My players have bonded really well, says Sevenoaks Town boss Simon Jones

Thursday 02nd August 2012

SEVENOAKS TOWN’S players will have their final training session tonight, ahead of their Kent Hurlimann Football League opening game of the season at Erith Town on Saturday.
Boss Simon Jones admitted he dotted a few i's and crossed more t's on the make-up of his squad during the 2-0 home defeat by Herne Bay last Saturday, ahead of naming his first 16-man squad for the trip to Erith Stadium, and a tough challenge against one of the leading sides last season.

Jones told www.sevenoakstownfc.org: "A month ago we were a band of strangers, and my biggest concern then was can we build a squad of players that will trust and believe in each other.

"There has not been one bad word, they have bonded really well, and for me personally it is a remarkable situation to be in, after only the best part of a month together."

Jones was pleased with his side's final warm-up game despite the 2-0 defeat against Kent League champions Herne Bay at Greatness Park.

The match was played on the second pitch, as ground improvement work is being carried out on the main ground to meet the demands of improvements required by the FA and the Kent League.

However, both surfaces have benefited from the unseasonal amount of rain which has fallen in this excuse of a British summer.

Jones said: "It was a good work out against a very good side. I felt that while we didn't create a lot in the first half, we had the better chances, only to go behind to a penalty, which on another day might not have been given.

“Second half, a bit like the Chatham game last week, we started to move the ball better, there was bit more belief with each other, and we were really in the game.

"Karl Balogun and one of two others had good chances top get straight back into it, but we made a few changes, and they got the second which took the stuffing out of us towards the end.

"I couldn't really fault the commitment of attitude of my players.

"We were missing a few - didn't have a left side to speak of and others were asked to do a job on the day to help the side, and they all emerged with a great deal of credit."

Visit Sevenoaks Town’s website: www.sevenoakstownfc.org

Erith Town v Sevenoaks Town
Kent Hurlimann Football League
Saturday 4^th August 2012
Kick Off 3:00pm
at Erith Stadium, Avenue Road, Erith, Kent DA8 3AT