Soccer Shorts: Ebbsfleet keeper called up for England

Tonight we catch up with news involving Dartford, Chatham Town, Ebbsfleet United, Welling United, Fisher Athletic, Margate, Dover Athletic and Whitstable Town.

Please send in your match reports of tomorrow’s games, we will be publishing all those reports that we’ve received recently, on Sunday.

Following their midweek FA Trophy exit, Dartford boss Tony Burman wants to get back to winning ways when Potters Bar Town visit Princes Park tomorrow, writes Stephen McCartney.

The Darts lost 3-0 at home to AFC Hornchurch on Tuesday night, but Burman is looking to bag three vital points as they bid to win Ryman League Division One North.

Potters Bar, third from bottom in the table with a win and a five draws from their ten outings, are managed by former Dover Athletic boss Steve Browne.

It’s a game that sixth placed Darts should win, and they can call upon the fire power of striker Jay May, following his three match ban.

“It’s our bread and butter stuff now but we need to get relaxed and get our heads round for Saturday,” Burman told www.kentishfootball.co.uk following their midweek defeat.

“It won’t be a game in hand because it’s a Saturday, but we need to pick up points.

“Our aim is to get promoted and that’s what we’ll endeavour to do.”

Chatham Town boss Phil Miles demands that his side bounce back at Kingstonian tomorrow, following their shocking display last weekend.

The Medway side were dumped out of the FA Trophy by Witham Town who scored three goals without reply at Maidstone Road.

“I spoke to the players after the game and let them know how I felt - it wasn’t good enough!” Miles fumed when speaking EXCLUSIVELY to www.kentishfootball.co.uk.

“The performance that we put in for the three games before we’re fantastic but Saturday’s performance was unacceptable.

“We didn’t look like we wanted to be there on Saturday, so very disappointing.

“But that’s gone now. It was a cup game but hopefully we’ll try push on in the league at the weekend and put that to bed.”

Miles takes his side to Kingsmeadow knowing that his players’ ended the K’s Trophy campaign with a 3-1 win at Maidstone Road.

But Miles had read his players’ the riot act and demands a better showing going into the Ryman League Division One South clash.

“It’s going to be tough on Saturday,” he warned. “I’ve got some big decisions to make regards to the personnel, the first eleven.

“I said to the boys on Saturday, the last three weeks we’re easy to pick a team because everyone’s been playing so well, but (last) Saturday there was a lot of poor performances.

“So at the moment the team’s up in the air and we’ll probably make final decisions probably before the game on Saturday, leave it as late as possible to make sure we get it right.”

Ebbsfleet United goalkeeper Lance Cronin has been named as part of a squad of 16 players selected to represent the England C team in the opening International Challenge Trophy Group A fixture with Finland, which is to be played at the Finnair Stadium in Helsinki on Wednesday 14 November (kick-off 6.00pm).

The Tournament, of which England are holders, will now consist of eight national teams.

In Group A are England, Finland, Italy and Wales and Group B, Belgium, Northern Ireland, Republic of Ireland and Slovakia. The winners of the two Groups will play in the Final, scheduled for February 2009.

The remaining England fixtures will be Wales (h) on 20 February 2008 and Italy (a) in November 2008.

The full squad is:

Lance CRONIN – GK
- Ebbsfleet United FC

Adam BARTLETT – GK
- Blyth Spartans FC

Barry FULLER
- Stevenage Borough FC

John BRAYFORD
- Burton Albion FC

Michael MORRISON
- Cambridge United FC

Ronnie HENRY
- Stevenage Borough FC

Liam BROWNHILL
- Witton Albion FC

Louis SOARES
- Aldershot Town FC

Lewis CHALMERS
- Aldershot Town FC

Stewart LEWIS
- Stevenage Borough FC

Mitchell COLE
- Stevenage Borough FC

Matthew DAY
- Oxford United FC

Russell PENN
- Kidderminster Harriers FC

James CONSTABLE
- Kidderminster Harriers FC

Shaun HARRAD
- Burton Albion FC

Matthew TUBBS
- Salisbury City FC

Welling United have signed Andrew Pugh, 19, on a month’s loan from Gillingham. Pugh signed scholarship forms with the Gills in 2005 and made his first team debut against Brighton & Hove Albion in February 2007.

Fisher Athletic are pleased to announce the signing of left-back Gilbert Nuako from their Blue Square South rivals, Hayes & Yeading United.

The attack minded full-back was ever present for Hayes last year but the 23-year-old struggled to find first team football in Gary Haylock’s new side.

Nuako, who can also slot into midfield, has previously played for Harefield United and Hendon.

Margate are looking to break an unwanted record when Robin Trott takes his side to Heybridge Swifts tomorrow.

Margate have not taken any points off the Essex side since competing against each other in the Ryman Premier League.

The Swifts have only conceded one goal against the Thanet side, a 2-1 win at Hartsdown Park during the 2005-06 campaign.

Alan Pouton has revealed for the first time that he can see light at the end of the tunnel regarding his injury nightmare, writes Justin Allen.

The Geordie midfield ace broke his collarbone in two places after a collision with team-mate Liam Quinn during the 1-0 win against Leatherhead in August.

But Dover Athletic player-boss Andy Hessenthaler reported that Pouts returned to training last Thursday evening - to the applause of his team-mates.

