Soccer Shorts: Fleet goalkeeper Cronin recalled by England

Tonight’s Soccer Shorts brings you news snippets from Ebbsfleet United, Maidstone United, Tunbridge Wells, Greenwich Borough (who welcome Charlton Athletic’s stars from the past to Harrow Meadow on Sunday), Beckenham Town and Sevenoaks Town.

EBBSFLEET UNITED goalkeeper Lance Cronin will once again represent the England C team later this month - but three more Fleet players are on standby for their country’s next fixture.

Midfielder Stacy Long and defenders Mark Ricketts and James Smith are part of a further 17-man contingency squad, to serve as replacements should any of the full squad drop out.

England C's second International Challenge Trophy Group A fixture with Wales, is to be played at St James Park, Exeter, on Wednesday 20 February, kick-off 7.45pm.

After the victory in Finland last November, in which Cronin featured, a further win against the Welsh will put the side in an excellent position to qualify for next year's final.

The final Group A fixture will be in Italy in November.

The full squad is as follows:

Lance CRONIN (Ebbsfleet United), Adam BARTLETT (Blyth Spartans), John BRAYFORD (Burton Albion), Daniel GLEESON (Cambridge United), Michael MORRISON (Cambridge United), Ronnie HENRY (Stevenage Borough), Liam BROWNHILL (Witton Albion), Ricky HOLMES (Chelmsford City), Ben HARDING (Aldershot Town), Russell PENN (Kidderminster Harriers), Lewis CHALMERS (Aldershot Town), Dean MOXEY (Exeter City), Mitchell COLE (Stevenage Borough), Shaun HARRAD (Burton Albion), Matthew TUBBS (Salisbury City), Scott RENDELL (Cambridge United).

MAIDSTONE UNITED have announced today that midfielder Errison Ahwan would be reducing his role at the Ryman Premier League club and would only be available for midweek fixtures.

Joint-manager Alan Walker explained the situation regarding the former Beckenham Town player, when speaking to www.maidstoneunited.co.uk.

He said: "Errison is a member of The Seventh-day Adventist Church whose sabbath is a Saturday.

“He felt that he could no longer commit himself to play on Saturday's because of his beliefs, hence he has decided to reduce his availability to the club to just midweek fixtures.

“He has said that he still wants to train with us and be available on a non-contract basis and also to play unpaid.

“He also had concerns that the demands of playing football at this level were also taking too much toll on him physically and he has been blighted by injuries this season, so reduced football will also mean he will hopefully be less prone to these injuries.

"It is obviously bad news for us but as a club however we respect his decision and are happy for him to remain at the club in this reduced capacity.

“However, less football will mean his fitness levels will fall, so whilst he will be available for midweek games, we'll only draft him in for emergencies."

TUNBRIDGE WELLS boss Mike Robbins is relishing his side’s trip to one of his former clubs at the weekend.

Hythe Town are mounting a serious title challenge this season, and currently stand as the Kent League’s top scorers, whilst also boasting the league’s second meanest defence behind Erith Town.

As the first former club Robbins has come up against in his managerial career, he has been looking forward to renewing acquaintances at Reachfields Stadium on Saturday.

“I loved my time at Hythe as first team coach,” Robbins told www.tunbridgewellsfc.co.uk.

“I’ll be honest, I wouldn’t be where I am today without the benefit of my six months spent with them.

“There were, and still are, some fantastic people there including (chairman) Paul Markland and (manager) Paul Fisk, and I’m grateful for the opportunity I got from them.

“It’s been good to see them do well this year. Hythe have steadily improved over the last three years or so, kept a settled squad, and patiently built themselves up for what they’re enjoying now. Fair play to them.”

This time, though, Robbins must return to Reachfields looking to fan his own side’s season into flame again.

“We’ve had three good weeks of training at Culverden, and now I’m looking for the lads to respond to the roles and responsibilities we’ve clearly set out for them during that time,” he explained.

“It’s down to the lads not to let themselves down on the day now. If they don’t stick to what they’ve been working on, there’s a real danger they’ll end up getting hammered.

“However, my players have learnt to believe in each other, and there’s no reason why they shouldn’t go to Hythe and be capable of getting something.”

Part of the reason for the growing confidence among the squad is down to the fact that Robbins’ ‘Phase Two’ rebuilding programme is well underway.

The majority of the squad-shaping has been undertaken, with each squad member having had a good chance now to get to know one another’s capabilities.

Robbins is clear that unless a ‘gem’ of a player were to become available to the club, the bulk of the side has been assembled now, following the most recent additions this week.

