We have put ourselves in the driving seat to guarantee home advantage in the play-offs, says Greenwich Borough boss Paul Barnes

GREENWICH BOROUGH manager Paul Barnes says he wants to have home advantage in the Bostik South play-offs next Tuesday night.

The club go into their final Bostik South game in third-place in the table with 87 points in the bag from their 45 games and travel to midtable side Herne Bay tomorrow.

Carshalton Athletic (99 points) and Lewes (98) are two club’s battling it out for the league title and host VCD Athletic and Chipstead respectively.

Cray Wanderers are in fourth-place on 86 points, Corinthian-Casuals are also on 86, while Hythe Town are in the final play-off berth on 85 points.

Walton Casuals can also grab a play-off place as they are two places behind the Cannons, who host Corinthian-Casuals at Reachfields Stadium tomorrow.

The side that finish tomorrow in third-place in the table shall play at home to the team that finish in sixth-place in Tuesday night’s play-off showdown, while fourth lock horns with the team that finish their campaign in fifth.

“Saturday takes us to Herne Bay in our last game of the season and it is crucial that we collect three points to cement our place in third and finish with a win,” said Barnes.

“As I have said previously, Herne Bay have been one of the surprise packages this season with John Embery and Jermaine Darlington doing a great job in their first season, building a young and energetic side, who have caused countless upsets and picked up some very good results.

“My objective when I was appointed in January was to make the play-offs and keep the core of the squad I inherited together, to galvanise and build upon the position the club was in.

“I believe we have successfully done that and have put ourselves in the driving seat to guarantee home advantage in the play-offs.

“When I joined the club, I would be lying if I said I personally would settle for just a play-off place.  I believed we could still claim an automatic place. But our own errors and inconsistency cost us that, also the fact that both Lewes and Carshalton have been so consistent, they both deservedly took those spots and are still fighting it out for the title, both would be deserving champions.

Greenwich Borough must win on the Kent coast if they are to have home advantage in both the play-off semi-finals next Tuesday and if they get there, the final on Saturday 5 May.

“Looking ahead to the play-offs, it doesn't matter what's gone on before or results from previous games, that all goes out the window and you need to prepare for a cup final on Tuesday evening, all the sides who will be battling it out will believe they are capable of winning and gaining their promotion place.

“Cray, Hythe, Corinthian-Casuals and Walton Casuals have all shown that they are top sides on their day and whoever we face, it will be a tough test and task, whether it is home or away.

“This year has been a real rollercoaster for me, firstly joining Ashford United in November and then becoming manager of Greenwich Borough in January, it just shows the crazy world that is football, you really don't know what's around the corner.

“It was no secret that I would like to move into management and had built up some very good experience with other club’s and management I have previously worked for and with, that has helped me in my development and allowed me to learn from previous experiences in my own style of managing.

“I am grateful to Greenwich Borough and the board for giving me the opportunity and platform to establish myself and my own methods. I would love to repay their faith by securing promotion, also to do it with this group I have in my dressing room would be something special.”

Visit Greenwich Borough’s website: www.greenwichboroughfc.co.uk

Herne Bay  v  Greenwich Borough
Bostik South Division
Saturday 28 April 2018
Kick Off 3:00pm
at Winch’s Field, Stanley Gardens, Herne Bay, Kent CT6 5SG