18thfeb05

We have blown our chances again!

VCD ATHLETIC manager Martin Ford is the latest Kent League manager to grumble about the sorry state of the allocation of league fixtures, writes Stephen McCartney.

Ford admits he was disappointed to have their last two matches postponed at Ramsgate (waterlogged pitch) and Beckenham Town (floodlight problems) in the past seven days.

He told the club's website: "When any game is called off it's not ideal. Clubs lose a lot of money in a league where it is hard to generate any funds.

"We should know, our last two home games have actually made a loss, so at this time of year you can do without it.

"Midweek fixtures should be at the start and at the end of the season not right in the middle of winter.

"Our league can get away with it due to the lack of teams, so why try to cram so many fixtures in at this time of year anyway?"

Ford, who has been very busy running the club's social club at their Oakwood ground - which has nine teams playing there including their own, and Welling United's reserve teams - as well as running his own business,  has admitted poor results have been their downfall.

He bluntly added: "Right, results have been poor, performances a lot better than results but that's no excuse.  The plain simple fault if we have not done enough to win matches.

"I could point to hard luck but my friends in black will slaughter me if I do.

"The truth be known is that at the moment my forwards cannot hit a barn door and my defenders are getting punished for every mistake they make.

"I will not give up on the league but realistically I feel we may have blown our chances once more for another season.

"Over ninety minutes we have not been good enough.  Our supporters will agree on that one but we still have a lot of games to play including a cup final place, so we will be giving it our best shot in every match."

Strikers Jon Main and Richard Dimmock will play their last game of the season against Slade Green.  Both will be flying out to Australia on Tuesday to work and play football.

Meanwhile, Paul Dimmock (knee) and long term injured Michael Adcock will both be missing whilst reserve team skipper Terry Barry is also out for the rest of the season due to ligament knee injury.

However, Kevin Winchcombe has returned to the club and made his debut alongside new signing Stuart Abbott for the club's reserves last weekend.

Slade Green have secured the signing of Ryan Robinson from Kent League rivals Whitstable Town.  He is equally at home in defence or midfield and has previously played for Fisher Athletic, Thamesmead Town, Furness, Chatham Town and Sittingbourne and made his debut in Tuesday's 2-1 defeat to Hythe Town at The Small Glen.

VCD Athletic v Slade Green
Go Travel Kent League Premier Division
Saturday 19th February 2005
Kick Off 3:00pm
at Lordswood FC, North Dane Way, Walderslade, Chatham