If we turn up with a bad attitude we will lose to Orpington, warns Erith Town boss Tony Russell

ERITH TOWN boss Tony Russell says he is forced into making changes for their Kent Senior Trophy clash against Kent Invicta League side Orpington.



The Dockers booked their place in the First Round of the Macron Kent League Cup after needing extra-time to beat Beckenham Town on Monday night.

The tie was poised at 2-2 following the first leg at Eden Park Avenue six days’ earlier and Erith Town went in front after only 67 seconds when striker Aaron Williams slotted the ball into an empty net after Beckenham keeper Nick Blue failed to gather a long clearance up field from home keeper James Tedder.

But Beckenham Town were soon level when striker Ben Slade scored his second goal of the season, before Liam Burgess struck the Beckenham penalty with an eighth minute penalty.

Williams thumped the crossbar within the first minute of extra time, before Burgess’ free-kick appeared to crash against the crossbar and stanction before the otherwise outstanding Blue sliced his clearance straight to Tyrus Gordon and the Erith Town striker took a touch before slotting the ball into an empty goal for his ninth-goal of the season.

The Dockers can now look forward to a two-legged affair with Cray Valley (Paper Mills) following their 4-3 aggregate win.

Russell now turns his attention in trying to avoid slipping on a banana skin against an Orpington side that are sitting in the bottom six in the Kent Invicta League, with three wins and a draw from their opening nine games.

However, the O’s go into the game on the back of a crushing 7-0 away defeat to Bearsted last weekend.

Orpington finished at the foot of the Kent Invicta League table in its inaugural campaign but Sean Glover has improved things since his arrival in the summer.

“Shaggy, their manager, used to be our goalkeeping coach, so we know him well,” said Russell.

“He’s already sent me a few texts, he’s asking me to play certain sides.

“He’s a top man. He wants to be a manager. He knows what he’s talking about.

“We’ll have to shuffle it a little bit.  I’m hopefully bringing one (new player) in early next week, so we’ll keep working with that.

“I don’t know Orpington to be fair, so I couldn’t tell you if it’s going to be a hard game or an easy game, but every game is a hard game.

“We said to the players after Monday’s game, if you turn up with that (bad) attitude you’re going to lose, but we got away with it and that can’t happen again.”

Unbeaten Erith Town are in second place in the Kent Hurlimann Football League table with eight wins and a draw from their opening nine games and go into the Kent Senior Trophy tie ten games unbeaten.

They are one point behind Erith & Belvedere, who Russell has described as their “noisy neighbours,” but they do have a couple of games in hand on Micky Collins’ direct side.

Russell, meanwhile, is looking forward to their home FA Carlsberg Vase First Round tie against Combined Counties League Division One side AFC Croydon Athletic.

The two sides met each other in the Second Round of the London Senior Cup on 12 September and Erith Town won the game 4-3 after extra time.

However, referee Peter Killip can expect to have his knuckles wrapped because London Senior Cup ties no longer go into extra time if games finish all-square after 90 minutes – they go straight to a penalty shoot-out up until the later stages of the competition.

Russell sent a strong second string side to play in that game, managed by reserve team boss James Collins, but the Erith Town boss will take the FA Carlsberg Vase game more seriously on 13 October.

“I was sat in the stand with you, so we both had a good view,” said Russell.

“Tyrus (Gordon, who has a tight hamstring) starts his ban then so he’s going to be out for three games – that’s going to be a big loss.

“Marcus Cassius hasn’t played all season so he’s coming into fitness now so that’s why we started him on Monday so that will do him the world of good.  He still looks a bit rusty.”

Russell added: “I’d love to have a great run in the Vase.  You’ve got to say the League’s the bread and butter and the Vase is something that you dream off.”

Reflecting on their campaign so far, Russell is happy with the way things are going and his side play a good brand of attacking, passing football.

“I’m pleased with the start and that’s literally all it is,” said Russell.

“We’ve had a good start. We’re enjoying it, playing some nice football and it’s coming off but we’ll see.

“People say you can’t win the League by playing football, so any minute now I’d think we’re going to slip up.

“We’re on a good little run, good habits of winning games and pretty much I’m trying to think at the top of my head I don’t remember a game where we’ve not deserved to win, which is important.  Sometimes you can go on a run and you’re lucky and you nick them and eventually it’s going to bite you on the bum.

“At the moment we’re creating lots of chances so eventually you ain’t going to keep missing them.”

Visit Erith Town’s website: www.erithtown.co.uk

Orpington  v  Erith Town
Kent Senior Trophy First Round
Saturday 6^th October 2012
Kick Off 3:00pm
at Green Court Sports Ground, Green Court Road, Crockenhill, Kent BR8 8HJ