Sevenoaks Town 1-1 Maidstone United - I've got really high hopes for us this year,says Micky Collins

SEVENOAKS TOWN  1-1  MAIDSTONE UNITED
Pre-Season Friendly
Thursday 17^th July 2014
Stephen McCartney reports from Greatness Park

SEVENOAKS TOWN manager Micky Collins says the club is moving forward after extending their unbeaten pre-season record to three games after holding Maidstone United to a draw at Greatness Park.


Collins’ side have comfortably defeated a couple of Kent Invicta League sides in Lewisham Borough (6-1) and Glebe (4-0) before holding Ryman Premier League club Maidstone United in front of a crowd of 173.

Maidstone United – who won the Kent League title at Greatness Park in 2006 – and have defeated League Two side Dagenham & Redbridge (1-0) and Ryman League Division One South Faversham Town (4-0) already this summer - fielded a number of youngsters and Academy prospect Ben Swift, 17, impressed in the heat of defence alongside Jack Parkinson.

The Maidstone United skipper had a mixed night as he played a part in gifting Sevenoaks Town an early lead, which saw Ashley Baverstock, 27, score from a tight angle, before Parkinson drilled home a low shot into the bottom corner to restore parity before half-time to score his second goal in three warm-up games.

“Great run-out, a really great run-out.  I can’t thank Maidstone enough for bringing down a decent outfit and testing us and it was a real good test for us,” said Collins afterwards.

“At times we got a bit stretched and at times I thought we more than coped with it.  For a new side that’s just been put together, some real positives tonight.  Really impressed, lovely crowd as well.

“We’ve coped tonight. I didn’t think we would initially. I thought we’d struggle a little bit and we maybe find it a bit tougher than we did. We was alright.”

Maidstone United manager Jay Saunders added: “It was good. It was a good exercise. It was a chance for me to have a look at some of the fringe players that are sort of pushing and a lot of the young lads, obviously a couple of trialists.

“It was pleasing and I thought it was exactly what we needed, a test for them.”

When asked how he thought his trialists fared against Southern Counties East Football League opposition, Saunders replied: “I thought they did alright. I thought everyone done well. I don’t think you can knock them.

“I started with a sixteen-year-old (Harris Rodgers) up front and a seventeen-year-old (Ben Swift) at the heart of defence. Aidan (Hayes), 17, came on. Jack Sullivan’s eighteen. 

“They’re all young lads and what’s pleasing, it’s good to get a physical test for them.  You look at these young lads and think are they going to cope and that’s what you want to know. Are they going to be able to cope with regards to going into men’s football and I thought they did that.”

Maidstone United have the most successful youth Academy in the whole of non-league football in Kent.

Saunders, who runs the Academy with Jack Parkinson, added: “We are lucky. When I took over we didn’t have it so it’s really nice to know that we have that and we’re attracting with the set-up we’ve got and the way the Academy’s going, we’re attracting good players, which is a massive help.”

The Stones made nine changes from the side that started the game against Faversham Town 48 hours earlier.

Maidstone United created the opening chance of the night inside the opening three minutes.

Academy right-back Jack Sullivan played the ball down the line for striker Jordan Casey to reach by-line before cutting the ball back for Alex Brown to loop over.

Sevenoaks Town’s best chance, however, came from Sullivan, who was to be denied getting his name on the scoresheet by a fine save from his own keeper Will Godmon.

Sevenoaks’ right-back George Savage whipped in a cross towards the far post where Sullivan headed back towards his own goal from eight-yards, forcing Godmon to dive full length to his left to prevent the ball finding the corner.

Casey released Ellis Iandolo down the left and he played the ball inside to Brown, whose initial shot was blocked and Matt Bodkin – who was forced off at half-time through sickness – drilled his shot narrowly past the foot of the post.

Sevenoaks Town striker Baverstock played the ball forward to his strike partner Andy Constable who swept the ball out to the unmarked Tom Skelton, who cracked his right-footed drive sailing over from 20-yards.

Sevenoaks Town rocked the boat by taking the lead inside 12 minutes.

Full marks must go to Constable who pressurised Jack Parkinson into making a mistake by the touch-line and the prolific target-man released nippy winger Tim Osibudu.

Osibudo cut into the penalty area and swept the ball across goal and Baverstock rifled his right-footed shot into the top far corner of an open goal from a tight angle, a couple of yards out.

“It was a tight angle to be fair,” said Collins. “If you got on top of it, it was probably quite tight. 

“That’s what Ash does. That’s why he’s here. He’s a goalscorer! When I’ve been at previous clubs the way you do well in this league is to score goals and we’ve set up in that way to do that.

“It was good to get in the lead really because they had a fair share of the game really up until that point.”

Collins said he was impressed with Osibudu, an uncut diamond with pace.

