Soccer Shorts: I had to think long and hard about leaving Chatham for Folkestone, says Cass

Friday 05th March 2010

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DOVER ATHLETIC face two BIG home games in the space of four days, starting on Saturday when play-off rivals Braintree Town come to Crabble tomorrow (writes Matthew Clements).

Whites will hope to repeat the performance that earned three points against the same side a few weeks ago. A dominant 2nd half display earned a 2-1 win, ending Braintree's 13 match unbeaten home run.

After last weekend's postponement at Bishop's Stortford, Whites should be fit and raring to go for two important home matches in their chase for a play-off spot.

Andy Hessenthaler told www.doverathletic.com: "Saturday is a very big game. A win and we go above Braintree having played the same number of games. One or two wins is all you need to get right back in the thick of it.

"The table is really tight, we've got games in hand on some teams now where just a few weeks ago we had played more than anybody else. It's all changed around."

Maximum points against Braintree and Worcester (next Tuesday) could see Whites back in the top three. Going on an unbeaten run would see the team fly up the table, with so many sides capable of beating each other.

Hessnthaler's men will need the supporters to do their bit too. After a long run of away matches, where Dover fans regularly out-sung the home crowd, the atmosphere at Crabble last time round was somewhat flat.

However, moving into the final dozen games of the season with promotion via the play-off still an exciting possibility, Whites' loyal fans need to recreate the travelling atmosphere to make Crabble a fortress again for their team.

The Dover Athletic boss said: "The fans have been great since I've been here, and we need their backing more than ever now. The players thrive off the atmosphere they create."

Director Chris Oakley said in his recent programme notes: "Our away support is second to none and I feel very proud when I hear away teams and directors singing their praises.

"Bang those drums and cheer the boys on, it does make a difference."

One positive from the lack of football for Dover in the past two weeks is that several players have been able to get some much needed rest and recuperation, shaking off niggling injuries.

Adam Birchall and Jon Wallis were injured against Maidenhead but are both fit for this weekend. Matt Fish is available for selection again after three games on the sidelines due to a sore back.

Craig Cloke and Jake Leberl will soon provide more options for Hessenthaler in defence and midfield, as Whites start a run of 12 games in seven weeks. Goalkeeper Lee Hook should also be ready to provide further competition.

Meanwhile, the supporters club will present the football club with a cheque for £1,500 during the half-time interval tomorrow.

MARGATE’S new manager Iain O’Connell has been busy making changes to his squad, ahead of the visit of basement side Waltham Abbey tomorrow.

The club have completed the signing of their fourth former Maidstone United player, James Pinnock, who joins Jay Saunders, Jamie Turner and Nick Barnes at Hartsdown Park.

In a two year spell at Hartsdown Park between 2006 and 2008, Pinnock scored 44 goals in 99 appearances. He goes straight into the squad for the match with Waltham Abbey.

Leaving Margate is defender Luke Wheatley who has made the switch to neighbours Ramsgate for an undisclosed fee.

With limited first team opportunities at Hartsdown Park, Luke - who had a spell on loan at the Rams earlier in the season - has made the move across the island to get more first team football.

Margate released a couple of players earlier in the week.

Midfielder Ben Clarke, who first featured as a substitute against Waltham Abbey in November, has been released, after making 11 appearances – four as a substitute - for the Blues scoring twice, but does not feature in the manager’s future plans.

Also released this week was Antonio Gonella. Antonio made his debut against Bognor Regis Town and went on to make seven appearances overall – four from the bench. Like Clarke, Gonella does not feature in the manager’s plans.

On leaving Margate, Antonio subsequently re-signed for Maidstone United and made his second debut of the season for the Stones in their 1-0 over Billericay Town on Tuesday evening.

Reflecting on the departures and particularly some comments made about Ben Clarke’s release, O’Connell told www.margate-fc.com:

“The decision to release Ben was mine and not the Chairman’s. It releases much needed budget that we need so we can continue to reshape the squad (as Gate seek to maintain their Ryman League Premier Division status).

“I really hope that was well as counting on 100% effort from the players, we can count on 100% support from the fans too.”

MAIDSTONE UNITED have recovered from losing the quartet to Margate, by bringing in three new players, ahead of their trip to high-flying Sutton United tomorrow.

Chris Saunders, Charlie Stimson and Alex Tiesse have all arrived, whilst Keelan Mooney has signed Kent League forms for Tunbridge Wells until the end of the season.

Saunders, 21, is a central midfielder/right-back who arrives from Blue Square South side Welling United.

