The Tuesday travelling kills us as we have a few players who work up town and they struggle to get to these games, says Phoenix Sports boss Paul Bryon

PHOENIX SPORTS manager Paul Bryon says he is facing another tricky midweek game at Herne Bay.

 

The club are in third-place in the Bostik South East Division table with 16 points from nine games after being held to a 2-2 draw at home to Whyteleafe yesterday.

“We are coming to the end of a busy period right now with Guernsey away on a Saturday, a trip to Horsham on a Tuesday, then Whyteleafe at home yesterday and then Herne Bay away on Tuesday night, which is quite a bit of travelling and the Tuesday travelling kills us as we have a few players who work up town and they struggle to get to these games,” said Bryon.

“However, we did have a Saturday off when we found out at 9:30pm on the Friday that we were out of The FA Cup, which was a genuine mistake and a harsh punishment.

“But I am proud of the way the players have reacted to it and performed over the last eight days.

“I really don’t want to say anymore on the subject. The club have made a statement and we need to move on now.”

Reflecting on their impressive 5-3 win in Guernsey, Bryon said: “I was very pleased with the resilience against Guernsey. We know they are tough to beat at home especially if you give them a two goal lead but we got a grip on the game and I think we deserved it on our second half performance.”

Phoenix Sports then came away from Horsham on the end of a 3-2 defeat last Tuesday night.

Bryon said:  “We then went away to Horsham, who play in Lancing, on Tuesday night and I lost a couple due to work and not being able to get there but we started well and for 20 minutes we were comfortable and got two goals to the good but we switched off and let them back in to the game and looked tired in the second half.

“I have a good bunch but a small squad and they have played a lot of minutes already this season, so sometimes you will get this after a Saturday-Tuesday-Saturday, but it was disappointing to come away empty handed especially when you have a two goal lead, especially when you have a team who are amongst the teams fancied for the play-offs in four days time.”

Phoenix needed a Jack Barry late equaliser to earn a point against Harry Hudson’s Whyteleafe at the weekend.

“We did our homework on Whyteleafe as they have changed since last year and we had a plan, which after we negotiated the first 20 minutes worked well and if we had taken our chances in the early stages of the second half, would have given us all three points but some strange incidents led us to be 2-1 down,” said Bryon.

“But for the second time in a week we fought hard and got a point, which I believed was well-deserved.”

Herne Bay are sitting at the foot of the table with five points from six games but they haven’t played since their 5-4 win at Ramsgate on Tuesday 25 September.

“We have another tough Tuesday night fixture which is Herne Bay away and again we will have to wait until the morning of the game to see if I can get everyone there,” revealed Bryon.

“We know a lot about them and have some good info on them so if we perform to our ability we can make a game of it and hopefully get something from it.”

Bryon appointed former Sittingbourne manager and Sheppey United assistant Nick Davis to join his management team on 30 September.

“We are delighted to have him join the team at the second attempt.  I tried to get him in before but he had already committed to Sheppey.

“Nick’s a genuine person and highly knowledgeable and he has already had a massive involvement in our plan against Whyteleafe and I am looking forward to working with him and learning from him. He is a great addition.”

Phoenix Sports host their league rivals Ramsgate in The Buildbase FA Trophy Preliminary Round on Saturday.

Eleventh-placed Rams were knocked out of The FA Cup in the Third Qualifying Round yesterday, going down to a 5-0 defeat away to Vanarama National League South side Hemel Hempstead Town.

“I will be double checking the team sheet and looking forward to the cup. They’re always good occasions and gives us a chance to get some of the £6,000 we had taken away from us due to The FA Cup.

“I watched Ramsgate and they are a good side so another tough test but one we are looking forward to.

“If we have a fit squad we will make a game of it and play our way and see what happens after the 90 minutes.”

Meanwhile, Phoenix Sports’ Academy coach Alfie Pavey – a striker who plays for Vanarama National League strugglers Havant & Waterlooville – has been selected for the England C squad that plays Estonia U23 at Leyton Orient’s Brisbane Road on Wednesday 10 October.

Visit Phoenix Sports’ website:   www.phoenixsportsclub.co.uk

Herne Bay  v  Phoenix Sports
Bostik South East Division
Tuesday 9 October 2018
Kick Off 7:45pm
at Winch’s Field, Stanley Gardens, Herne Bay, Kent CT6 5SG