Everything seems to be going the right way, says Lordswood boss Jason Lillis

LORDSWOOD boss Jason Lillis says his players are excited about the prospect of playing in the FA Carlsberg Vase Second Round for the first time in the club’s history.



The Medway outfit travel to Oxfordshire on Saturday to face Thame United, a side who are in eighth-place in the Hellenic League.

Lillis is looking forward to the historic game and is looking to reach the Third Round with victory in Oxfordshire.

Lillis said: “There’s been quite a bit of excitement around the place going there and playing. Obviously it’s a big game for the club. It’s the furthest the club has gone and everyone’s excited. It’s going to be a nice day out.

“We’ve had reports on them. They’re a good side. They pass the ball around well.  It’s a lovely place to go and play. It looks like it’s going to be a good football game.”

The former Gillingham and Maidstone United ace is proud of guiding the Kent League club to this stage of the competition.

“Any little achievement the club gets is a big issue because we don’t get a lot of success because of the situation the club’s in,” he said.

“We’re doing really well this year and everyone seems to be happy and everything seems to be going the right way.”

When asked what kind of game he is expecting on Saturday, Lillis said: “A good footballing one to be fair! We like to play football and the reports have come back that they do as well. Hopefully it will be an entertaining game. I don’t want a nail-biting one. I want a nice comfortable one but I don’t think we’re going to get that.”

Lillis admitted he was disappointed after his side were held to a 2-2 draw by struggling Greenwich Borough last Saturday.

Lordswood are in sixth-place in the Kent League table, with six wins and a draw from ten games and have games in hand on the five sides above them, Erith & Belvedere, Erith Town, Rochester United, VCD Athletic and Deal Town.

“We had a little slip up on Saturday. We should have won the game, but I wasn’t there on Saturday, but the reports have come back to me that we should have won!

“We’ve got games in hand so if we can just take our performances and keep the consistency going then hopefully we might do well this year.”

Lillis is pleased with the progress of the Academy, which he runs in partnership with a local school.

He said: “It’s going really, really well. It’s in its infancy obviously. It started late so everything’s going to be slow but what we’re doing we’re building it up. Each year it’s going to be stronger and hopefully we can attract boys’ to the school and hopefully they can join the football academy.  Hopefully that’s going to be good.

“It seems to be going well. I don’t want to tempt fate by saying anything, but as it stands now everything seems to be going nice and smooth as they say.”

When asked about the prospect of playing at Wembley Stadium in the Final, Lillis laughed and said: “It’s six wins away now.  Let’s just get through this one and we’ll worry about that!”

Lillis hailed the performances of 12-goal striker Mark Murison.

He said: “He’s come from nowhere really and he’s adapted to the football and his work rate has got his reward by scoring goals. 

“Lee Maskell has come good and knocked a few in as well. We’ve got goals all around the park and we’ve scored over 40 goals this year already, which is great!”

Visit Lordswood’s website: www.lordswoodfc.co.uk

Thame United  v  Lordswood
The FA Carlsberg Vase Second Round
Saturday 17^th November 2012
Kick Off 3:00pm
At Meadow View Park, Thame, Oxfordshire OX9 3RN