Failure this close is not an option in my book, says Herne Bay boss Simon Halsey

HERNE BAY boss Simon Halsey says he wants to go down in history as the club’s most successful manager.



Herne Bay were knocked out of the Macron Kent League Cup after losing both legs to Ricky Bennett’s VCD Athletic – who haven’t lost in four games against Herne Bay this season.

VCD Athletic won the first leg 1-0 at Oakwood, before coming away from Winch’s Field with a 2-1 victory on Wednesday night – and the Crayford based club are likely to be joined in the final by Corinthian, who came away from Woodstock Sports with an excellent 4-0 victory in their first leg, which was played on the same night.

Halsey said: “Silly, sloppy goals and fair play to them.  Good luck to them in the final and they do deserve to be there really as we defended poorly for their goals, so no qualms about losing the game to be honest.

“The two games served their purpose.  If anyone looked at our team changes I made in the two games, it gave me lots of players’ minutes.   That served its purpose but the two teams who played on each individual night would have won the game and through three sloppy pieces of defending we would have gone through.”

Halsey has unveiled the signing of striker Simon Austin, 29, from Ryman League Division One South play-off chasers Folkestone Invicta, where he has scored five goals and although he is not available for the two-legged FA Carlsberg Vase showdowns with Northern League outfit West Auckland Town, the former Maidstone United and Hythe Town striker should provide the firepower to get the club promoted as Kent League champions.

Halsey said: “I’ve just made a new signing today.  We’re just adding little bits and bobs to the club for that final push to make sure we get our noses in front, over the finishing line first, shall I say.”

Austin is expected to make his debut away to third-placed side Erith & Belvedere tomorrow.

Halsey said: “Another tough game. The playing surface suits us, we love going up there so it will suit us down to the ground but we have to be on our game to make sure we win it.  It’s imperative we win it as we don’t play for two weeks after this weekend.”

Herne Bay go into the game thirteen points clear of Erith Town, who Herne Bay defeated 1-0, thanks to Steve Hanson’s header.

“It will give a couple of teams a chance to close the gap on us. The importance of this one is exactly the same as beating Erith Town last week, to get three points on the board to give us a bit of breathing space.  We’ve got a hard April coming up.”

Reflecting on their win over Erith Town last weekend, Halsey said: “Massive win for us.  We’ve done enough to win the game.  It wasn’t the greatest of games between the two clubs.  The notes flying around I’m sure they feel a little aggrieved not to get something out of the game but we took the chance that we had to get the three points.  That’s football, I’m afraid.”

Everybody at the club just cannot wait for the club’s two biggest games in the club’s proud 125 year history – the FA Carlsberg Vase semi-final double-header against West Auckland Town.

The first leg will be played at Winch’s Field on 24 March, the second leg up in the North East seven days later.

But Halsey will be without his leading goalscorer, 22-goal striker, Byron Walker for the vital second leg, after the 25-year-old was sent-off in both the Erith Town and the second leg against VCD Athletic.

“He got a second yellow against Erith Town, which is the one that will put him out of the second Vase game, but he can play the first game,” said a bitterly disappointed Halsey.

“It is a massive blow, not just for myself, his team-mates at the club but more importantly it’s a blow for Byron because he wants to play in the big games.

“He’s got to focus on Erith & Belvedere tomorrow and the first one against West Auckland.  Let’s concentrate on those two games first. He will do the business in the first game (against West Auckland) and hopefully we can go up there with a bit of a lead – it will be down to him!”

Halsey wants his side to collect three points against Micky Collins’ side tomorrow and then he can start preparing for the first leg against West Auckland.

“It’s a big couple of weeks – a big three points tomorrow, which is our next biggest fixture. It will be a full strength side going up there.” 

And on Sunday, Halsey will start doing his homework ahead of a make-or-break 180 minutes of nerve jangling football against West Auckland.

“I’ve had them watched Wednesday night, I had them watched last weekend and I’ve got another fella watching them tomorrow, so I’ve had three reported on them. I won’t look at those reports until after Erith & Belvedere.  That’s the next fixture.  Once Sunday’s here I’ll be looking at those reports from West Auckland.

“We’re going to get ourselves prepared for Herne Bay’s biggest and important home game in their history.  I’ve got to make sure we’ve crossed our t’s and dotted our I’s.

“I’m trying to keep right out of all the stuff flying around at the moment.  Everyone who knows me will know I’m only thinking about Erith & Belvedere but after Saturday’s game come Sunday then all my focus, the players’, the football club will focus on West Auckland home and away.

“I can’t say what’s going to happen over the two games but it won’t be for our lack of preparation and professionalism.  If we go out it will be to a better side.

“Our record is second to none. Everyone’s making us the underdogs.   I’ve got a belief and a dream, same as everybody else, but we are only one step away from Wembley.  Once Erith & Belvedere is out of the way, hopefully we can seriously put it into reality.

“Failure this close is not an option in my book!”

Visit Herne Bay’s website: www.hernebayfc.net  

Erith & Belvedere  v  Herne Bay
Kent Hurlimann Football League
Saturday 17^th March 2012
Kick Off 3:00pm
At Park View Road, Welling, Kent DA16 1SY