I can see light at the end of the tunnel, says Deal Town boss Derek Hares

DEAL TOWN manager Derek Hares says he wants to progress into the Umbro Kent Senior Trophy Final tomorrow.



Deal welcome Sevenoaks Town to the Charles Sports Ground with the winners locking horns with either Erith & Belvedere or Kent Invicta League side Hollands & Blair in the final.

Deal go into the semi-final sitting in second-from-bottom place in the Kent Hurlimann Football League table, with 14 points from 20 games, one point above Greenwich Borough and two less points than Sevenoaks Town.

Both sides have scored only 41 goals between them all season and Hares admitted he expects a tight game.

“We are looking forward to it because over the last few years’ it’s been one step forward and two steps back with the football club,” said Hares on the eve of the game.

“We’ve had many problems, especially with the fire.  We’ve had a new chairman come in over the last few weeks and it’s given the whole club a lift.

“It will be a difficult game.   No game in the Kent League is going to be easy.  Sevenoaks have had a similar season to us really.  Both struggle to score goals.  I’m expecting a tight and tough game. Being at home I hope it gives us that slight advantage.

“To be honest, over the last few months we’ve been a lot better at home. We’ve had a few good wins, VCD (in the last round), Canterbury and Corinthian and we’ve done ok at home.  The real problem we’ve had all year really is scoring goals. That’s what stands out like a mile and they’ve had a similar situation really. Both sides have had their ups and downs but I think both sides have improved over the last few months.”

When asked what kind of game he is expecting tomorrow, Hares replied, “Well, if you look at our record, it looks like as though there’s not going to be many goals.  I just think it’s going to be a close game.  We need that little bit of luck.  I we put in the same sort of performance we did against VCD in the last round, we’ve got a good chance.

“It’s one of those things.  On our day we’re capable of beating anyone but on a bad day we’re capable of losing to anyone.

“The lads’ are confident.  We’re going into it with a draw with Holmesdale and the win (over VCD) the week before so we’re not low on confidence. We haven’t been all season to be fair. We’re all looking forward to it and we hope it goes our way.”

Deal Town have won only three of their 20 league games and with a new chairman at the helm, Hares would like something to show for his efforts.

He said: “We’ve had our ups and downs at the club for a few year’s now. I can see light at the end of the tunnel.  Dayle Melody has come down as chairman over the last few weeks’ and has made a few changes and there’s a good feeling at the club and to reach a final and hopefully go on and win it, which is what we want to do, it’s been a real lift for everyone.”

One of those changes has seen the Kent League’s press officer, Paul Rivers, take over as club secretary.

But Hares admits he hasn’t looked further than tomorrow’s semi-final.  

When asked his thoughts on a potential final against either Erith & Belvedere or Hollands & Blair, who meet at Star Meadow, Darland Avenue, Gillingham tomorrow, the Deal boss said: “I’m not really given that a thought. I’m just looking at tomorrow and if we can get through it.  Either of those two sides will be a difficult game as always, but let’s worry about tomorrow and if we get to the final then we can look forward to that.

“I just hope it happens, for myself and more important for the players’.  A lot of players’ have been loyal to the club and to the people that help around the club.”

Sevenoaks Town boss, Darren Anslow, is expecting a tough game against Deal Town tomorrow, but would like to make it through to the final – the hard way!

The former Cray Wanderers reserve team manager said: “We are looking forward to the game at Deal tomorrow.  Having looked at the quarter-final draw most people were probably expecting a VCD-Tunbridge Wells semi-final but that is the beauty of cup football.  It never quite goes how you think.

“Deal will probably be slight favourites due to their home advantage and the fact that they beat us 1-0 earlier in the season and you have to respect the fact that they beat a very good VCD side in the last round two weeks ago.

“You always know that when you play Deal they are very organised and play for each other so I am expecting a very tough an exciting game and if we are lucky enough to make the final, I don’t think anyone will say we had an easy passage with three away games at Herne Bay, Tunbridge Wells and Deal Town.”

Anslow gave this message to Herne Bay manager Simon Halsey, whose side travel to Gloucestershire today to tackle Hellenic League outfit Shortwood United in the FA Carlsberg Vase Quarter-Final tomorrow.

He said: “By the way all the best to Simon and the boys tomorrow.”

Shortwood have not lost in any of their sixteen home league and cup games this season.

Visit Deal Town’s website: www.pitchero.com/clubs/dealtown

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

Deal Town  v  Sevenoaks Town
Umbro Kent Senior Trophy Semi-Final
Saturday 3^rd March 2012
Kick Off 3:00pm
at Charles Sports Ground, St Leonards Road, Deal, Kent CT14 9AU