While the entire Hatters squad reported fit and well for training this morning as they continue to work together as a group at The Brache, we had one member of the playing staff who could reflect on a successful weekend on the pitch!
Defender Frankie Musonda was the only Hatters player in action on Saturday afternoon as he turned out for National League South side St Albans City in a 1-0 win over fellow strugglers Braintree Town.
It proved to be a big three points for the Saints, who moved out of the relegation zone thanks to Jo Iaciafano scoring the only goal of the game for Ian Allinson’s side.
The result lifts them up to 19th, pushing the Iron down into the bottom two, with Frankie highlighting what a vital win it proved to be at the end of a three-game week.
He said: “We won 1-0, a big win, an important win. That’s taken us out of the relegation zone – and if the league were to finish today, depending on what they decide, we can’t go down which is good. We have gone up a couple of places and it is still very tight, but it’s a very good win.
“We have got Dulwich this weekend who are on the same amount of points as us, so if it goes ahead, it’s a big game. It would be a massive step in the right direction for safety if we got a result.
“I played right-back and did well. I put in a few good crosses and we dominated the game. I won a penalty actually, but it was missed. It was a definite pen!”
With only a few matches in English football played on Saturday, the 22-year-old reflected on what he felt in the end seemed like a normal matchday, although there were some in the National League who weren’t happy at the fact that games did go ahead - and this evening their games have now been suspended until at least April 3rd in line with the EFL.
“It felt pretty normal to me to be honest,” he continued. “There were a lot of people across the National Leagues who weren’t happy about it being on, but I was happy that it was on. There was only around 500 there, so the supporters could spread out around the ground. I think if the players feel fine, if they’re not feeling unwell, then I think that they should play.
“I will be honest, I was really happy the game was on. If the games were on for the rest of the season, I would be happy. I would rather play than just sit at home, but I understand there is a seriousness to it, there’s a bigger picture.”
This loan marks Musonda’s second spell at Clarence Park this campaign, having spent just under two months there earlier on in the season following previous loan spells at Oxford City, Hemel Hempstead Town and Braintree themselves.
He feels like he is constantly improving, as he gets to test himself regularly in men’s football.
“I feel like I can play at a higher level, but playing men’s football is what I need to keep myself developing in the game,” he said. “With the gaffer here [at Luton], his style of play is different to styles of play we’ve had with other managers, which is good for me, because it means I have had and am getting a variety of coaching.
“But I feel like I am always improving, even if it is playing at a level lower than what Luton are at. It’s good hearing different coaches and players’ views on how they see the game and how it should be played. It opens up my eyes up to new philosophies.”
(Picture courtesy of https://twitter.com/stalbanscityfc)