Kentish Football 
Kent derbies give Ryman League "added spice"
Lloyd Hume believes the number of Kent derbies in the Ryman League Division One South is making the division “very tough”, writes Stephen McCartney.
The Maidstone United joint-manager was delighted with his side following their impressive display on Saturday, winning 4-2 at league leaders Dover Athletic.
That win, in front of the largest crowd of the season at Crabble, puts the Stones in third place.
Dover Athletic, meanwhile, drop to fourth and following their 2-1 win at Sittingbourne, Dartford reclaimed top spot.
“It’s a very good result but it’s one I was expecting if I’m honest and that’s no disrespect to Dover,” Hume told www.kentishfootball.co.uk afterwards.
“I’ve said all week and I’ve said all along that against top teams we seem to play a lot better and the harder challenges for us is when we play Chatham on Wednesday night rather than big games like this because we always up the level of our play. So I was expecting us to do well today and it’s not a surprise for me.
Pacy attackers Nick Hegley and Alex Tiesse caused the league leaders plenty of problems throughout and both were on the score sheet during the first half of the enthralling Kent derby.
“We play with two very good wide men and Nick Hegley caused them all sorts of problems and they didn’t know how to deal with them,” said Hume.
“I was disappointed with the goals we conceded because they were very sloppy, but in the end we’ve won 4-2 away at the top of the league (side) so I’ve got to be happy.”
The Stones, Kent League champions last season, took their time to find their feet in their new surroundings but a run of just one defeat in their last fourteen league games has put the club in a great position to deliver Ryman Premier League football to the County Town next season following their twenty year exile.
“To be honest, I was disappointed with the start we made,” admitted Hume. “We had enough players, enough quality in our team, of people who have been at higher levels of football to do better.
“But we’ve added Ryan Royston back to our squad, we’ve added Lee Shearer, whose been fantastic for us, and the players have just grown into this level.
“It was a bit of a culture shock for some of them but now they understand their jobs a little bit better. Our pattern of play has become a lot stronger defensively as a team. That’s not just the back four, that’s everyone.
“Everyone understands what’s required at this level, or you’ll get punished.”
Despite it’s mockers, however, the physical battles experienced in Kent League football prepares you for life in the Ryman League
“The Kent League is at least as tough as this league if I’m being honest, which is why Ramsgate came up and done very well and went on to win it and is why we’re doing very well,” explained Hume.
“It’s very competitive the Kent League. Everybody knows everyone and pretty much every week’s a cup final and that’s why Chatham, Sittingbourne, them sorts of games are games we really need to win if we push on and do well in this league.
“When you go to places like Dover, Leatherhead and Kingstonian, it’s easy to go there and play well.”
Maidstone United can go four points clear at the top if they win their games in hand - but Hume, like other managers, would like the points in the bag.
He said: “It makes me feel nervous about these games coming up, we’ve got a couple of them coming up.
“Fleet away is going to be a huge test because I said right from the start from the season (that) they’re the best side in the league, so we’ve got a couple of tough games.”
Chatham Town arrive at Bourne Park on Wednesday night looking to bring the Stones back down to earth.
Hume added: “We’ve got the Chatham game, which I think, is going to be tough irrespective of their league position, and Fleet.
“If we get through our next three games and win them, I can hand on heart say we should go and finish in the top two.
“But the next three games can change anything if we lose them.
“Winning is a good habit. It’s a habit we’re getting used to and when you’re in the habit they seem to come along so easily but so do losses and that’s why were at the start of the season.
“We’ve got to keep our feet on the ground, keep a level head, understand our jobs and keep doing what we’re doing and doing it well and see where we end up at the end.”
Other than Chatham, the Stones still have to lock horns with Ashford Town, Dartford and Sittingbourne and Hume doesn’t want them to wreck their chances.
“It’s the Kent derbies and they make it really hard,” he said.
“When you go to places like Corinthians and Godalming, they’re still tough but it’s a different type of atmosphere and we don’t know each other, there’s no added spice.
“There’s no-one playing better like they normally do but you expect your life when we’re playing Chatham on Wednesday night, they’ll be a completely different team from the one that hasn’t performed well over the last couple of months.”
Chatham Town manager Phil Miles, however, insisted his side will give a good account of themselves at Bourne Park.
“We’ll give it a go,” he said EXCLUSIVELY to www.kentishfootball.co.uk. “If we can play as well as we have been over the last two or three games then possibly we can get something out of the game.
“Maidstone are riding high at the moment, flying, and had a great result at Dover on Saturday and are full of confidence.
“We’re so unpredictable as a side anyway. If we turn up and play as well as we can then there’s no reason why we shouldn’t get something out of the game.
“But it’s going to be another tough game. They’re one of the form sides at the moment.”
Miles explained the inconsistent nature of the division at present.
“We played Tooting & Mitcham a couple of weeks ago and they were a form side and we lost 1-0 and played quite well and I felt we deserved a point then Dover went there on Tuesday night and Tooting won 4-1.
“If we can perform to the best of our ability we can take points off anyone. We just have to be on top of our game.”
Miles admitted life is tougher at Maidstone Road with a smaller budget compared with the three bigger Kent clubs - Dartford, Maidstone United and Dover Athletic.
But he believes so many derby games are good for the division.
He said: “Us, Sittingbourne, Dartford, Dover, everyone knows everyone. All the players know each other, either players were with each other during their careers or have played against them.
“There’s that extra rivalry and spice and there’s quite a few Kent sides in this league but if you look at the Kent sides in the league you would say that the people with the better budgets pick up the better players in the Kent area.
“Everyone’s fighting for the similar players, a decent centre forward, a goalkeeper. We’re all competing against each other but it makes it interesting as your budget and the players we’ve got goes out of the window as it all depends on how you respond on the day.”
Several sides have shown all it takes is a decent run and you’ll climb the table. The Stones, Hastings United, Cray Wanderers and Tooting & Mitcham are all prime examples of that.
“Everyone you talk to in this league expresses how up and down it is,” said Miles
“Maidstone have proved it, Tooting and Hastings. Maidstone have hit form at the right time.
“For the clubs who want to go up and push on and progress this is the time to hit the right form.
Relishing the derby atmosphere, Miles added: “We played Maidstone earlier in the season and I thought on the day we deserved a point.
“It’s going to be tough, hopefully the game will be on and we give a good account of ourselves. Hopefully Maidstone will have an off night and we’ll be able to nick something from the game.”
Miles revealed that left-sided midfielder, or full-back, Ross Finn has made himself available for selection after recovering from his knee injury having played two games for the reserve side.
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Maidstone United v Chatham Town
Ryman League Division One South
Wednesday 14th February 2007
Kick Off 7:45pm
At Sittingbourne FC, Bourne Park, Central Park, Eurolink, Church Road, Sittingbourne ME10 3SB
Red Dragon I.T. Ltd