Daish slams Hill for being up close and personal

EBBSFLEET UNITED boss Liam Daish slammed Garry Hill, his opposite number, for his behaviour towards the end of the Fleet’s 1-0 win over Rushden & Diamonds at Stonebridge Road yesterday, writes Stephen McCartney.

The Fleet ended a run of five league games without a win, courtesy of Neil Barrett’s goal, four minutes before half-time.

Daish was pleased with the performance of new signings from League Two leaders Wycombe Wanderers, Derek Duncan, who has signed a deal until the end of the season, and Leon Crooks, signed on an initial one-month loan deal.

Rushden & Diamonds finished the game with ten-men, as defender Simon Downer was red-carded in the last ten minutes, for a “crude challenge” on Luke Moore.

Downer rushed in two-footed and although he made little contact the intention was quite clear and caused a ruckus, being as it was right in front of the two benches.

Hill marched into the Fleet technical area and then red and yellow shirts all piled in together.

One the referee separated the protagonists, he issued a red card to Downer and also sent off Hill, Daish and his assistant, Alan Kimble.

It was left to Fleet’s goalkeeping coach, Ron Hillyard to issue instructions to the team in the pair’s absence.

Daish, speaking to BBC Radio Kent afterwards, criticised Hill for his antics.

“Well, it was a pretty crude challenge and I don’t want to elaborate on too much because I think it’s taken the spotlight away from what the players’ did today,” he said.

“But I’m in my technical area, I’m not having people coming into my technical area and getting in my face.

“I’m not going to repeat what he was saying. I haven’t got a problem with that, if he wants to do that in a pub or outside (fine), but don’t use a protected area of a football ground with people to come into my face and start threatening me.

“If they want to do that away from the ground, in a public area, because that’s the sort of people they are - but if they want to use football as a protected area, to get in my face, that’s not on and I think that’s a little bit cowardice.”

Daish, however, doesn’t want to that incident to take the shine off what was a very good performance from his side.

Although the Fleet remain in 15^th place in the Blue Square Premier table, the Kent club are seven points clear of the drop zone, and this can be seen as a turning point for the underachieving side.

“Everyone played their part, worked very hard against a good side,” praised Daish.

“We stuck in there, everyone worked hard, done the simple things well, played the conditions well. We deserved it today.”

The Fleet travel to Surrey next Saturday to lock horns with a Woking side that occupy one of the relegation places.

“We’ve got a big game next weekend against Woking, but we’ve got to remember what’s got our three points and our win and take that into our next game,” added Daish.

Quotes courtesy of BBC Radio Kent: www.bbc.co.uk/kent

Visit Ebbsfleet United’s website: www.ebbsfleetunited.co.uk

Woking v Ebbsfleet United
Blue Square Premier
Saturday 24^th January 2009
Kick Off 3:00pm
At Kingfield Stadium, Kingfield, Woking, Surrey GU22 9AA