Herne Bay were the best side that we've played this season, says Jones

Thursday 11th March 2010

MODEST Sevenoaks Town boss Simon Jones refused to take the credit for the club’s most successful season, writes Stephen McCartney.

Jones celebrates his second year in charge at Greatness Park, having taken over as caretaker manager in March 2007 when Derek Moore and Bob Pittaway stepped down, and the club went on to finish in 11th place in the table.

Jones was given the job permanently that summer and the club finished their next campaign in a disappointing fourteenth place.

Jones takes his side to Herne Bay on Saturday, sitting proudly in third place in the Bulmers Cider Kent League table with 10 wins and 4 draws from 19 games and Jones was very complimentary about Simon Halsey’s side that are in second place and playing catch up on Faversham Town, who are 10 points clear, although Herne Bay have three games in hand.

“I made it very, very plan that the best team that has certainly been down here at Greatness Park was Herne Bay,” Jones told www.kentishfootball.co.uk.

“We played them earlier in the season and they gave us a lesson if the truth be told and it caused us to really rethink the team shape and the result of that is we’ve got a team we have now.

“Herne Bay are the best performers over the season that I’ve seen anyway.”

Sevenoaks Town were held to a 2-2 draw by Beckenham Town in last Tuesday’s Kent League Cup semi-final first leg tie.

They led through Bill Shinners’ seventeenth goal of the season, but Beckenham drew level through Anthony Weir’s penalty kick.

Joe Creasey was denied his eleventh goal of the season when visiting keeper Nick Blue was credited with an own-goal, but Beckenham striker Gary Gorman levelled, before he was denied by a string of fine saves late on by Oaks’ stopper Sean Funnell in the final ten minutes as Beckenham dominated proceedings.

The other semi-final was won by Herne Bay, courtesy of a dominant first half spell.

Two own-goals, scored by Faversham defenders Ashley Brown and Dan Larkin sent Halsey’s side on their way, before Faversham pulled a goal back in a one-sided second half through substitute Steve O’Brien.

When asked the secret behind Sevenoaks’ success story, Jones directed the praise towards his players.

“Last year was an interesting period - it was a hard lesson,” admitted Jones.

“I learnt some harsh lessons at the end of the season about what we should be doing and this year we’ve progressed a little bit over the time.

“I think this year Sevenoaks have been a little bit more of a proposition for teams to think about from where we were before.”

Jones, whose company Thales sponsor the club, added: “From my perspective if the club’s moved forward then I’m doing my little bit to keep it going.

“I don’t think there’s any secret. I think it comes down to having a very strong team spirit here. The guys work hard for each other. I think they should be very proud of it.

“I put it down to very little to what I do, it’s about these guys using their common sense really following the instructions and doing a good job.

“The reason why we’re stood here is not to do with me, it’s to do with the players and they deserve every credit because they’ve taken a club like Sevenoaks and put them in the top three of the Kent League. Now that’s a remarkable achievement. There’s players in there that have been playing park football and we’ve assembled a good team with some good spirit and that’s the main thing for us.”

Sevenoaks Town welcome local-rivals Tunbridge Wells to Greatness Park next Tuesday.

The Oaks recorded a rare win over their nearest rivals earlier in the season, knocking Martin Larkin’s side out of the FA Cup at the second attempt, and will want to claim three points.

Larkin and strong target man, Benji Agana, were both at Greatness Park in midweek on a scouting mission ahead of the big west Kent showdown.

“Form goes out the window,” Jones said. “I’m sure it will be a cracking night. There will be blood and guts, everybody charging around and we’ll just have to wait and see.”

Visit Sevenoaks Town’s website: www.sevenoakstownfc.org

Herne Bay v Sevenoaks Town

Bulmers Cider Kent League

Saturday 13th March 2010

Kick Off 3:00pm

At Winch’s Field, Stanley Gardens, Herne Bay, Kent CT6 5SG