Kentish Football 
Miles targets four wins to maintain Ryman League status - EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW
Chatham Town manager Phil Miles welcomes Clive Walker back to Maidstone Road for a Kent Senior Cup first round tie tonight, writes Stephen McCartney.
Former Chats boss Walker has recently returned from his back operation to return to the Dover Athletic hot-seat after his period of sick-leave when Terry White was caretaker.
“People were concerned the operation was a serious one and people can’t believe he’s back after six weeks in the dug-out - it’s fantastic to see him back,” Miles said EXCLUSIVELY to www.kentishfootball.co.uk this morning.
Chatham remain in the bottom six in the Ryman League Division One South table following their 1-1 draw at fellow strugglers Ashford Town on Saturday.
Rob Denness scored for the Medway side, who also had defender Rob Goodger sent off but Ashford striker George Fenwick scored his fifteenth goal of the season late on to salvage a point.
“We were quite comfortable to be honest,” said Miles. “It wasn’t a great game, we created the better chances again but couldn’t finish the game off.
“We went down to ten men, which was probably a small factor of us conceding late on as they pushed four men forward and kept knocking the ball forward and unfortunately we conceded right in the end - very disappointing.”
The draw leaves Miles’ men just four points above the drop zone - which is where Ashford Town are.
Croydon Athletic are five points above Chatham and Miles feels his side can claw back the deficit on the Surrey side with victory over third from bottom side Walton Casuals at Maidstone Road on Saturday.
“We need to win as many games as possible from now until the end of the season,” said Miles.
“We’ve played Ashford twice and got four points out of a possible six, which is quite pleasing.
“We know that draws are not good enough for us at the moment.”
Looking ahead to tonight’s showdown with Dover, Miles revealed that two reserve team players will start, with another couple on the bench.
Tyrone Walker (forward) and Craig Govey (left-sided midfielder) have been given a chance to impress, whilst forward Sam Phillips (not the midfielder that plays for Kent League side Tunbridge Wells) and full-back Bradley King start on the bench.
“There’s no pressure on us as it’s a cup game,” said Miles. “The pressure that I have is the pressure I put on myself.
“I’m not sure what side Dover will put out. Results haven’t gone their way so is this a chance of putting their first team out or their youngsters or squad members that aren’t playing a regular game?
Miles admitted that Saturday’s home showdown against Walton Casuals is a game they can ill afford to lose.
“They’re all six pointers for us,” he said. “We need to be winning games at the moment. We’re playing teams around us so obviously it’s better (than playing) the Maidstone’s, Dartford’s, Dover’s and Dulwich’s.
“We need to get points off the teams in the same position as us.
“It’s another tough game for us and they looked useful when we played them away just before Christmas. We took our chances in a 3-1 win and then they beat Dover away in their next game.
“On the day it’s who really wants to win the game, whether it’s us or them.
“They’re all mini-cup finals from now on. Ashford looked like they were going to lose 1-0 but they threw four men up front at the end but we couldn’t clear it and we were punished for it.”
Miles insisted that his side will win enough games to maintain their Ryman League status.
He said: “I think we will stay up as we’ve got enough in the squad.
“I’m not saying we’ll win loads of games between now and the end of the season but we’re looking to win four games, which should be ok to consolidate ourselves in the league."
The Faversham born boss added: “During the last four games we’ve only let in two goals, which is pleasing.”
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Chatham Town v Dover Athletic
Kent Senior Cup First Round
Tuesday 20th February 2007
Kick Off 7:45pm
At Maidstone Road, Chatham, Kent ME4 6ES
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