Kent’s Charles Webster. “It was a good ball, my marker lost me and it was just a free header and I couldn’t miss.
“Last year I was back from corners a lot more but this year I’ve come close a couple of times. It’s a good feeling to finally get one.”
Part of a defence that has been one of the best in the league of late, it was ironic that with three defenders scoring the goals, they let in a rare brace at the other end.
“We’ve kept quite a few [clean sheets] to be fair but three points is the most important thing, so pretty happy,” Magri said. “Conceding from a set piece and then we scored from three [set pieces] so you have to take that. Keep a clean sheet, then score goals, what can you do, you can’t ask for much more!”
The Fleet defender was also relieved nothing more came of his tangle with Idris Kanu at the end of the first-half when the pair clashed prior to Boreham Wood remonstrating with the referee on the half-time whistle.
“I got an elbow and I lost my head a bit in the first half but it happens,” Magri admitted. “I didn’t get sent off so that’s the main thing.”
Talk of play-offs abated somewhat following Fleet’s defeat to Salford City but six points from six sees ground gained on a couple of teams above.
“I think we’re six points off it now,” said Magri, “and got a game in hand so we’ll just have to wait until next Saturday to go again. It’s eight games to go now, plenty of time. We’ve got the game in hand against Halifax, win that and continue to pick up points in the rest of the games and I think we’ll come close.
“There’s a lot been going on as everyone’s heard but the changing room’s very strong and it’s a good group of lads so we come out here and do it for each other and the fans. I just come out here and do what I’m meant to do. I don’t really think about it but I think I’m playing well at the moment and hopefully I can just continue to do so. Me, Kingy and Bushy have done well when we’re in a three and when we’ve played a four me and Kingy have done well together. It can only bring good things.”
Fleet’s next quest for points comes at the Gallagher Stadium next week for the most eagerly awaited Kent derby of the year as far the visitors are concerned.
“It’s always a good atmosphere there,” said Magri. “Obviously it’s a derby. They’re not on the best run of form, anything can happen, but if we go out there and do our stuff then hopefully we can get the win.
“I’m the type of person [to take it] just game by game, come in on the Monday and you know who you’ve got and then build up from there. Then the next week the next game comes.”
Listen below.