He lives in Leybourne and was a Welsh youth international. He is a tenacious player who started his football career with Charlton Athletic and has also featured for Fisher Athletic and East Thurrock in the Blue Square.

Stimson arrives on work experience from Gillingham. He is a very promising 18 year old centre forward who has been playing reserve team football and was also named as a substitute against Aston Villa in the FA Cup game earlier this season. He is the son of Gills manager Mark Stimson.

Tiesse, meanwhile, needs no introduction, and returns to the club, having recently left Ryman League Division One South side Dulwich Hamlet.

Subject to their registrations being cleared in time all 3 players will link up with the squad tomorrow.

Manager Peter Nott, speaking to www.maidstoneunited.co.uk, explained the deal with Tunbridge Wells, regarding Mooney.

“We have also agreed to Keelan Mooney signing Kent League forms with Tunbridge Wells until the end of the season.,” he said.

“We will retain Keelan's Ryman registration so he will still be eligible to play for us as well but we feel in order to develop his undoubted potential he needs to be playing on a regular basis so this arrangement should benefit all parties involved.

PROLIFIC striker Brendon Cass has been talking about his move from Chatham Town to Folkestone Invicta.

He told the Chatham matchday programme, “I had to think long and hard about leaving Maidstone Road as if I’m honest Alex (O’Brien) and Lew (Watts) were a big part of the reason that I signed for Chatham.

“I’ve got all the time in the world for both of them – they’re great guys! I wanted to do well and I do think that by leaving now I’ve left on a bit of a downer, but it’s too good a chance to me to turn down.

“But I did have to think long and hard because it’s my local club and I wanted to do well. There are some really good players in there but over the last couple of months things haven’t worked out and the season seems to be tailing off but that’s football and we move on!”

ASHFORD TOWN manager Steve Lovell has spoken about his side’s 3-1 defeat at Cray Wanderers in the Kent Senior Cup in midweek.

Chris Borchescu, a recent signing from Thamesmead Town, gave Ashford the lead in his first start for the club, and despite playing some superb attacking football, Cray overpowered Lovell’s men in the end and ran out 3-1 winners.

“I was delighted with how the lads went about their business, especially after the Chipstead performance,” Lovell told www.ashfordtownfc.co.uk.

“We had a really young side out there but they all played out of their skins. The result really did flatter Cray. We created many chances and our attacking play was really good.

“Chris (Borchescu) had a great game and showed why we were so keen to get him in. I think there is a lot more to come from him.

“Ronnie (Dolan) also put in a great shift. He is getting stronger with every game and I was delighted with the impact he had on the midfield.”

Ashford welcome Corinthian-Casuals to Homelands tomorrow and Lovell is expecting a tough game.

He said: “We lost heavily to them earlier on in the season so we know what they are all about, but after Tuesday night the lads are raring to go. We will train tonight and work on a few things – I’m sure we will be prepared for Saturday.”

SITTINGBOURNE will enjoy home comforts in the semi-finals of the Championship Manager Cup if they defeat Wealdstone in the quarter-finals.

Meanwhile, the promotion chasing club, have this week revealed some healthy news on teenage goalkeeper Deren Ibrahim, who was stretchered off the pitch in their win over Folkestone Invicta a couple of weeks ago.

A club statement said: “Deren Ibrahim is progressing well and although he has to use crutches there were no broken bones and he should be free of the crutches this week. He may even be fit to play next week because by then Steve Williams be knackered!“

Sittingbourne progressed to a quarter final tie in the Championship Manager Cup against Wealdstone at Bourne Park next Thursday (11th March) with a 3-1 victory over a youthful Billericay Town side.

Hicham Akhazzan bagged two goals either side of half time. Mike Marsh pulled a goal back on 60 minutes to make a game of it but 4 minutes from the end Ryan Golding clinched the tie for Sittingbourne with a break away goal.

BECKENHAM TOWN were granted planning permission on Thursday evening by their local authority, the London Borough of Bromley, to erect a 156 spectator stand on the west side of the Eden Park Avenue pitch (the opposite side to the existing stand).

Secretary Peter Palmer speaking to the club's web site www.beckenhamtownfc.co.uk after Thursday's planning meeting at which he represented the club stated "it's been a long and often difficult procedure. We originally submitted our planning application at the beginning of last December.

“A lot of work and time has gone on behind the scenes to achieve this permission.

“Planning issues involving sports clubs are always contentious matters, but the club has kept considerations that affect local residents at the top of its list of priorities.

