I think we've got enough in our locker to get a result at Hanworth Villa, says Simon Halsey

HERNE BAY boss Simon Halsey says he knows everything he needs to know about Hanworth Villa, ahead of their FA Carlsberg Vase clash on Saturday, writes Stephen McCartney.


Halsey has watched Hanworth Villa play Croydon and Horley Town recently and has received a detailed dossier from Deal Town coach Mark Munday, ahead of the Third Round tie at Rectory Meadow.

The Hillians’ lie in fifth-place in the top-flight of the Combined Counties League but have an impressive 100% record at Rectory Meadow.

Halsey said: “I had a look at them against Croydon and on Wednesday night against Horley.  To be fair Mark Munday has sent me through a very, very, very detailed description and everything, the way they played in the last round of the Vase.

“I’ve seen them twice, got a great report and it all goes that they don’t change their style of play.  I know how they play so I think we’ve got enough in our locker to go up there and get a result.

“They’ve played eight (at home) and won eight but we’ve got a far, far, far superior record home and away so I’m just worried about Herne Bay Football Club if I’m honest and make sure we’re focused.

“This stage last year we beat Camberley in the last 64 to take us through into the last 32.  Unfortunately we pulled Whitley Bay (who went on to win the silverware) out of the hat.  Unfortunate in the way that they beat us but great for the club to get such a good draw.  If we can avoid that this year, beat Hanworth and get a home draw slightly easier, who knows where we can go.

“Saturday is a big, important game for the club and once we get out of the way, our next important game is against Sevenoaks in the Kent Senior Trophy the following Saturday.”

Since beating Winchester City in the last round of The FA Carlsberg Vase, the club revealed that they lost their financial backer, but Halsey’s side, who said they will play for nothing until a new sponsor is found, put those off-the-pitch worries to one side as they came back from south London with a 5-1 win over Fisher last weekend.

“We went there and done a job really after the frenetic week we had,” said Halsey.   “It was great to get out there and let the boys’ do their football do the talking.

“I don’t think necessarily the people at Fisher would have felt that but there was people out there around the footballing area who thought it was going to be our downfall but I said to you before if anyone thinks we’re going to lie down and roll over they were gravely mistaken. 

“We went up there and put on a good display.  It was a good game of football.  If you were a neutral at the ground you would’ve got your money’s worth.  Although the score shows we won 5-1, believe you me, with a couple of bits of tinkering Fisher are a very good side, a very good side and they had a couple of chances.  They are very strong up front and play some good football.

“They’ve got a couple of frailties and I’m sure Billy and Steve (Walton and Firkins) will sort that out.  Fortunately for us they were without their regular goalie (Danny Firkins) and he’s a good goalie and things went our way on Saturday.”

Halsey praised striker Byron Walker, who returned from a week’s trial in Germany before the win over Winchester, and scored four goals at Champion Hill last Saturday, a result that keeps unbeaten Herne Bay seven points clear (with two games in hand over Canterbury City) at the top of the Kent Hurlimann Football League table.

He said: “He was absolutely superb.  He’s was on fire.  He’s been buzzing since he’s come back the last couple of weeks from his little foray in Germany, his little trial.

When asked how the trial at Frankfurt came about, Halsey replied, “He’s got a contact out that way and his contact gave him a week out there and he played several games out there and trained out there.

“He’s come back with the door still open.  As much as it’s good for us to have Byron soring, personally for Byron if he’s doing the business for his sake they’ll come back and have a look at him again.

“No matter what happens around football, if anyone can push on and better themselves, then the club’s fully behind Byron.  But I can assure you that at the moment Byron is fully focused playing for Herne Bay Football Club.”

Halsey added: “He’s stepped up a gear.  Byron’s got his plaudits but I’ve got to say the whole team, where they had that little bit of energy to prove people wrong, every one of them at ten-to-five left every bit of sweat on the pitch.”

Visit Herne Bay’s website: www.hernebayfc.net

Hanworth Villa  v  Herne Bay
The FA Carlsberg Vase Third Round
Saturday 3^rd December 2011
Kick Off 3:00pm
At Rectory Meadow, Park Road, Hanworth, Middlesex TW13 6PN