He said: “The same 16-18 players form the crux of my first team side now. There’s another two or three players pushing hard to break into that, including Jason Reynolds and James Russell, but things are pretty settled now - so in truth, most of the ‘Phase Two’ rebuilding is done.”

And regarding the occasional ‘gem’ being unearthed? “The scouts are settling into their roles nicely. One has been to 15 matches already this year, and I’m building up a decent set of notes for future reference, for future strengthening.”

And that leaves Robbins to focus on the immediate task in hand. “We’ve also had Hythe and Slade Green watched a couple of times. That leaves me to concentrate on putting the final touches on preparation for Saturday - to blow away any last, remaining cobwebs.

“Hopefully a decent away following will be at Reachfields to encourage the lads in their bid to bounce back from their three week lay-off.”

Goalkeeper Chris Arnold has signed for Tunbridge Wells to offer competition to Stewart Copeland for a first team spot. Arnold, formerly of Erith Town and Thamesmead Town, has trained with the club, and has already struck up a good relationship with Copeland.

In addition two of the three trialists who were training with the club have joined the club permanently. Lee Barber joins from Slade Green.

Able to play in central midfield or the centre of defence, Barber, like Arnold, is an experienced Kent League player.

And Anthony Yarde is the other signing, and joins from Blue Square South outfit Bishop’s Stortford, initially as a squad player.

In other squad news, midfielder Joe Hitchings’ loan period has been extended to the end of the season, while goalkeeper Adam Harris has returned to Maidstone United.

Harris played two games for The Wells reserves, conceding just one goal.

Robbins said: “Firstly I’d like to thank Alan Walker for allowing Adam to come over to Culverden.

“I’m disappointed we had so many postponements during the past month, allowing him only limited chance to play in The Wells’ shirt. He’s definitely a prospect for the future.”

Former Ashford Town front-runner Joby Thorogood, meanwhile, has been released by the Kent League’s bottom side.

“We were looking for a certain type of player and it became apparent that Joby didn’t fit that particular mould,” explained Robbins, who added: “The club will retain his Kent League forms.”

A HOST of Charlton Athletic legends, including Bob Bolder, Colin Walsh, Sasa Ilic and John Bumsted, will be action on Sunday (3pm) when Charlton Athletic veterans tackle on a Greenwich Borough Celebrity Side at Harrow Meadow.

Current Charlton coaches Mark Kinsella, Mark Robson and Steve Gritt are also set to feature in the game at Greenwich Borough’s Harrow Meadow ground, Eltham Green Road, Eltham.

Among the celebrities lining up for Greenwich Borough are film star Danny Dyer, who is also the club’s chairman, actors Frank Harper, Geoff Bell and boxer Julius Francis.

Bolder, Richard Wilson, Michael Paye, Leroy Ambrose, Vinnie O’Kane, Colin Walsh, Mark Penfold, Darren Pitcher, Tony Booth, Bumsted, Paul Gorman, Richard Bowman, Sasa Ilic, Alan McLeary, Kinsell, Gritt have been lined up to be involved.

BECKENHAM TOWN’S management team of Jason Huntley and Billy Hughes were both in unusually reticent mood to talk about rumours that the Eden Park Avenue club are about to sign a new and proven goalscorer.

“We don’t have any news regarding any new signings,” Hughes told www.beckenhamtownfc.co.uk.

Meanwhile, Jason Rose’s injury is bad and that he is having a scan on his damaged knee.

“It is such a shame as Jason was playing so well,” said Hughes. “But we have signed Derrick Best so we still have cover at the back because Danny Lawson is also unavailable through injury.”

Speaking about the Kent League title race, Hughes added: “”If you look at our run in, we are still capable of keeping the leaders on their toes."

SEVENOAKS TOWN have announced that they will be welcoming Ryman Premier League club Margate to Greatness Park for a friendly match next Wednesday, 13^th February (7:30pm).

A statement issued by the Kent League club said: “Wednesday is traditionally a blank evening in the local football calendar, so this means a great opportunity for local football enthusiasts to see how the emerging Sevenoaks squad, and in particular Tony Atkins, Luke Piscina and Andy Constable, shape up against opposition from two steps higher in the non-league pyramid.”

Visit club websites:

www.ebbsfleetunited.co.uk

www.maidstoneunited.co.uk

www.tunbridgewellsfc.co.uk

www.greenwichboroughfc.moonfruit.com

www.beckenhamtownfc.co.uk

www.sevenoakstownfc.org