We haven't had a game for ages so it will be nice to get a game under our belt, says Herne Bay joint-manager John Embery

HERNE BAY joint-manager John Embery says he’s looking forward to getting a game under their belts when they entertain Phoenix Sports at Winch’s Field on Tuesday night.

 

It will be their first game since coming away from Ramsgate with a 5-4 win on Tuesday 25 September and as a consequence of their inactivity the club have slipped to the bottom of the Bostik South East Division table with five points from their six games, although they could rise up to eighth if they win their three games in hand on most teams.

“Looking forward to it, we haven’t had a game for ages so it will be nice to get a game under our belt,” said Embery, who reflected on their goal fest at Southwood Stadium last time out.

“Up and down. We played well, we didn’t deserve to be behind. We went in front.  I don’t know what happened, we had a 10 minute period and we just kind of conceded three times, we conceded a poor penalty.

“We found ourselves 3-1 down but we could have scored 10 in that game. It was very good.”

Jake Embery scored four goals in the game to take his tally for the season up to 10 goals and his father added: “He should’ve scored six to be honest! He had two other chances – but you can’t knock someone for scoring for goals.”

When asked whether he’s been involved in a game like that, the Herne Bay boss replied: “Believe it or not, a few times, yes.

“But the main thing was we needed that game. The boys coming behind like that shows good character and belief especially away from home against a side going well, so to go there and score five goals away from home isn’t easy especially going from 3-1 down and then we made a mistake to go 4-2 but then for the boys to keep doing what they done was very good and at 4-3 I felt there was only going to be one winner.”

Herne Bay have suffered from injuries going into the home game against Phoenix Sports.

Paul Bryon’s side are in third-place in the Bostik South East Division table with 16 points from their nine league games and Jack Barry’s late goal sealed a 2-2 home draw against Whyteleafe yesterday.

“We’ve worked on stuff and I’ve gone and watched games as well, said Embery.

“We’re just trying to get players back. We’ve been dogged by injuries this season so having players back is key.

“We’ve got a few back, which has made a massive difference so we’re looking forward to it. We’re still a couple short from fitness and match fitness and able to play.

“We played some in the under 23s game the other day to build their fitness up so we’re getting back to where we hope to be at the start of the season.”

Embery revealed goalkeeper Ben Hunter has been ruled out as have Nick Reeves, Danny Leonard and Danny Rumbol.

“Phoenix are a good side.  They get forward into their striker quickly, Jeff Duah-Kessie is a handful up top. He’s quite a big lad and he wants to go in behind and they’re a good workmanlike side, they’ll be quite direct and they’ll work hard so as long as we can match them on the work-ethic side, we’ll be in the game and I expect us to go well.

“We know from a technical point of view we’re a good side but we have to put all sides of our game together. It just can’t be pretty football all the time. We have to work hard and dig deep.

“They’re good at corners and stuff and we have to be aware of that. If we work hard, hopefully we’ll get the result that we need.”

Herne Bay then travel to Buckinghamshire to lock horns with Aylesbury in The Buildbase FA Trophy Preliminary Round on Saturday.

The hosts are currently third-from-bottom in the Southern League Division One Central, with a playing record of one win and three draws from their eight league games and there is £3,000 up for grabs for the winner.

“Do you know what, I haven’t thought too much about it,” admitted Embery.

“We’re looking forward to it. It’s an away game. The only problem I have at the moment is we’re just falling behind in league games, which is driving us bonkers.  A lot of them have got three games in hand on us so you’re always playing catch up all the time.

“It’s always good to play in a cup games and they’re a good break from the league and they’re good for the financial side. Hopefully we’ll go there and hopefully we can get a result that we need and bring more funds into the club.

“If we can win our games in hand we can go eighth – but of course you have to win those games.

“Our attitude is just go out there and produce the results that we produced against Ramsgate and work hard and pass the ball well. If we do that, we’ll do well.

“There’s teams above us that have played nine games and are only one point in front of us.

“I expect Thamesmead to push right on. They had games in hand, they got off the bottom of the table because they won (3-0 at home to Guernsey) on Saturday but that doesn’t surprise me because they’re a good side.

“The other day Sevenoaks were bottom and now fourteenth.  There’s hardly any points between everyone. If we win our three in hand we go eighth on 14 points.

“It’s a very strange one. It is what it is. You just got to get on with it.  I’m not worried where we sit at the moment. We’re only six games in and we’ve got a massive amount of games on everyone.

“Other teams have had a good start and now they’re falling away massively like Ashford and Faversham. We just have to make sure our form is the opposite way round and we keep winning.”

Visit Herne Bay’s website:  www.hernebayfootballclub.co.uk

Herne Bay  v  Phoenix Sports
Bostik South East Division
Tuesday 9 October 2018
Kick Off 7:45pm
at Winch’s Field, Stanley Gardens, Herne Bay, Kent CT6 5SG