Pouton, 30, told www.doverathletic.com: "I can now see a glimmer of light and am jogging again. It's all light work at the moment but I was so happy to get back out there with the lads, even though I'm only jogging at the moment.

"It's been a frustrating couple of months but the lads have done a great job in the games I've been missing - and hopefully by the time I return we'll still be right up in the mix."

The former Grimsby, York and Gillingham star was an instant hit with the Dover faithful after signing for the club during the close season.

His superb range of passing and dominating, skillful performances at the centre of the park were proving to be worth the admission fee alone.

Hessenthaler and his team, along with the entire fanbase, are eagerly anticipating his return to action - but Pouts is still in the dark as to when exactly that will be.

He said: "I'm due to have an X-ray on December 11 but trying to get a second opinion on the injury. So I'm hoping to see a shoulder specialist and see if we can bring things forward.

"I can jog now and have slowly been getting better. My arm was in a sling for three weeks and I was in a great deal of pain. I could hardly sleep at night - but, thankfully, that has subsided now.

"It was great the first time I was able to visit the lads again in the changing rooms and now I'm back on the training pitch. That's such a big relief. Now I just want to get back playing football - and help the lads win promotion out of this division."

Pouton, who has vast experience at Championship and League One level, is without doubt one of the best midfield players outside the Football League.

And it was something of a coup for Dover Athletic to obtain his services, after he retired from professional football due to a string of injury problems.

Hessenthaler, who signed him from Grimsby when he was manager of then Championship club Gillingham three years ago, clearly played a big part in persuading him to join his Crabble revolution.

Pouton said: "Hess had a good look at the club and was impressed with the set-up. He saw it as one with a lot of potential and, no disrespect intended, Hess would not have taken a managerial job at any other club at this level, or indeed many levels up.

"He can see that the club's average gate is the envy of nearly all the clubs outside the Blue Square Premier and believes he can take Dover Athletic back to where they were 10 years ago - at the pinnacle of the non-league game.

"I was at a crossroads football-wise because I didn't know what I was going to do after retiring from pro football. Hessie got me down to Dover, told me his plans and how he wanted to play.

"It fitted in perfectly with me because he wants to play total football. That's how I like the game, to be played to feet and attack-minded. And the manager has kept to his word because that is the way the team has played.

"Of course, it goes without saying the team cannot always play that way, especially away from home where the pitches won't allow it."

Pouton is not surprised Hessenthaler has started well in his return to non-league football.

Despite the fact that he is now managing part-time players, Hessenthaler's approach to games is every bit as professional as when he used to prepare his Gillingham side for tussles against the likes of West Ham and Sunderland in the Championship.

He said: "Of course, Andy has been out of the non-league game for a while and needed to get to know the scene again. But he manages Dover in the same way he successfully managed Gillingham.

"For him, dropping down to Ryman One wasn't a problem, because going away to play against smaller clubs doesn't faze him. He knows how to grind results out away from home and Hess, and the way he likes his teams to play, can mix it against anyone.

"Hess hasn't got a squad he is 100 per cent happy with, of course. I'm sure there are some other players he'd love to get down to Crabble but he knows how to make do.

"I used to enjoy my tussles with Hess as a player. He's so committed and, like myself, loves football. I am certain he is going to do a superb job with Dover Athletic. The team is in very safe hands."

Whitstable Town boss Marc Seager is without Rob Thomas, Josh Maine and Gary Sayer for tomorrow’s home clash with Molesey at The Belmont.

Seager knew he would be without Thomas after the man-of-the-match in Tuesdays win over Sittingbourne in the Kent Senior Cup was stretched off, but he had hoped Sayer would have been fit after pulling up in the same game.

With the visit of Molesey to the Belmont on Saturday in mind he stressed the importance to maintain the good performance the lads showed on Tuesday night when his side beat Sittingbourne in the first round of the Kent Senior Cup.

“We are improving with every game and as long as the players continue to give 100% both in attitude and commitment then we shall hold our own in the Ryman League.

“As for the visit of Molesey, I still think we have enough quality in the side to get a result despite being a bit light with players out injured. I said in the press this week that we are finding our feet at this level and the fact that we are on a nice little run of five games unbeaten now shows me we are moving in the right direction.

“I know there was talk in some quarters saying there is not a big difference between the Kent League and the Ryman, believe me there is a massive difference.

“The thing is in this league there are no easy games, every side can punish you if you make a mistake and that means the players have to concentrate 100% and work hard to keep the ball.

“At the beginning of the season I said our benchmark would be after the first ten games, so far we have played most of the sides in the top half of the table and have not been over-run.

“We need to maintain that form and build on it for the remainder of the season, then move on from there.”

Meanwhile, in support of providing a new much needed tannoy system for the club, the official Whitstable Town supporters club are going underground.

Fans Mike Finch, Gordon Temple, Lee Jemmett and Greg Smith are going caving on Sunday in the Chedder Gorge area.

An instructor will lead them as none have had any experience of caves before.

They are doing it in the top that they will be sponsored sufficient for their efforts to raise funding for a new tannoy system at Belmont Road, and will be doing a collection around the ground tomorrow.

Visit club websites:

www.dartfordfc.co.uk

www.chathamtownfc.net

www.ebbsfleetunited.co.uk

www.wellingunited.com

www.fisherathletic.co.uk

www.margate-fc.com

www.doverathletic.com

www.whitstabletownfc.co.uk