If I'm given time I believe we can win the league, says Lordswood boss Simon Halsey

LORDSWOOD manager Simon Halsey says he wants to have a good run in The FA Carlsberg Vase this season.

Halsey guided then Kent League side Herne Bay to the semi-finals two years ago but their Wembley dream was shattered by West Auckland Town.

Now the manager of Lordswood, Halsey’s side welcome their Southern Counties East Football League rivals Whyteleafe to Martyn Grove in the Second Round on Saturday.

The Lords’ are sitting pretty in third-place in the table, but they have played 15 league games, winning seven of them and drawing two games.

Whyteleafe are in sixth-place in the table, having won six and drawn one of their eight league outings.

When asked what he is expecting against their league rivals from Surrey, Halsey replied: “Us to be on our game and for them to be very tough.

“Fortunately we haven’t played them this year, which makes it a little bit more exciting. The last time I played Whyteleafe was when I was at Whitstable so although they’re in the same league, looking at it, they’re quite a new team to us as we haven’t played them this year.

“I’ve had them watched, know a bit about them and I’m looking forward to it.  It is a bit like a Vase game as we’ve not played them yet so I’m quite excited.”

The winners of Saturday’s Second Round tie shall bank £1,200 in welcomed prize money from The Football Association.

Halsey said: “It’s good to win every game of football but with the Vase, a little club like Lordswood the prize money at the end of the game is massive for us and we need to put some money into the club.  There is a bit more importance on the club this week.”

Halsey has guided Lordswood into the top three – six points adrift of league leaders Tunbridge Wells, but the Medway side have played more games than everyone else in the division.

“Very pleased with our turn around,” said Halsey.  “The first month was hard for us, it took us a little while to gel. I brought in a couple of new players and a few twists and turns and we’ve settled ourselves down.

“To go six wins on the trot in our last six league games with three clean sheets that’s a massive respect to the players for the hard work that they’ve put in and the listening they’ve done and the hard work in training.

“We have to turn that into some cup action. We haven’t done very well in the cups so we need to put that right on Saturday.

“We’ve worked hard this week in training so if everyone does their jobs properly individually and collectively it will come together and at ten-to-five it will go our way.”

When asked whether Lordswood can go on to win the title this season, Halsey, who won the title with Herne Bay two years’ ago, replied: “I really don’t know, I really don’t know! You mean this season? This season is going to be very tough for us because we’ve had a sticky six weeks at the start.

“Long term? If I’m given the time, I believe we can, seriously. Don’t get me wrong six wins on the spin, as far as I’m concerned, can put you up there, really up there. I’m not going to say it’s title winning stuff but it’s form that puts you in the right direction, as being third proves it.

“I know we’ve played more games than everyone else and people can look at that and say they can catch us.

“We’ve gone out there and put eighteen points on the board in just over a month, which is magnificent for the little club that we are and the players that are playing for me.

“Can we do that for another six games in the league? I don’t know, but it won’t be for the want of trying!

“The youngsters have excelled and have been very impressive. I think it’s a mixture of bringing a few experienced players in that have helped the youngsters push on and it’s no mean feat winning six league wins on the trot.”

Lordswood reached The FA Vase Fourth Round under Jason Lillis last season – losing 3-1 away to eventual winners Spennymoor Town - and Halsey wants to enjoy a similar run this season.

He said: “I’ve had a good run in The Vase two years ago when we (Herne Bay) got to the semi-finals up at West Auckland. I know what it’s like nearly going all the way.

“Martin Larkin at Tunbridge Wells gone all the way (losing in last year’s final to Spennymoor Town at Wembley Stadium), which was outstanding for them and I nearly got there and I sampled it. A couple of players that I’ve got here were on our journey.

“We’re under no illusions, it’s going to be tough but I do want a run in it. I want to go to the nationals just so the youngsters that I’ve got with me can experience that. If you get an away drawn and you travel on the Friday and stay in a hotel, it’s just a great, great learning curve for them at such a young age.

“If they can get some experience like that so early in their careers it will perhaps put them in good stead in two years. That’s our ambition, but Whyteleafe is going to be a massive, massive test for us.”

Visit Lordswood’s website: www.lordswoodfc.co.uk

Lordswood  v  Whyteleafe

The FA Carlsberg Vase Second Round

Saturday 16^th November 2013

Kick Off 3:00pm

At Martyn Grove, North Dane Way, Walderslade, Kent ME5 8YE