Lovell relishing tasty festive fixtures - EXCLUSIVE

Monday 24th December 2007

Out of all the Kent football managers, Steve Lovell has arguably the tastiest festive fixtures, writes Stephen McCartney.

The Ashford Town boss welcomes Ryman League Division One South leaders Dover Athletic to The Homelands on Boxing Day, before playing his former club Sittingbourne at Bourne Park next Saturday.

Lovell won his first match as Nuts & Bolts boss – at the eighth attempt – at the weekend when goals from Paul Jones and his son Mark sealed an impressive 2-1 win at Kingstonian.

But the victory had been on the cards, according to the Welshman.

“Very good performance,” Lovell said EXCLUSIVELY to www.kentishfootball.co.uk.

“The last four games have been a marked improvement and all that’s been lacking in the previous three games was the result.

“Saturday was what we’ve been aiming to do for the last four games.

“It’s always nice to win your games, whether it’s your first, tenth or fifteenth game.

“I’m pleased with the players, they’ve worked very hard over the last three or four weeks, trying to turn it around.

“It will boost their confidence as well, ready for the next couple of games.”

Andy Hessenthaler brings his league leaders to The Homelands on Boxing Day with a five point lead over second placed rivals Tooting & Mitcham United – with two games in hand.

“Very tough,” predicted Lovell. “Obviously they’re doing well this year, top of the league and it’s going to be a very hard game for us.

“But these are the kinds of games that you love playing against, the better teams, especially on Boxing Day. It will be a great occasion.”

Former Dover defender Nick Humphrey, however, is rated doubtful with a dead leg, whilst former Sittingbourne man Mitchell Sherwood has a tight hamstring. Danny Lye, meanwhile, is suffering from flu.

But former Hastings United defender Sean Ray comes back into the side having served his one match ban at Kingstonian.

Lovell is looking forward to his reunion with Sittingbourne and their chairman Andy Spice.

Lovell quit the Bourne Park club to replace Clive Walker, who was controversially sacked immediately after Ashford Town’s 3-1 home win over Whitstable Town on 30^th October.

“I’ll approach it the same way as any other game,” said Lovell. “It’s what other people make of the game not me. I’ll prepare properly for it.

“I always look forward to going back to Sittingbourne, nice people, and over the last sort of ten years, I’ve spent a lot of time at the club.

“I’m looking forward to it, to the game, and obviously what’s gone on adds a bit of Spice to the occasion, if you excuse the pun.”

Visit club websites:

www.ashfordtownfc.co.uk

www.doverathletic.com

Ashford Town v Dover Athletic
Ryman League Division One South
Boxing Day, Wednesday 26^th December 2007
Kick Off 3:00pm
At The Homelands, Ashford Road, Kingsnorth, Ashford, Kent TN26 1NJ