He said: “Tim’s a lovely kid. He’s done really well. He’s come in through the trials and he’s quite raw. He’s got pace to burn. It’s just unbelievable. We’ll just coach him and guide him and he’s a good prospect.”

Saunders admitted he wasn’t happy with his captain’s defensive play at that point.

“He’ll be playing midfield this year.  I played him centre half because Jamie Coyle’s away so we’ve only got two centre halves at the moment really so it was a case of giving Jack a run-out there. I thought a bit of experience for the young lads.

“He’s got to do things quicker! He knows that. He’s held his hands up straight away and after that Swifty’s got to be tucked round a little bit and possibly Butch (Steve Butcher), but I think because it’s pre-season and we thought Jack’s not going to lose the ball, we kind of switched off so he messes up.

“It was a bit open for them but fair play to the lad, he done well. He pounced on it, put a good ball in the box, shot-come-cross and the fella done the right thing and followed it in at the far stick.”

Both defences were on top with former Bromley, AFC Wimbledon, Tonbridge Angels and Hastings United Ben Judge, 37, shutting the door on Maidstone and Swift done exactly the same at the other end.

“Judgey’s here long-term, me and him go back a long way,” said Collins.

“He’s come for the bigger picture, which a lot of them have. There’s big plans for Sevenoaks. It’s not one of those things that everyone is hiding away from. Everyone knows what we want to develop here and how we want to change it.  That’s why I’m here. That’s why the boys are here.

“Judgey may have one or two seasons left in him playing and after that he’ll stay an integral part of the club, possibly with a full-time job here running an Academy and stuff like that so it’s the bigger picture for Judgey and a few of the others and that’s what they’ve all brought into which is great.”

Saunders was full of praise for Academy prospect Swift.

“I thought Ben Swift was very good at centre half. He’s up against two lads, Andy Constable and Ashley Baverstock, who are lads that have been about for years and he’s seventeen and physically he dealt with it.

“I thought his distribution was good and learning from people like Jack (Parkinson), Watty (Steven Watt) and Jamie Coyle, he’s got a good future ahead of him – if he keeps working as hard as he is. He’s captain of the Academy and he’s doing well.”

You had to wait until the 29^th minute for the next goalscoring opportunity, which came from Maidstone United left-back Steve Butcher, who picked the ball up, cut inside to drill his right-footed shot over the bar from 25-yards.

Constable bulldozed his way forward down the left before clipping a speculative curler across goal from the left-hand side.

Jack Parkinson, however, made amends for his earlier mistake to equalise following a 37^th minute free-kick.

Brown touched the ball to the central defender, who drilled a low right-footed drive across keeper Luke Roberts from 25-yards, the ball nestling inside the bottom left-hand corner.

Saunders said: “I was surprised it went in from where we were standing, it’s hard to see. He struck it well and it’s hit the bottom corner so he’ll be pleased with that.”

Collins added: “It’s a great strike! That’s the quality that they’ve got! Luke will probably feel he shouldn’t get done that side. If you’re covering the wall side it protects you but if it goes over the wall and beats you, you have to take that on the chin, but to get beat that side because they’ve shifted it, has moved and then he’s got done by it, but he’s been impeccable tonight apart from that so you can’t moan about it.”

The Stones created the last chance of the first half when Butcher played the ball inside to Casey, who was given time and space by Savage and John Lord to stroke his right-footed drive flashing past the post from 30-yards.

Constable, who was feeling a tight groin, was the only Sevenoaks substitution at the break, being replaced by Joffy Shea.

Collins said: “Young Joffy done well. He’s been at Sevenoaks before and he’s gone off somewhere else and he’s come back into us. He impressed the other night in training and looked sharp so we’ve given him a go.

“Andy’s (Constable) got a tight groin so we’ve rested him. There’s no point in him coming out second half.

“There’s some good kids here and they’ve stepped up tonight and that’s the good thing.  You’re not just going with a decent starting eleven with a few names in it and you’ve got nothing to back it.

“We’ve actually got a good squad here. With Sean Johnson not here tonight, Luke Tanner is away, there’s probably a 20-22 man squad that’s quite strong.”

Maidstone United, who had replaced Dan Parkinson with Billy Woon after 32 minutes due to a head wound, made one further change at the break as Aidan Hayes replaced Bodkin.

Saunders said: “Dan’s had to go to hospital for a couple of stitches – a clash of heads - and I wanted to give Aidan some minutes.

“Matt Bodkin’s been ill and he had to come off because he didn’t feel right. He’s had food poisoning so he was only going to do 45 (minutes) to try and get a sweat on so it was good to get some of the younger lads some minutes.”

Baverstock launched a long throw towards the near post where left-back Jack Miles out-jumped Jack Parkinson to plant his header wide of the left-hand post inside the opening three minutes.

