We’re nowhere near in the league of the other guys that are vying for the top title and wanting to go up but we’ll put the best effort we can to finish as high as we can, says Sevenoaks Town boss Micky Collins

SEVENOAKS TOWN manager Micky Collins says he is playing down his side’s chances of winning the league title at the end of the season.

The club enjoyed their best ever FA Cup run in their history when they defeated Sporting Club Thamesmead, Horsham and Lewes before going out in a replay to Evo-Stik Southern Premier League side Chesham United in the Second Qualifying Round.

As a result, Sevenoaks Town have three games in hand on leaders Ashford United and are in fifth-place in the Southern Counties East Football League Premier Division table with 27 points from 12 games.

They are seven points adrift of Ashford United and welcome seventh-placed Cray Valley to Greatness Park.

“Tough game, Saturday, we know that and we’ve spoken about it and that will be a tough game,” said Collins after coming away from Beckenham Town with a 2-0 win in the Macron Challenge Cup Second Round on Wednesday night.

“They’ll want to come to us and get three points and visa versa.  We’ve got to keep plugging away, we know that we’ve got the three games in hand but you need to win those three games.  We’ve just got to keep plugging away, ticking them off.  As I’ve said all along, let’s get into Christmas and then we’ll have a look at it.

“Greenwich proved it last year and if you’re good from Christmas in, normally you’ll go on and win the title.”

Ashford United, Crowborough Athletic, AFC Croydon Athletic and Sheppey United are above Sevenoaks Town in the league table and Collins insists his side are underdogs for the league title.

He said: “You’ve got to win the three games in hand. The others have got the points in their bags so we’re still clearly the underdogs by a mile but I’m quite happy in that position.”

Collins has a supportive chairman in Paul Lansdale and will have funds available to mount a title bid in the New Year.

“Financially, The FA Cup run helped us massively as well, so that may help us later in the season,” said Collins.

“The budget that we set for our club is set at the start of the season and that will last for the 40 weeks that we need it to and that’s a bonus and if we get into a position where I need to use it then I’m sure the chairman will help me and support me.”

When asked about guiding Sevenoaks Town to the league title, Collins is playing it cool.

“Title? No! We’ll go to finish as high as we can. Last year we finished fifth. We’re nowhere near in the league of the other guys that are vying for the top title and wanting to go up but we’ll put the best effort we can to finish as high as we can. That’s why the guys are here and if we finish in the top four, I’ll be more than happy with that.”

Visit Sevenoaks Town’s website: www.sevenoakstownfc.co.uk

Sevenoaks Town  v  Cray Valley (Paper Mills)
Southern Counties East Football League Premier Division
Saturday 12^th November 2016
Kick Off 3:00pm
At Greatness Park, Mill Lane, Seal Road, Sevenoaks, Kent