It’s been a very difficult period for myself and the club, admits Erith & Belvedere boss John Wilfort

ERITH & BELVEDERE manager John Wilfort admits he is going through a difficult period.

The Deres are under-performing in the bottom five of the Southern Counties East Football League table, having collected eight wins, seven draws and 15 league defeats this season.

Erith & Belvedere host Cray Valley at Park View Road on Saturday, the side that they defeated in a two-legged Macron Southern Counties East Football League Challenge Cup Semi-Final to progress through to the Final, where they will play Hollands & Blair on 2 May.

“It’s been a very difficult period for myself and the club,” admitted Wilfort.

“Form has been very inconsistent due to the fact never being able to have the same squad week in week out with players injured, working or cup-tied.

“But, listen the aim when I came in was a final and we have got there and we’ll enjoy the day.

“I always believed we would make the finals after the first leg against Cray Valley, where we lost 2-1.  We didn’t deserve to lose that first leg but went into the game with a very light squad.

“Going into the second leg I had a strong squad back so I knew things would be different.  We exploited the gaps we spoke about and executed them very well. 

“Time and energy has been spent getting there, I agree, so league form has suffered. This was something I was willing to accept.”

Cray Valley rose to seventh-place in the table following their 3-1 home win over Corinthian last night.

The Badgers Sports Ground at Middle Park Avenue in Eltham is being prepared ahead of Greenwich Borough’s arrival in May.

Extra seating (in red and black) has been added to the main stand, as well as extra covered standing accommodation, an extra turnstile and outside toilets. Even the pitch perimeter fencing has been filled in with red and black boards, Greenwich Borough’s colours.

Wilfort said: “We will be meeting Cray Valley again this weekend. I expect another tough game and a team wanting revenge as they are now only playing for league positions.

“They’re a team I believe are in a false position and have many dangerous players, so again we’ll be going there fully prepared. 

“They like to play lots of long balls and play off pieces. It works for them and their manager Paul Gross, but it’s not my cup of tea, I will admit but we all have our own style of playing and coaching.

“I’m hoping my players can find that bit of form we have been missing in the last few games and pick some points up over the weekend, finishing off with my old club Holmesdale.”

Wilfort takes his side to Oakley Road to play relegation threatened Holmesdale next Wednesday.

“It’s a game I expect us to pick something up.” Added Wilfort.

“It’s always nice to go back and say hello to some faces but I have moved on now and will be concentrating on picking up the points these next few weeks, keeping the players fresh and injury free as we look forward to May 2^nd.”

Visit Erith & Belvedere’s website:  www.erithbelvederefc.co.uk

Erith & Belvedere  v  Cray Valley (Paper Mills)
Southern Counties East Football League
Easter Saturday 26^th March 2016
Kick Off 3:00pm
At Park View Road, Welling, Kent DA16 1SY