Hopefully it's going to be third time lucky, says Abbott

Monday 19th July 2010

SITTINGBOURNE boss Gary Abbott says he is looking at a number of trialists during Tuesday night’s opening friendly against Kent League side Erith & Belvedere, writes Stephen McCartney.

Abbott has lost goalkeeper, Deren Ibrahim (Dartford), defender, Matt Bourne (Faversham Town) and midfielder Colin Richmond (Maidstone United) during the summer, so reinforcements are being sought.

Abbott has revealed to www.kentishfootball.co.uk that he is keen on Steve Marshall and Ryan Johnson, from Blue Square Bet South outfit Welling United, and will give a number of other players a chance to impress him against Kent League sides Erith & Belvedere and Norton Sports on Thursday.

“It’s gone well actually, the boys have worked hard, but there’s a few missing as players have gone on holiday and things like that, so I’m waiting for three or four tom come back so they won’t be involved tomorrow or perhaps Thursday,” said Abbott.

“Hopefully they will be back at the weekend or the Margate game.

“Rob Denness and Hicham Akhazzan are away and we’ve got a couple of injuries as well. Joe Dowley’s got a slight problem with his stomach and Joe Horlock’s got a bit of a hamstring problem and there’s a couple that aren’t around at the moment.

“Bourney was a big player for us and obviously Colin Richmond was as well, but you know what I’m like, good luck to them, I didn’t want them to go, but I’ll get people in to replace them.

“I’ve got a couple of centre halves and midfield players to have a look at tomorrow.

“I’ve got Stephen Marshall, the boy from Welling, he’s signing for us and Ryan Johnson from Welling. He’s signing for us as well so we’ve got double cover there for Colin Richmond.

“I’ve solved that and I’ve solved the centre halves but other than that everyone’s staying and we’ll have a little run out tomorrow. Obviously the result is not important, it’s all about fitness.

“Nicky Cole, who has been down at Slade Green, he’s coming down tomorrow and I’ll have a look at him, and I’ve also got Tom Peaches as well coming down from Margate.

“I’ve got a boy, Liam Panther, who is a left-back from Dartford’s Academy team so he’s going to come down to have a look at him and I think that’s it.

“Who else have I got? Brett Ince, I think he came down training last year and just disappeared for some reason, so I’ll have a look at him tomorrow.

“I’ve also got three keepers to look at. I’m looking at one whose been down at Margate, I’ve got Adam Harris from Maidstone, and I’ve got our under 18 keeper coming down.

“I’ve got a couple of strikers, who I’m looking at. Lee Barnett from Chatham, he’s coming down and we’ll see how he does and I’ve got a boy, who has been playing for Hednesford. He’s a 6’ 2” striker who holds the ball up all day so I’ll have a look at him.

“I’ve got a lot of options, a lot of forwards. I think I can get the best out of (new signing from Chatham Town) Rob Denness. He looks decent but he’s not back until Monday now so he’ll get involved in the Margate game.”

Abbott says he will not be rushed in deciding which players he will keep for the club’s forthcoming Ryman League Division One South campaign, which kick’s off on 21 August.

He said: “It’s looking quite good to be quite fair to you. I’ve got another month yet to decide who I’m going to keep and let go so there’s no rush on that side of it. I’m happy with what I’ve got but you don’t know what they’re like in the games.”

When asked what he is looking for during pre-season, Abbott replied, “Results in friendlies don’t matter. It would be nice to keep clean sheets and we’re going to work on keeping the ball a lot more, keep the ball in the right areas and when we lose the ball we want to close it down as quickly as possible, as a team and not as individuals.

“It will be a lot more of a team this year, that’s what we tried to do last year, that’s the main priority, keeping the ball, playing quick on free-kicks and keeping possession of the ball.

“I don’t think we talked enough so we’re going to have a look at that side of it as well.”

Abbott is keen to guide the Bourne Park club into the play-off’s.

“Of course we do, hopefully it’s third time lucky, that’s what they say,” he said. “The team is shaping up, it looks like we’ll have a better team than last year, so we’ll have a bit more experience as well, which I have been looking for.”

Meanwhile, Sittingbourne have confirmed that they have reduced admission prices for friendlies to £5 (adults) £2 (OAP’s and students) and under 16’s can watch the action for FREE.

Visit Sittingbourne’s website: www.sittingbournefc.co.uk

Sittingbourne v Erith & Belvedere

Pre-Season Friendly

Tuesday 20th July 2010

Kick Off 7:45pm

At Bourne Park, Central Park, Eurolink, Church Road, Sittingbourne, Kent ME10 3SB