I have set a target of a top ten finish, says Kent Football United boss Sam MacNeil

KENT FOOTBALL UNITED manager Sam MacNeil says he wants to finish their second campaign in the Kent Invicta League in the top ten.



The Crayford based club presently lie in the bottom four with 19 points from 19 games, but they do have games in hand on all but one of their league rivals.

The artist formerly known as Erith & Dartford Town are only four points adrift of tenth-placed Lydd Town and they can leapfrog over Orpington in the table with a victory at Green Court Road tomorrow.

“I have set a target of a top ten finish this campaign and more importantly us enjoying our remaining games, starting with three points at Green Court Road tomorrow,” said MacNeil.

“We have the utmost respect for our opposition Orpington. They have got some good results this season and I am sure they will give us a physical battle.  Let’s hope the weather holds up and the pitch is playable as we had a great turn out training on Wednesday and we are looking forward to the game.

“As a squad we are looking forward to tomorrow’s game away to Orpington as it gives us an opportunity to move above our hosts with a victory.  After receiving three points for the away game at Crockenhill, where they had first team players available to play, we have moved into thirteenth place and we still have numerous games in hand on the teams around us.

“The determination of the team and desire was questioned by me a few weeks ago but our stoppage time equaliser showed me what I needed to know. I’ve got a set of players that want to keep fighting for points.”

MacNeil added: “I’ve set the team and club a target of a top ten finish. We feel that is realistic and I would be pleased given the up and down nature of this season.”

MacNeil admits to feeling frustrated with the inconsistency of his team.

He said: “The boys application in training has been much improved and what frustrates me is we have taken points off the top four like drawing Ashford 1-1 at home and beating Bearsted 2-1 away but that means nothing when we lose silly games to teams around us.

“These are the games we need to win to move up the league. The Kent Invicta League is clearly split now with little mini-leagues as I call it and we are in a fight with the teams up to around possibly eighth or ninth down to fourteenth where we come in.  That mini-league will be determined by the results we achieve against the teams directly around us.

“We have midweek games in hand coming up against Eltham Palace and Lewisham Borough and they are must wins without a doubt.”

Without any relegation fears to worry about, Kent Football United and the teams below them in the table, Woodstock Park, Meridian and Lewisham Borough, can start to prepare for next season.

MacNeil said:  “The planning for next season has been in process for the last six months. The situation off the field is fantastic. The committee is growing, ideas are flowing and bouncing around and it’s going to put Kent Football United in a much better position under the guidance of me and Neil Hunter.

“We will have a meeting in pre-season to determine our targets for the 2013-14 campaign, which we hope will see us in the FA Cup for the first time as we have applied and we can confirm we’ve applied for the FA Vase again.”

Meanwhile, striker Sadike Balarabe is an injury doubt tomorrow with a sore knee, but Michael Odejobi could make the sixteen-man squad after returning from ankle ligament damage suffered just after Christmas.

Orpington  v  Kent Football United
Kent Invicta League
Saturday 23^rd March 2013
Kick Off 3:00pm
at Green Court Sports Ground, Green Court Road, Crockenhill, Kent BR8 8HJ