Rusthall 1-4 Hildenborough Athletic - Adam Davies is a quality player, says boss Andrew McKechnie

RUSTHALL  1-4  HILDENBOROUGH ATHLETIC
Pre-Season Friendly
Saturday 27^th July 2013
Stephen McCartney reports from Jockey Farm

HILDENBOROUGH ATHLETIC manager Andrew McKechnie hailed his side after they brought Rusthall back down to earth two weeks before the start of the home club’s Kent Invicta League campaign.

Rusthall went into the game on the back of home wins over Crowborough Athletic (5-1) and Bexhill United (1-0), before they completed a shock 3-1 win over FA Carlsberg Vase runners-up Tunbridge Wells here last Tuesday evening.

But Rusthall were humbled by a Hildenborough Athletic side that clinched the Haart of Kent County League Premier Division title on the final day of last season, thanks to Fleet Leisure’s 2-1 win over champions-elect Metrogas at Coney Hall’s Tiepigs Lane ground ten weeks’ ago.

Fleet Leisure, who finished in fourth-place, grabbed promotion into the Kent Invicta League, thanks to their groundshare agreement at Rochester United, but champions Hildenborough must stay where they are because their ground in Tonbridge doesn’t meet the necessary ground grading.

But their performance here today warrants that they are good enough to lock horns with Rusthall in the Kent Invicta League.

Kicking down the slope, Hildenborough Athletic were deservedly 3-0 up the break, courtesy of striker Dean Spenceley, influential skipper Adam Davies and central midfielder Steve Ashmore.

Rusthall forced their way back into the game with a better second half performance and substitute Matt Parsons stroked home a first time shot, before Hildenborough scored late on through substitute Jake Chandler, 19.

“Good performance, especially in the first half,” said McKechnie, 29, who has guided the club from Division One of the Sevenoaks & District League to Haart of Kent County League Premier champions in a successful six year period.

“We played good football and moved the ball around well. When we didn’t have possession we worked very hard to shut them down so first half, very happy.

“Second half, I thought for half an hour we played well again, but the last fifteen minutes we weren’t quite fit enough and we did die off and ended up playing too many long balls and gave possession away and that’s something we’ve got enough time to work on before the start of the season.”

Rusthall manager Gary Sharman, 53, meanwhile, explained why his side failed to repeat the same performance against Martin Larkin’s Wembley bravehearts.

He said: “The thoughts on this game was we were playing a lot of players that have not had minutes so far this pre-season so we wasn’t coming out to win, although that is the goal.

“We came out and felt a little bit too much pressure in the first half. I started to make changes in the second half, obviously bringing back to a stronger squad.

“It was about minutes today. It wasn’t about the win but fair play to Hildenborough. They gave us a good game and moved the ball around well.

“I thought second half we showed a little bit more spirit and moved on.  We put out a stronger squad and we were expecting more from the boys, but they’ve had three games in a week, a lot of tired legs.  We’ll move on from this.  We’ve got Rye next week as our last pre-season game. Again we’ll be resting players, ready for the start of the season (away to Bridon Ropes on 10 August).

Dark stormy clouds and pelting rain was welcomed for the green grass during the opening 30 minutes, but Hildenborough Athletic’s explosive start put Rusthall immediately on the back foot.

A poor clearance out of Rusthall’s defence by Calum Hopkins sailed out to Hildenborough winger Joe Adams, who raced down the left before whipping in a dipping cross which forced Dan Brisefer to use his outstretched left hand to palm the ball over the bar inside the opening eight minutes.

Rusthall created a chance themselves when Charlie Sharman played the ball into Josh Fermor, who laid the ball back to Sharman, whose right-footed drive from 35-yards sailed over.

Rusthall’s keeper made a brilliant save to thwart Hildenborough.

Ashmore started the move and released striker Chris Stoate galloping down the right before he reached the by-line and cut the ball back.

The ball fell nicely to Ashmore who struck a left-footed shot from 20-yards, which took a deflection and keeper Brisefer dived full-length to his left to tip the ball around his post.

