I'm looking for a good, confident start, says Lydd Town boss Dave Johncock

LYDD TOWN manager Dave Johncock says there is no pressure on his side going into their Kent Invicta League opener against newly-promoted side Eltham Palace.

Eltham Palace play their inaugural game in the Kent Invicta League at The Lindsey Field tomorrow after finishing in third-place in the Haart of Kent County League Premier and having a successful application to join the Step six elite.

Lydd Town finished in the bottom five last season and Johncock says his side are raring to go.

“In terms of fitness, pre-season has gone really well,” he said.

“The squad have worked really hard. We started a bit earlier to try and get ourselves prepared for the first game of the season.

“In terms of match-play and results, our pre-season has been generally good, even against higher opposition, despite the fact that a couple of the scorelines wouldn’t reflect this!”

Johncock wants his side to give Terry Naden’s side a rude awakening at the higher level of football.

He said: “I’m looking for a good, confident start. Being a newly promoted side, Eltham Palace will be up for this one and will probably see the game against us as a good start.

“We’d probably be lying if we didn’t think that too about them – so it will be interesting.

“We were in the situation last year where we were playing unknown teams, so it’s nothing new to us and I’m sure we’ll handle it ok and not let ourselves down.

“We trained last night and I think the squad just want to get going now so we’re looking forward to it.”

When asked what the club’s aspirations are for the season ahead, Johncock who has brought in former Hythe Town keeper Paul Egan on to his coaching staff, said: “I’m pretty sure that we would be most people’s favourites to finish in the bottom three this season, but that was probably the case last season too!

“We held our own against a lot of the top teams last season – we beat Phoenix and Hollands & Blair, we drew with the champions and lost to Ashford at home to an injury time own goal – so we know we can compete.

“We have strengthened our squad in terms of numbers and quality, so hopefully we can look to progress on last season’s position.  That said, we are certainly not under any pressure.

“We have not entertained wage budgets etc again this season, so I would suggest the pressure to succeed may be on other clubs rather than our own.

“We are privileged to be in the Kent Invicta League and we will just look to ensure that Lydd does the club proud and we’ll look to not let ourselves down.”

Visit Lydd Town’s website: www.lyddtownfc.co.uk

Lydd Town  v  Eltham Palace
Kent Invicta League
Saturday 11^th August 2012
Kick Off 3:00pm
at The Lindsey Field, Dengemarsh Road, Lydd, Kent TN29 9JH