I will be disapointed if we're not playing Southern Counties East Football next season, says MacNeil

KENT FOOTBALL United manager Sam MacNeil says he will be disappointed if his side fail to clinch promotion at the end of the season.



The Crayford-based club are sitting in third-place in the Kent Invicta League table, having collected six wins and two draws from their opening eight games.

They travel to Hollands & Blair on Saturday and the Gillingham based club are in second-place with nine wins from their eleven games.

Blair are seven points clear of MacNeil’s side, who have three games in hand.

“Hollands & Blair is our toughest test of the season and I truly believe they are the team to beat,” said MacNeil.

“They are consistently at the top end of the table year after year and I saw them play a few weeks ago to Bridon Ropes and they were what I expect from Paul Piggott’s side – very organised and strong defensively with a cutting edge.

“We will be setting up to be positive though despite us being away from home in a big game. Attack has been the best form of defence so anyone expecting us to shut up shop and settle for a point before we’ve started will be wrong.

“We intend to be positive and try to win the game from the very first whistle.

“We trust the ability in our players and we have two of the top four scorers in the league with Julian Edwards and Nathan Faulkes so we know how dangerous we are and I’m sure Hollands & Blair will be all too aware of that.”

Reflecting on his side’s unbeaten start to their Kent Invicta League campaign, the Kent Football United manager said: “Our campaign so far has been a solid platform but that is all it is – a platform

“If we can continue to build on the unbeaten start we have then we can maintain our place high up in the league but with all respect to some of the teams we’ve played, a lot of games have been comfortable and matches like Saturday when we play Hollands & Blair are going to determine what sort of challenge we can make.

“We have got a lot of new lads in, moulded a team very quickly and found an effective way of playing.

“Our front lads have been banging goals away and we are tight at the back so it’s a recipe for success.

“As a team we always have a big threat going forward and I believe that will be the case all season. We will be hard to stop scoring.

“I have been impressed recently with the performances of Dominic Ryan, signed from Erith Town in the summer who’s come in and earned a spot.  Other big performers have been Jamie Blunden at centre half.  Julian Edwards, Nathan Faulkes and George King up front scare the life out of teams so we have a great balance.

“The whole squad has been magic so far. We can’t ask for much more at this stage and I hope we continue to be consistent and play our best week in week out.”

Kent Football United thrashed Crockenhill 12-0 last weekend. Hollands & Blair beat Crocenhill 15-0.

The Crocks have lost all of their ten league games and have scored five and conceded 60 goals.

“The Crockenhill game was a bit embarrassing in truth,” admitted MacNeil.

“It wasn’t much of a game in all honesty and at this level score lines like that and what Hollands & Blair hit just shouldn’t be happening. 

“You take the positives which is three points and a morale boosting victory but you learn nothing from those games at all!

“I’m a 21-year-old manager plying my trade looking to challenge myself. I was bored after 15 minutes! It just wasn’t a contest.

“I can’t wait for games like Saturday. I’m right up for it as I know it’s a challenge on my team selection on my team selection, shape, attacking/defensive mentality, game plan and strategy execution.

“If I get it right we have a chance – there are no guarantees.

MacNeil’s side are eight points adrift of league leaders Lydd Town, but with two games in hand.

“Can we go on and win the title? Well there’s a question!

“I’m not going to give it the old cliché of let’s take one game at a time. We are in it to win as every team should be and our unbeaten opening eight games has given us a platform to push on from.

“I said last season we would consolidate with the team we had and we did that. My aim at the start of this season was promotion and that remains my aim.

“People closest to me know how ambitious I am and it’s time to really show it now and get my team in the mix all the way until April.

“My only worry is the distraction of cup competitions giving us a big back log as we are still in the League Cup, London Cup and Hospital Cup.

“We will be rotating the squad in those games as part of my squad management but clearly still being positive.

“The league is the bread and butter and if we aren’t playing Southern Counties East Football next season I will be disappointed.”

Meanwhile, Hollands & Blair manager Paul Piggott knows three points on Saturday will aid his side’s title challenge.

“We are a few games away from the half-way stage so the table has settled down a bit and we are sitting in the top pack,” said Piggott.

“We know that’s where we need to be to be able to challenge for the title then it’ll come down to who has the better squads as the weather hits and the heavier pitches kick in.

“There will be three or four teams that can win this league this year so it should be interesting viewing over the next few months.

“We’ll enjoy our football as we always do and see what happens.”

Looking ahead to Saturday’s clash against Kent Football United, Piggott said: “We’re looking forward to Saturday’s game as it’s a new look Kent Football United side coming to our place.

“They’ve started really well and are still undefeated. They’ll be coming full of confidence so we’ll have to be at our best to get something from the game.”

Visit Hollands & Blair’s website: www.hollandsandblair.co.uk

Visit Kent Football United’s website: www.pitchero.com/clubs/kentelitefootballclub

Hollands & Blair  v  Kent Football United
Kent Invicta League
Saturday 26^th October 2013
Kick Off 3:00pm
at Star Meadow Sports Club, Darland Avenue, Gillingham, Kent ME7 3AN