Abbott feels wound up over Ibrahim agreement

Thursday 15th October 2009

REALIABLE stand-in goalkeeper Steve Williams will make his first start of the season for Sittingbourne for their lucrative FA Carlsberg Trophy clash against Kent rivals Dartford, writes Stephen McCartney.

A crowd of at least 500 is expected to flock through the turnstiles at Bourne Park on Saturday for the first qualifying round tie.

Sittingbourne needed extra time to see of Wingate & Finchley in a preliminary round replay and manager Gary Abbott is confident that his side can beat the runaway Ryman Premier League leaders.

Only Chelmsford City and Wealdstone have avoided defeat against Tony Burman’s side in all competitions this season - but Abbott, speaking to www.kentishfootball.co.uk today believes his side can pull off a giant-killing.

He said: “Yes, why not? It’s up to us. It’s a big game for us, we’ve got nothing to lose, the pressure’s on them!

“If we go out like we did on Tuesday night and perform how we did (in our 2-1 home win over Ramsgate), I’m quite confident we can nick a result - why not?

“We’ve beaten Dover (in a friendly) this year, we pushed Staines all the way (in the FA Cup) to (lose) 3-2 and Dartford are only one (league) above us, but yes, they’re flying, but we’ve got it together at the moment so hopefully we’ll have a go and we’ll see what happens.”

Sittingbourne climbed up to 15th place in the Ryman League Division One South table, as a last minute strike from Hicham Akhazzan sealed a morale-boosting win over Ramsgate.

“Having a good win the other night, I think it was the best result we could get with the big game ahead,” said Abbott.

“All I can say, if we play the way we did on Tuesday night there’s no reason why we can’t win that game on Saturday.”

Williams, meanwhile, plays in goal for Sittingbourne as Abbott has decided not to play Deren Ibrahim, as part his agreement with Dartford boss Tony Burman.

Ibrahim is registered with Dartford as a youth team and reserve team player at Princes Park - and Abbott revealed that only Sittingbourne pay his wages.

Abbott feels he should be able to play the teenager against the Darts.

“Daren can’t play - it winds me up!” said Abbott. “He hasn’t even signed for Dartford and also they’re not even giving him any money! I don’t know where he stands with that really. It’s just annoying!

“He’s signed for us, Tony’s going on about he’s his player but he’s not even signed forms for them and he’s not even paying him so what’s that all about?

“That’s wound me up, so why can’t he play for us? I could be awkward and do it (play him). As far as I’m concerned, an agreement is an agreement but at the end of the day, it’s a piece of paper. He’s not signed for Dartford. I can’t work it out really!

“Willo’s going to play, Daren wants to play. We agreed to it but it’s a bit of a funny agreement really that he hasn’t signed for them (Dartford’s first team) and Tony’s not even paying him any money so that tells me does he really want him there?

“I think Tony is worried about him playing a blinder and earning us a win or a replay and Daren getting slaughtered by his own supporters.”

Burman hinted following his side’s 2-0 home win over Tonbridge Angels on Tuesday night (a win that puts his side ELEVEN points clear at the top of the table after eleven games) that he may shake-up his side for their trip to Sittingbourne - and they will be good enough to get through the tie.

“What he wants to do is entirely up to him, it’s his decision at the end of the day, like it is with me,” came Abbott’s reply.

“Obviously I think he’s a bit cocksure of himself if he’s coming across like that saying that he will play a weakened side.

“Let’s hope he puts out a weakened side! Let’s hope we beat them and see what he’s got to say then!

“I don’t like all that, weakened sides. Every game is hard no matter what league you’re playing in. Staines thought they would come and smash us and they just got away with a win.

“Let’s go and give Dartford a game. Now he’s said that it’s wound me up and now I hope we beat them!”

Although Abbott wants to win, a replay at Dartford’s Princes Park next Tuesday night will put a smile on chairman Andy Spice’s face.

And Abbott said, “Like I said before, we’re going to go out there and win. It would be nice for the club to get 300-400 people down (Bourne Park) and I hope we do that. It won’t be good if only a couple of hundred people turn up.

“It’s going to be a good day whatever happens. We’ll give it a go - if we can’t win it, a replay will be the next best thing and we’ll see what happens. Even if we lose it we’ll hold our heads up high.”

Abbott, meanwhile, explained why “third-choice” striker, Jon Neal has been shipped out to Erith & Belvedere, signing Bulmers Cider Kent League forms for the Park View Road outfit at training tonight.

“I had a chat with him the other day, he actually called me and he does need to play at his age,” explained Abbott.

“We’ve had an agreement where if he can go out on loan for a couple of games, and if we have to call him back at least he’s had two or three games under his belt instead of sitting on the bench and rotting.

“He’s gone to Erith & Belvedere tonight to see how it is and hopefully get a couple of games. He knows the situation, Elie (Kayembe) is playing well, Tom Bradbrook’s there to come on so he will be third choice really on the bench and he doesn’t want that either and I understand that 100%.

“It would suit us for him to have a game and then come back a little bit stronger if we need him.”

www.kentishfootball.co.uk will be providing LIVE COVERAGE of this game.

Visit Sittingbourne’s website: www.sittingbournefc.co.uk

Visit Dartford’s websites: www.dartfordfc.co.uk & www.dartfordfootballclub.co.uk

Sittingbourne v Dartford

FA Carlsberg Trophy First Qualifying Round

Saturday 17th October 2009

Kick Off 3:00pm

At Bourne Park, Central Park Complex, Eurolink, Church Road, Sittingbourne, Kent ME10 3SB