Sevenoaks Town 0-0 VCD Athletic - Frost: I don't want the job - EXCLUSIVE

Tuesday 03rd April 2007

SEVENOAKS TOWN 0-0 VCD ATHLETIC
Kent League Premier Division
Tuesday 3^rd April 2007
Stephen McCartney reports from Greatness Park

Caretaker manager Dean Frost has put himself out of the running for the vacant managers job at VCD Athletic.

The Vickers’ assistant manager, 30, was appointed caretaker manager for their last eight Kent League games of this season following the shock resignation of long-serving boss Martin Ford at the weekend.

Ford, whose served the Crayford club for the last fourteen years, cited “personal reasons” for his departure.

“It’s been coming over the last few months, Martin probably hasn’t been very happy,” Frost admitted EXCLUSIVELY to www.kentishfootball.co.uk following tonight’s stalemate at Greatness Park that keeps the club in fourth place.

He added: “Martin resigned, that’s all I can say. I first found out on Monday morning.

“He told me and after that I was asked to take control until the end of the season, which I’m going to do – you can’t leave the lads on their own.”

The former VCD, Dartford and Bromley central defender will call upon the guidance of Peter Burke and experienced campaigners Terry Barry and Paul Foley during this crisis.

“I don’t know if I’ll become manager,” admitted Frost.

“I’m a caretaker manager put it that way and that’s all I am at the moment.

“Terry Barry is working hard in the dressing room, just making sure everything’s on board.

“It’s just me and Peter Burke (in the technical area) as normal. I don’t need too many voices (as) I’m quite happy with my own actually.

“I’ll take it along with experienced people like Terry Barry and Paul Foley, whose put in a bit of impetus and has his own ideas.”

With Frost playing down his own chances of becoming permanent manager, this job will spark interest.

“At the end of the day it may not be for me,” he said. “I do love my coaching and I think I’m reasonably good at it and I can get better at it even more so.

“But managers a totally different job full stop and I’ve learnt that in the last 24 hours.”

Tonight, the Green Army, squandered a chance of climbing into second place after being held to a goal-less draw by in-form Sevenoaks Town.

Sevenoaks stretched their unbeaten run to three games where they’ve kept three clean sheets in the process.

Nick Reeves and Luke Piscina both curled free-kicks past the far post inside the opening eleven minutes before striker Tony Atkins, whose scored 13 goals this season, headed into Chris Conneally’s grateful arms.

However, it took VCD Athletic 23 minutes to register their first chance on goal.

Ashley Probets’ free-kick was met by a towering header from Jack Parkinson at the far post but his effort sailed over from six-yards.

Three minutes later, skipper Foley powered his header over following Stuart Abbott’s set-piece.

Piscina, whose on a dual registration with their Ryman Premier League neighbours Tonbridge Angels, squandered an excellent chance for the hosts to break the deadlock after 33 minutes.

He latched onto Darren Pearson’s through ball but skied his left-footed shot from 25-yards.

But Vickers carved open two good chances just before half-time.

Abbott’s shot flashed just past the left upright before striker Leroy Huggins nodded Mark Greatorex’s cross just past the same post.

Piscina stole the ball from Martin Driscoll on the half-way line and sent Ryan Haskins charging down the left wing after 63 minutes.

The left-winger passed to Mike Bishop, whose left-footed drive flashed just past the near post.

VCD Athletic finally tested home goalkeeper Jamie Williams after 73 minutes when Richard Sinden’s right-footed drive was comfortably saved low down by the goalkeeper.

Atkins’ fierce 25-yard drive brought a save from former Erith Town goalkeeper Chris Conneally before the game sparked into life in the final ten minutes.

Haskins was desperately unlucky not to break the stalemate when his looping left-footed shot from 22-yards bounced off the Vickers crossbar.

And the ball found the back of the net three minutes later but Sinden was adjudged to be in an offside position by Sittingbourne based assistant Mr Nick Goodhew.

The much-travelled striker rolled his shot into the bottom far corner, following a move involving Probets and Danny Penny, but after the flag had been raised.

And Sevenoaks’ defender, Darren Pearson, the man-of-the-match, ensured his side maintained a point when he bravely cleared Huggins’ six-yard shot off the line at the near post.

“Obviously the lads are absolutely devastated, gutted,” Frost said afterwards.

“I think chances, both sides could have won very clearly but towards the end we had the clearest opportunity when Leroy’s taken it around and maybe just dwelled on it.

“I’m just pleased everyone’s gave loads of effort and because we’ve got loads of injuries in there and people are playing with them - full credit to them.

“They’ve given me loads of effort and I can’t ask no more than that.”

Tonight’s draw keeps Sevenoaks Town in ninth position, but joint-managers Derek Moore and Bob Pittaway have accumulated the club’s largest ever points tally in their Kent League history.

“We set out at the beginning of the match to see the bench mark of our progress this season,” Moore said EXCLUSIVELY to www.kentishfootball.co.uk.

“VCD are a very good side, top four club, and I thought we showed what we are about in the last few games really.

“The last few games we’ve only lost one of our last six I believe and tonight was a good point.

“We went into the game full of confidence although we had to make a few changes in the build up to the match.

“We lost Courtney Rayfield and Lee Aldridge this afternoon through injury and there was an unavailability from James Dalton through illness.”

After finishing rock bottom last season, this season sees a marked improvement in the club’s fortunes.

“We set out at the beginning of the season to finish in a strong mid-table position, which we’re on course to do,” said Moore.

“We’re pleased that we’ve actually achieved the record haul of points for the club since it’s been in this division.

“We’ve got five games now to push on and see where we’ll end up so hopefully it will be a good springboard for next season.”

Sevenoaks Town: Jamie Williams, Tom Olsen, Scott Barnes, Nick Reeves, Darren Pearson, Aaron Smith, Matt Fagan, Mike Bishop (Sam Pittaway 76), Tony Atkins, Luke Piscina, Ryan Haskins.
Subs: Jimmy Matthews, Matt Parsons, Joe Skillman.

VCD Athletic: Chris Conneally, Jack Parkinson, Stuart Abbott, Paul Foley, Martin Driscoll, Lee Coburn (Nick Hulance 69), Mark Greatorex, Danny Penny, Leroy Huggins, Richard Sinden, Ashley Probets.
Subs: Danny Burke, Darren Thomson, Danny Edwards, Juan Ramirez.

Booked: Paul Foley 12

Attendance: 61
Referee: Mr Simon Finnigan (Maidstone)
Assistants: Mr Geoff Bolden (Sittingbourne) & Mr Nick Goodhew (Sittingbourne)