Rusthall boss Sharman said: “One minute he made super saves, next minute some horrors. We’ll have to move on from it.”

McKechnie added: “Two very good saves, both of them looked like they were creeping in.  I know their keeper a little bit and he’s an excellent shot stopper.

“Steve Ashmore’s done everything you could ask. He got it on target into the corner and the keeper’s pulled off a great save!”

Rusthall’s Nick Hollyoak ran forward before cracking a right-footed drive from 25-yards, which sailed over the stranded Ben Carter and only just cleared the crossbar.

But Hildenborough punished poor goalkeeping from Brisefer to take a deserved sixteenth minute lead.

The keeper’s under-hit clearance was headed diagonally by Stoate and found the unmarked Spenceley inside the box and the striker took a touch before stroking home a right-footed shot across the keeper to find the bottom far corner from fifteen-yards.

McKechnie said: “The keeper didn’t take the best of goal-kicks and Chris Stoate was alive to it, a simple header across the box and Dean Spenceley, again alive to the situation lifted it around the onrushing keeper into the back of the net. It was a good goal and the fact that we were alive to the situation.”

Gary Sharman said: “Again, we were trying players in positions in the first half.  For us strength at the back hasn’t told for us in the last three games prior to today.  I’m not particularly worried about it. We didn’t have the strength in defence. We were only playing three at the back and they finished it with a very good strike.”

Ashmore whipped in an excellent corner from the right which Darren Yeung rose at the near post to plant his header over the bar from eight-yards, before Spenceley’s pass set up a chance for Stoate, who hit a right-footed half-volley straight at Brisefer.

But shell-shocked Rusthall squandered an excellent chance to grab an equaliser in the 29^th minute.

Jonny Elwood and striker Bobby Dixey linked up well down the right and the former Tonbridge Angels striker played the ball inside to skipper Alex Carey, who placed a right-footed shot across the keeper, which slipped agonisingly past the foot of the far post.

“It was a great effort,” hailed Gary Sharman.  “Alex has got a tremendous shot on him!  We’ve got expectations for Alex, as we have all the players.  We’ve got a great squad there, if we can keep them together.”

McKechnie added: “We didn’t get close enough to their midfielders. We got a little bit slack for five minutes. We gave their midfielder a bit too much space. He was unlucky. Ben in goal didn’t have to make the save. He looked like he could get down there but the Rusthall player was unlucky with that effort.”

Hildenborough continued to press and Stoate was released down the hill before cutting the ball back from the by-line.  The ball bounced off Spenceley, who was stretching at the near post, and the ball was picked up by Stoate, who cracked a left-footed angled drive, which deflected over the crossbar.

Ashmore whipped in another excellent in-swinging corner from the right but Bruce Sands glanced his header wide of the post after peeling off his marker.

Ashmore then swept in a low cross from the left, which was chased and collected by Nathan Moseley, who played the ball inside to Stoate, whose left-footed drive flashed just wide of the post.

Hildenborough deservedly doubled their lead in the 39^th minute, with keeper Brisefer at fault.

Hildenborough were awarded a free-kick on the touchline 40-yards from goal and Ashmore whipped in an excellent delivery into a crowded penalty area.  The ball bounced off the pitch and Davies rose with the keeper and claimed that he got a touch as the ball missed his head and sailed into the roof of the net.

The dubious goals panel sat and awarded the goal to Ashmore.

McKechnie said: “They’re still arguing about it! Adam Davies is saying it’s definitely his goal. I’m not sure. They can carry on arguing about it!

“Stevie Ashmore, as you know, has always played a good standard of football and his deliveries are one of the best part of his game.  We had a good six or seven corners (Hildenborough won the corner count 11-4) and he only hit one or two good ones and the rest he was over hitting them, which is very unlike him because his deliveries are normally outstanding.

“But he just put it into a decent area for that goal.  It looks like Adam got a touch. There was a lot of players pushing on the keeper, but it bounced quite heavy before it found its way into the back of the net.”

Boss Sharman blamed his keeper for the error in judgement that lead to the goal.

