I think for a club the size of what we are we should be challenging for things, says Andy Constable

ANDY CONSTABLE says he has set himself a 30-goal target to ensure Erith & Belvedere clinch a long-awaited promotion, writes Stephen McCartney.



The prolific striker, 32, who has been appointed captain following his move from Ryman League Division One North side Thamesmead Town, saw his new team-mates open their Kent Hurlimann Football League campaign with a 2-0 win over Fisher at Champion Hill yesterday.

Constable said: “It’s the first league game of the season, you just want to avoid defeat really.  To come here and win that will be a big result for us.”

Erith & Belvedere won the game 2-0, thanks to goals from brothers Paul and Adam Gross, although Constable played a part in the second goal.

“It was a decent ball in from Adam Gross,” he said.  “He’s got a quality delivery with his left foot – I think everyone knows about that. 

“Once he whips in a ball in that type of area, either a little tough or just step out of the way and it’s going to just nestle in the corner and it did.  It was nice for that one to go in.  I’m not claiming that one.”

Constable says it’s about time his new club escapes from the Kent League in their seventh season at this level, following their relegation from the old Southern League.

“I think there’s a few teams, all teams are going out to win every game, that’s what you have to remember,” he said.

“But there are a few teams that are going to be better than others.

“We know what we’ve got in our dressing room and I think for a club the size of what we are, we should be challenging for things, that’s only natural. I think anyone would say that.

“Perhaps we would be favourites.  I don’t know how far this result will go in the long run of things.  Herne Bay are going to be the favourites. I think Fisher will bounce back from this probably, I think the way they play they will definitely cause problems.  I think we will as well.”

Cray Valley (Paper Mills) lost their first game in the Kent Hurlimann Football League, going down to a 2-0 defeat at Tunbridge Wells, where Andy Irvine scored both goals at Culverden Stadium.

Steve Chapman brings his side to Park View Road on Tuesday night, and Constable said: “To be honest with you, I literally know nothing about them at all!

“I think a few of the boys’ are saying there’s a few ex-players there, Sam Prett might be there, Adrian Deane is there as well and their good players to be honest with you.

“I’ve played with Pretty at Whitstable for a long time and he’ll score goals wherever he is.

“At home, we obviously want to carry on from today and hopefully get another three points, which will put us nicely into the FA Cup weekend.”

Erith & Belvedere welcome St Francis Rangers to Park View Road in the FA Cup Extra Preliminary Round next Saturday (3pm).

The Haywards Heath outfit sit proudly top of the top-flight of the Sussex County League, following an opening day 5-2 win over Arundel yesterday.

Constable said: “I’ve never had that many great runs in it to be honest.  It would be nice to match what Hythe did last year, whether we’re capable of doing that, a lot is down to luck.  The draws’ we’ve actually had are quite good so hopefully if we can have a run and it will be lovely to earn the club some money as well, which is what it’s all about at this level.”

Hythe Town became the first Kent League club to reach the FA Cup First Round in 53 years last season, as Scott Porter’s side were defeated by League Two side Hereford United at Edgar Street last November.

Constable admitted he was disappointed he didn’t open his goalscoring account against Fisher yesterday, but said: “I always set a goalscoring target.  I try to score in every game.  It’s as simple as that.  That’s what 30 league games.  I want to score 30 goals.

“I was in good form in pre-season.  Typical!  Come to the first league game and it’s quite a frustrating game for me really.  A couple of things just went away for me. Hopefully I can score a lot of goals this season.”

 Manager Micky Collins, meanwhile, says he will prepare his side in a professional manner.

“We’ll prepare for every game regardless, even if we were playing Liverpool Tuesday,” said the 40-year-old.

“They’ll be another good side.  They’ll come to Park View Road, they’ll want to beat us.  We’ve carried on our little unbeaten run from last season, which I’m very pleased about.  We’ll turn up, be professional and go about our business.”

The Deres also won their opening league game last season, away at Herne Bay, but Collins doesn’t want  their win at Fisher to be a false dawn.

He said: “It’s important to get three points on the board.  We’ve started of with a win.  We haven’t conceded a goal, which we could’ve .  We’ve got something to build on now.  The lads’ are pleased.  Sometimes you have to dig results out and today I thought we had to do that.

“I don’t think we played particularly well, but we’ve dug a result out.  There were times last year when we would’ve squandered that lead and would’ve come and lost 2-1.”

Visit Erith & Belvedere’s website: www.erithandbelvederefc.co.uk  

Erith & Belvedere  v  Cray Valley (Paper Mills)
Kent Hurlimann Football League
Tuesday 16^th August 2011
Kick Off 7:45pm
at Park View Road, Welling, Kent DA16 1SY

STAT ATTACK:
Herne Bay's midfield play-maker, Darren Marsden, is the leading goalscorer in the Kent Hurlimann Football League, after scoring an opening day hat-trick at Beckenham Town yesterday.