I'm sure we will turn things around, says Cray Valley boss Steve Chapman

CRAY VALLEY (Paper Mills’) manager Steve Chapman says he is looking for his side to win their first home game of the season when resurgent Sevenoaks Town visit on Saturday.

The Millers’ were held to a 1-1 draw at Fisher last Monday and they welcome a Sevenoaks Town side that have scored 12 goals and kept three clean sheets in their last three games.

The Oaks are now managed by last season’s under eighteen management team in the shape of Paul Lansdale and former Tottenham Hotspur and Chelsea midfielder Micky Hazard, 53.

Lansdale has also taken over as chairman at Greatness Park and it appears the pair have given the club a new lease of life both on and off the field.

They won their first game of the season by beating ten-man Lordswood 4-0 a couple of weeks ago and followed that up with a thumping 5-0 home win over Canterbury City in The FA Carlsberg Vase First Qualifying Round last weekend, which was the club’s highest win in the competition.

Sevenoaks Town stunned much-fancied Whyteleafe 3-0 at Greatness Park on Tuesday night to move into ninth place in the Southern Counties East Football League with two wins from their opening five league games.

Cray Valley, meanwhile, go into the game sitting in seventh-place in the table, having won two and drawn two of their five outings.

Chapman revealed that his star-striker Laurent Hamici (hamstring) was rested for their game at Fisher and will go into the squad to face Sevenoaks Town on Saturday.

Chapman said: “We haven’t won at home. We’ve had some tough games at home. We’ve played Tunbridge Wells and drew, Lancing in the FA Cup and drew and obviously lost to Redhill in the FA Cup.

“We did play well. We’ve had some tough home games. I think we’ve had a tough start to the season and it’s been utterly disappointing.

“The games we’ve had at home so far have been difficult games to win. We’ve played well in all four games at home. We’ve just found it difficult to get ourselves in front but I’m sure we will turn things around.”

The Millers’ travel to Combined Counties League side Croydon in The FA Carlsberg Vase Second Qualifying Round on Saturday 21 September, with £800 up for grabs for the winners.

“Again, we’re expecting nothing less than a win,” said Chapman.

“Money aside, we want to go as far as we can in the Vase this year.

“Croydon is another winnable game. We are normally good on the road before the Fisher game on Monday night.  We’ve won the previous four away games and we’re still undefeated away this season.”

Visit Cray Valley’s website: www.cray-valley.co.uk

Cray Valley (Paper Mills)  v  Sevenoaks Town
Southern Counties East Football League
Saturday 14^th September 2013
Kick Off 3:00pm
At Badgers Sports Ground, Middle Park Avenue, Eltham, London SE9 5HT