He said: “He shouldn’t be able to score from way out there! Keeper’s mistake.  It just bounced.  The keeper’s aware of his mistake and he’ll move on from that.”

Rusthall were on the ropes and Hildenborough went close when winger Joe Adams swung in a free-kick from the left touchline and Spenceley beat his marker at the near post to send his downward header into Brisefer’s gloves.

But a piece of quality by man-of-the-match Davies gave Hildenborough Athletic a deserved 3-0 lead at the break, scoring 16 seconds into time added on.

Davies capped off an inspirational display when he stepped up and bent a 25-yard right-footed free-kick around the wall and the ball nestled into the bottom near corner.

On this performance, Davies can certainly play at a higher level of football and any club who need a commanding central defender who is excellent in the air and leads by example, should look to sign the 25-year-old.

“I had a great view of that actually,” said McKechnie.  “I was just behind the ball and that had some real bend on it. The wall was placed right but he just had a hell of a lot of bend on it to bend that into the bottom corner.”

McKechnie said he will not stand in any of his players way if they want to try their luck at a higher level of football.

But he revealed Davies has played Sussex County League football for East Grinstead Town but returned because he wasn’t happy there.

He said: “Adam Davies always is (immense).  He is a top quality player. We’ve had him now since he was eighteen. He has the potential to play higher. Last season he did go to East Grinstead and he didn’t overly enjoy it. He was playing every week but he didn’t enjoy it. He’s happy where he is because he loves it. He’s the captain, he’s the main man, but his attitude is always first class.”

Boss Sharman added: “Same problem! The keeper was aware that he hadn’t protected his goal prior to the free-kick. Again, keeper error and it’s one of the things we have to improve on.”

Brisefer’s last contribution of the game before being substituted at the break was to spill Stoate’s shot (gathering at the second attempt) after Sands reached the by-line and cut the ball back towards the near post.

When asked how he was feeling with his side 3-0 up at the break, McKechnie said: “There was a few areas where we need to improve on, don’t hold on to the ball so much, keep it moving.  I was happy with the wingers, confident that they were taking on the Rusthall defence and causing problems all day long with the ball. We were very good and without it same again. We matched the work-rate and we played well.”

Davies was unlucky not to score his second of the game in the 56^th minute when the crossbar saved Rusthall’s substitute keeper Phil Hawkins.

Adams swung in an excellent corner from the right and Davies’ glancing header clipped the crossbar and bounced behind for a goal-kick.

McKechnie added: “He was unlucky. It was a good delivery. Adam shaped his body well. It looked like it was going to creep in but just hit the bar and out.”

However, much to their credit, Rusthall started to fight back.

Substitute Ed Sharman drilled a shot into the foot of the side netting with keeper Carter beaten, before a slip from Hildenborough defender Luke Stratford let in Parsons, who stroked a right-footed shot from 20-yards, which bounced into Carter’s arms.

With Hildenborough tiring, Rusthall pumped crosses into the penalty area, but they didn’t look like scoring until the 77^th minute.

Hollyoak whipped in a left-footed free-kick from the inside left channel which Carter failed to gather and his defence twice failed to get the ball away and Rusthall substitute Luke Rivers was unlucky when he clipped a left-footed shot narrowly past the right-hand post.

An even better chance fell to former Tonbridge Angels’ striker Bobby Dixey, where his powerful near post header from six-yards was caught by Carter.

Rusthall pulled a goal back with six minutes remaining when referee Eric Bass – who was struggling to keep up with play throughout – played a good advantage to allow the ball to find Hollyoak on the left flank.

Hollyoak burst forward before whipping in a precise cross-field pass across the face of the goal and the unmarked Parson’s swept a first-time right-footed shot into the back of the net from six-yards.

Boss Sharman said: “Again, if you’ve been here in the last two or three games those sort of crosses have come in, in regular intervals and we’ve been scoring some tremendous goals.”

McKechnie admitted: “That was the period where we just died off a little bit. We were getting tired and the same happened on Wednesday. We put a lot into Wednesday’s game (a 3-1 defeat to Kent Invicta League side Glebe).

