Kentish Football

Soccer Shorts: Bosses look forward to Oakley Road Vase showdown

Friday 18th September 2009
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THE PICK of tomorrow’s FA Carlsberg Vase second qualifying round ties takes place at Oakley Road, where landlords Holmesdale lock horns with Greenwich Borough, their tenants for the next three seasons.

“For some of our lads this is their first taste of a big competition and they are excited to be involved,” Greenwich Borough boss Steve Firkins told www.kentishfootball.co.uk on the eve of the game.

“League placings don’t come into any sort of reckoning when cup ties throw up games against league opponents and both teams, I feel, have so far had indifferent starts.

“I’m certain that Holmesdale’s management team as our own knows and expects more from our respective squads after good performances throughout last season’s campaign.

“Our squad tomorrow is missing one or two that I would have liked to have available due to injury or suspensions, but that just gives others their opportunity to see what they can do.

“We do have one that will need a fitness test first thing, which may require us to shuffle our pack a bit, but other than that, I’m happy with the lads that take the field will give us 100%.

“I’m certain that it should be an entertaining game for any neutrals because both teams like to get the ball down and play a bit.  It’s just a shame that one of us will be going out at an early stage.”

HOLMESDALE boss Billy Hughes, meanwhile, goes into the winner-takes-all Oakley Road clash, fresh from a convincing 6-0 win at whipping-boys Corinthian last Tuesday.

“We go into this game against Greenwich Borough on the back of a good win against Corinthian,” Hughes told www.holmesdalefc.co.uk.

“We won’t get carried away with this win, but a clean sheet and both strikers scoring and playing another 90 minutes together will help them build a relationship.

“We know we will have to be at our best to get anything out of this game, because we all know what a good job that Steve and Co have done with the Borough.

“Like most teams at the start of the season it takes time to build, and although we have kept most of last year’s team, we have added and improved I feel.

“I do believe the squad is nearly there and all we need now is games to gel and hopefully pick up some points along the way.

“I also feel like Borough, that we do try and play the right way, and that is important.”

TUNBRIDGE WELLS boss Martin Larkin says he has a negative selection headache ahead of tomorrow’s FA Carlsberg Vase tie at Ash United.

Speaking to www.kentishfootball.co.uk on the eve of the second qualifying round tie away to the Combined Counties League club, Larkin said, “We are all looking forward to the game.  Having spoken to a couple of guys who have played against them this year they are by all accounts a different proposition to the side we played at this stage last year, as are we!

“The game has probably come a couple of weeks too early for us as we are just getting all our big players back.

“Perry Spackman is now free to play, James Russell is still a couple of weeks away but we are slowly getting back to full strength.

“I certainly expecting to be in late September and still not able to put a first choice side out!

“The pressure is off us as we are the away side.  I firmly believe that the home side should win the games in the early rounds of the Vase so we will go there and enjoy the day and see what happens.

“The league is always the priority but the Vase is a wonderful competition so we will give it our best shot!”

BECKENHAM TOWN return to earth with a big thump, ahead of their home FA Vase tie against Combined Counties League side Banstead Athletic.

This was the game that Teddy Sheringham was supposed to don the red shirt of Beckenham Town - but the Eden Park Avenue club confessed last Monday that the Champions League winner wasn’t going to feature for the club in this second qualifying round tie.

In fact, it had been a massive publicity stunt from the Kent League club.

Beckenham manager Jason Huntley, has added influential midfielder Matt Howard to his squad, having signed him from Ryman League Division One South strugglers Chipstead and Aaron Jeffrey has arrived from Kent League neighbours Holmesdale.

Going in the other direction is striker Juan Ramirez, who has joined Erith & Belvedere and defender Harry Harris has been released.  

Some better news ahead of the game, it looked as though - along with the Gorman twins and Durrant Jemmott - Beckenham would lose the services of their keeper Nick Blue.

However, Huntley said that the former Orpington stopper is available to play.

“I’m delighted and relieved that Nick is going to be available,” Huntley told www.beckenhamtownfc.co.uk.

“It’s a crucial game for the club and I was becoming increasingly concerned about the list of absentees.”

Blue has made a tremendous impression at Eden Park Avenue, having been snapped up from the Vandanel Kent County League top-flight.

ERITH TOWN travel to Mayesbrook Park - the home of Barking Football Club - to play Eton Manor in the FA Carlsberg Vase on Sunday (12 noon).

Their original opponents, Mauritius Sports have been removed from the competition for playing an eligible player in their tie against Eton Manor.

Eton Manor have now been reinstated in the competition and for Dockers boss Steve O’Boyle, he told www.kentishfootball.co.uk today that he wants his side to bounce back from their midweek FA Cup exit up at Aylesbury.

He said: “It’s a big game for us and we need to bounce back after our midweek defeat in the FA Cup.”

The former Thamesmead Town reserve team boss, meanwhile, revealed that Sam Prett misses the game due to unavailability and midfielder Ted Hart remains on the sidelines with his broken foot.

www.kentishfootball.co.uk  contacted all the managers involved in FA Vase action this weekend - and Herne Bay coach Simon Halsey didn’t respond to our request to an interview.

The Kent League leaders travel to Farnham Town tomorrow.

MAIDSTONE UNITED will hand eighteen-year-old striker Matthew Wright his debut during tomorrow’s Ryman Premier League trip to Boreham Wood.

Wright had signed a one-year contract with Championship club Crystal Palace was a free-agent before he was snapped up by the Selhurst Park outfit.

Eagles manager, Neil Warnock, told www.cpfc.co.uk, “This is a good opportunity for Matthew to get some matches under his belt at a good level with Maidstone United.”

And Stones joint-manager Alan Walker, speaking to www.maidstoneunited.co.uk today is pleased to have brought in a striker in Meshach Nugent’s lengthy absence through injury.

“Matthew is only eighteen but is a big strong centre forward and I was very impressed when I watched him play for Palace’s reserve side against Leyton Orient and in that game he scored a hat-trick,” said Walker.

“With Meshach Nugent still sidelined it was important for us to bring someone in and Palace have been excellent and we appreciate all of their help with this loan signing. 

“Meshach has been unfortunate in that a couple of injuries have curtailed his fitness. He is currently undergoing an intensive programme to try and get him back to full fitness and whilst we have Matthew we might take the opportunity to loan Meshach out for a few games so that he is one hundred percent fit when he returns. 

“We need Shack back and we all saw how well he played after he came back from Croydon Athletic last season where he was able to get a run of games and gain some form.”

Walker explained why he bombed out former Ramsgate striker Aaron Firth, who was sent off for a sickening challenge last week.

Firth was today unveiled by Ryman League Division One North side VCD Athletic.

But Walker said, “Aaron was left in no uncertain terms that his challenge last week which led to him being sent off was not acceptable behaviour. 

“It was a rush of blood from Aaron, it was not premeditated and he is mortified by his actions. Aaron will hopefully get his head together at VCD and if he does so and finds some form, who knows we might see him back at Maidstone United one day.”








 

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