I'm learning as well as the players, says Herne Bay boss Simon Halsey

HERNE BAY boss Simon Halsey says he is learning from his mistakes during their inaugural Ryman League Division One South campaign.



The 48-year-old is targeting a top ten finish after clinching the Kent League title last season.

The Bay went down to an embarrassing 4-0 defeat to struggling Walton Casuals in their last home game but bounced back by claiming a point in a 1-1 draw at third-placed neighbours Faversham Town last weekend.

”We had a good result last week against Faversham so if we can get a bit of a run going and some consistency then who knows what can happen,” said Halsey.

”I think we fully deserved to take all three points (against Faversham) if I’m honest.  I don’t think there’s too many people at the game who wouldn’t agree with that.

”They fully deserved to win at our place but we deserved to win at their place. Unfortunately we only got a draw, but we got a point away from home against a top-five side so I’ve got to be pleased with that after the shambolic performance we put in the week before against Walton Casuals.”

When asked what went wrong against Danny Carroll’s side, Halsey admitted: “Me! I picked the wrong formation. I tried to alleviate our home form, tried something different and it kicked me in the teeth!   I learnt my lesson!

”I’m still young in managing years in the Ryman – it’s the first year I’ve ever done it – so I’m learning as well as the players. We learn and take things from the defeats. It will make us better individually and collectively.”

Herne Bay sit in a disappointing seventeenth-place in the table, with 32 points from 26 games, but they have won only three of their eleven home games at Winch’s Field because of more streetwise opposing players.

”We were the best side in the Kent League and we exploited the spaces on the pitch.  The difference is we’re playing against better individuals and better teams and their exploiting the spaces on the pitch than we are,” explained Halsey.

”It’s something we can work on and something we can improve and that’s something that we’re starting to looking to do at the weekend.”

Maidstone United visit Winch’s Field on Saturday sitting at the top of the table, with 56 points from 28 games.

They are two points clear of Dulwich Hamlet, but Gavin Rose’s side have three games in hand.

”I’m expecting a tough encounter,” said Halsey.

”It’s a big game, so was Faversham, so was Dulwich Hamlet and Leatherhead and all the teams up there in the league are tough for us this year.

”It’s our first season and we started off very well and I took it as a compliment that for some reason or another everyone expected us to be pushing for a play-off spot.

”But we’ve not carried it through, our consistency from the start of the season.  Hopefully with sixteen games to go we can get ourselves some points on the board and finish in the top ten that we set out to do.

When asked whether he is happy with his current league position, Halsey replied, “No, of course I’m not! We should be in tenth or 12^th or something like that. That’s my personal opinion.

”I’m fortunate I can carry a big squad. I’ve got two players in every position. In that way we’ve got the squad to carry it through.”

Meanwhile, Herne Bay welcome Charlton Athletic in the Kent Senior Cup (Sponsored by Portablefloodlights.com) Quarter-Finals next Wednesday, 27 February (7:45pm).

The winners will travel to Ryman League Division One North highflyers Thamesmead Town in the semi-finals.

Visit Herne Bay’s website: www.pitchero.com/clubs/hernebay

Herne Bay  v  Maidstone United
Ryman League Division One South
Saturday 23^rd February 2013
Kick Off 3:00pm
At Winch’s Field, Stanley Gardens, Herne Bay, Kent CT6 5SG