“What I did say to them before the game if we were getting quite tired in the last ten minutes in the friendlies, look after the ball a little bit.  We gave it away in midfield and that’s what caused the Rusthall break. The rest of the game we were quite tight defensively. We done well. There was just one error to give that goal away.”  

A ball out of defence by Davies found Spenceley, who clipped a quality diagonal cross towards the far post, which sailed over Fermor’s head and set up Chandler, who cut inside and flashed his right-footed angled drive agonisingly past the foot of the far post.

Rusthall pressed again and should have scored a second goal when Hawkins pumped a long free-kick into the Hildenborough penalty area and Carter failed to gather and allowed Parsons to head against the bar and Hopkins looped his header over from close range.

Hildenborough scored their fourth goal in the third minute of time added on when Moseley’s clever pass released Chandler through on goal and this time he slotted his shot across Hawkins to find the bottom far corner of the net with a sweet finish with the outside of his right-foot.

McKechnie was full of praise for the teenager and said: “He’s only young, he’s only nineteen. He’s got a lot of ability. He’s a top player to work with. The reason why I put him on the left was because he’s got that ability to cut inside and he’s got a very good shot on him and he can play up top as well.

“He’s had the one chance that just went wide and a few minutes later near enough the same chance he beats his man again, this time he put it into the bottom corner and that’s what you’re looking for.  The second one was a lovely little finish.”

Boss Sharman added: “Good finish by Jake Chandler. It was a good pass, a defensive error again. We’ve improved in the second half, but we’ve got a couple of training sessions prior to the season starting. We work together. We’re a team. We’re a collective squad. Everybody knows their role and we were asking boys to play out of position for us when you need them to.  They’re stepping up doing their job for us and they’ve been super.”

Boss Sharman was asked how his side can beat their Southern Counties East Football League neighbours Tunbridge Wells, yet go down to a humiliating defeat to a lower league side at home only four days later.

“Unfortunately you’ve come today and you haven’t seen the football we’ve been producing in the last three games,” was his reply. “They were tremendous games prior but today we really wanted to work the other players to see who we wanted to sign up in the squad and it was more about giving time to players that had no time basically within the squad.

“We started with a very, very, it probably not fair to say a weaker squad.  We had several players out there that have not had minutes and unfortunately we made a lot of errors in the first half.

“We wanted the boys to do a job for us to secure a position. Some did and something that we’re working on.

“Positives? We turned it round.  If I take the full squad out and the squad is fit I think we’re going to be hard to beat this season.

“Negatives? Probably not a lot of negatives. We played players out of position and we asked boys to play a role and we asked them to work hard and they worked hard.  Hildenborough were the better side in the first half.”

McKechnie added: “It’s not bad.  Pre-season results don’t always mean a lot, but I’m really happy with the way we played with or without the ball. We played really well today.”

Rusthall: Dan Brisefer (Phil Hawkins 46), Josh Fermor, Stuart Hunter (Will McAvoy 46), John Phillips (Luke Rivers 58), Calum Hopkins, Jonny Elwood (Sam Stevens 65), Charlie Sharman (Ed Sharman 44), Alex Carey, Bobby Dixey, Ben Fitzgerald (Matt Parsons 32), Nick Hollyoak.
Sub: Tom Skilton

Goal: Matt Parsons 84

Hildenborough Athletic: Ben Carter, Adam Davies, Alfie Hall (Michael Tubb 43), Nathan Mosely, Joe Adams (Jake Chandler 77), Luke Stratford, Danny Yeung, Steve Ashmore, Dean Spenceley, Chris Stoate (Scott Lock 46), Bruce Sands (Lee Cooper 46).

Goals: Dean Spenceley 16, Steve Ashmore 39, Adam Davies 45, Jake Chandler 90

Attendance: 58
Referee: Mr Eric Bass (Sevenoaks)
Assistants: Mr Tony Gamberdella (Tunbridge Wells) & Mr James Gamberdella (Tunbridge Wells)