Butcher, who made a number of probing left-wing runs, played the ball inside to Iandolo, who saw his left-footed drive fly wide of the far post from 25-yards.

Skelton swung in a telling free-kick with his right-foot which forced Academy keeper Godmon to use his outstretched right hand to palm behind for a corner.

But with both sides making numerous substitutions this unsettled the game and Maidstone United’s next chance fell to substitute Jack Harris with 20 minutes remaining.

Substitute Sonny Miles (a summer signing from Tonbridge Angels) clipped a long ball out of defence to put the former Tunbridge Wells striker through on goal but Roberts came off his line to make a smart save.

“He’s got to finish that,” said Saunders.  “I’ve just said to him in there, he’s got to get that in his game. He’s done ever so well to get there and he got to beat the keeper and Jack knows that.

“We’re working on his finishing every week and he will improve.  You forget that Jack has been about for so long, he’s 19, so he’s still learning so he’s got to get that side of his game.

“I don’t think he’ll be one that will get 30-odd goals but he’s got to start getting 15-20 goals a season.  If he can get that then you’ve got one hell of a player on your hands but he should be taking them and he knows that and he’s disappointed.

“I don’t mind. I’d rather miss them now than in the season.”

Sevenoaks Town pressed for a late winner with substitute striker Andy Walker picking the ball up and cutting into the box before flashing his shot narrowly wide.

Shea went close with a right-footed curling effort from 25-yards in the last ten minutes, before watching his dipping free-kick from 30-yards just go over at the death.

Sandwiched between those was a right-footed drive from 30-yards by Maidstone substitute Hayes, which sailed just wide of the far post.

Reflecting on his side’s unbeaten three-match pre-season run, Saunders said: “I said before our pre-season games, I’d love to win every pre-season game.  I know everyone says it doesn’t mean anything and to be fair it doesn’t.

“I remember being at Gravesend with Steve Lovell (as my manager) and we beat every League team we played pre-season and went in first five games in a row and we lost. It does happen like that. It’s just a case of wining gets you in good habits. It gets a good atmosphere in the dressing room so it’s more about the performances and if you get a win it helps.”

Collins, who won the Kent League double in his last job at Erith & Belvedere, says he’s the man to turn Sevenoaks Town’s fortunes around.

“I’ve got really high hopes for us this year. I really think we’ll be a decent enough outfit to compete and we’ll see once the season starts,” he said.

“The club’s moving forward. I’ve got a great chairman here. His energy is amazing really. He drives me as well.  It’s good. If we do it right on the pitch, they’re helping me behind the scenes. Everyone’s saying it’s a new era at Sevenoaks and it’s a long-term plan. It’s not something that we’re going to put right by Christmas and be living the fruits but hopefully come the end of the season we’ll have the development sorted and this club will be good from top to bottom, which is the idea, from me right the way down to the 7’s and the mini-soccer and we’ll pull the whole club together and hopefully it will benefit the town as well.”

Collins, who has replaced chairman Paul Lansdale as manager, insists he is here for the long haul.

“I’m here on a three-year deal so it’s a long-term plan,” he said.

“If things are put in place and everything’s right, there’s no reason why things won’t change.

“I’ve been supported so far really well and I’m sure that will continue.  Me and Paul have got the same plans for this place and we’ve had them for a long, long time, even when I was managing Erith & Belvedere, going on and winning the double.  Paul was still in contact about what was happening at Sevenoaks.

“It’s a club that my son had played for. He got his chance to play for Millwall from here so it’s close to my heart so we’re going to put it right and it will be right.

“I don’t do anything by halves, you know me for too long. I’m too professional and it will be fine.”

Sevenoaks Town: Luke Roberts, George Savage (Adam Pharo 59), Jack Miles, Andy Constable (Joffy Shea 46), John Lord, Ben Judge (Josh Gilbert 53), Kieron McCann, Tom Skelton (Brad Draper 68), Ashley Baverstock (Andy Walker 68), Mel McCann (Danny Higgs 57), Tim Osibudo (Steve Camacho 65).

Goal: Ashley Baverstock 12

Maidstone United: Will Godmon, Jack Sullivan, Steve Butcher, Ellis Iandolo, Ben Swift, Dan Parkinson (Billy Woon 32), Alex Brown (James Rodgers 61), Jack Parkinson (Sonny Miles 65), Jordan Casey, Harris Rodgers (Jack Harris 69), Matt Bodkin (Aidan Hayes 46).
Subs: Lee Worgan, Charley Robertson  

Goal: Jack Parkinson 37

Attendance: 173
Referee: Mr Jack Owen (Sevenoaks)
Assistants: Mr Andrew Ewan (Sevenoaks) & Mr Matt Pollington (Paddock Wood)