“A great deal of time was spent in trying to achieve our objects whilst maintaining a structure of suitable size and equally suitably positioned. Like all other clubs nationwide, we are required to comply with the ground grading requirements as laid down by the Football Association.

“These requirements are now a lot tougher and it's difficult for clubs like us to firstly finance these improvements and also to have available the necessary manpower to devote the time it takes to achieve things such as this planning permission.

“I would particularly like to thank all those people who have helped and contributed towards the professional aspects of our application".

With the required planning permission now in place, the Bulmers Cider Kent League club will be able to concentrate on finalising their Football Foundation Grant application.

Manager, Jason Huntley, meanwhile, has re-signed striker Joe Healey, following his recent release from Ryman Premier League strugglers Margate.

ERITH & BELVEDERE assistant-manager Matt Longhurst says he is treating the remainder of the season as preparation to turn the Park View Road club into promotion hopefuls.

The Deres are stagnating in the Bulmers Cider Kent League and go into tomorrow’s game at Beckenham Town sitting in sixth place in the table - 22 points adrift of league leaders Faversham Town.

“After the Sevenoaks Town game, where we started the rebuilding, we again saw the best and worst of the team!” Longhurst told www.erithandbelvederefc.co.uk.

“In the first half, we completely dominated the game but for the second half, it was the total opposite.

“Although had we taken our chance just seconds before they equalised, the game could have been dead and buried with us 2 nothing up, early in the second half.

“To their credit though, Sevenoaks came out for the second half and took the game to us.

“People sometimes fail to remember that there are two teams out on the pitch, so we cannot expect to have it all our own way every week.

“It's just so frustrating when we hit the self destruct button at half time intervals. We do know this happens and we are aiming to find a solution to it.

“On to this Saturday however and we have had the lads in twice for training this week, working hard with a group of players that we want here for next season. You will see changes over the coming weeks but these changes have to be made.

“We have had players whose commitment levels to us, each other and the club have not been good enough and this has resulted in the average and sometimes poor performances.

“I have said before, we take responsibility for putting these players out on to the pitch and mistakes with certain players have been made, playing for themselves and not the club.

“We are trying to rectify this. Pre season starts this Saturday at Beckenham Town. We have to build for next year and we are certainly not all doom and gloom, as some seem to think. In fact, we are very optimistic about the future.

“The reserves are doing well and are progressing players into the first team. The youth team is doing well, with players representing Kent FA and also being introduced into the first team squad in recent weeks and on a whole, we are building the club in the right direction.

“We now need a first team squad that players in the reserves and youth teams can look up and create something that they want to be part of. I genuinely feel we are getting there.

“We need a mixture of Kent league winners, experience of playing at a higher level, young enthusiastic players, that all have a winning mentality who try and play the right way. We are slowly getting there.

“Has this season been wasted? I don't think so. Has it been a learning curve? Most definitely yes and one we will all use the experience of to be in a far better position next season.

“We have 10 games remaining and they will be used effectively. The players coming in will replace the injured, suspended and less committed of the group.

“We want to get this club back in the Ryman League, that is the aim. We keep saying that it will not happen over night but for now, our supporters deserve to see a team willing to work hard and play the game the right way.

“We are firm believers in what we are trying to achieve and are bringing in players that have that winning mentality and the character that we lack at the moment.

“Saturday is a new beginning and win lose or draw, we will slowly see an improvement. Beckenham are a good side, as we saw when we watched them at Erith Town last week.

“They have experience in John Farley and Danny Lawson, with hungry players such as Anthony Weir and the Gorman brothers. They will be organised and reflect their management team - working hard for each other, on and off the ball.

“Eden Park Avenue is a good place to go and play football, on an excellent pitch and we fully expect a good game of passing football with both teams being fully committed to the cause.

“We've had over 20 players at training both nights this week but we cannot comment on the commitment levels as yet. Those players have to prove themselves on the pitch.

“At the risk of repeating myself, but this is still a work in progress and come the end of the season, we will have a far clearer picture of how far away we are for next season.

“The spine of the team is coming along now and hopefully, come 5 o'clock on Saturday, we can have a smile on our faces after the game.

“This is a big club, with big potential and we are confident we are taking it in the right direction and will continue to do so.”

Goalkeeper Matt Bromby returns to the squad tomorrow, whilst the club have completed the signing of vastly experienced Ryan Royston, whose last club was Erith Town.

SEVENOAKS TOWN are waiting to find out the extent of Charlie Burgess' ankle injury which forced him off early in the second-half of the 4-1 win against Norton Sports last week.

Boss Simon Jones fears it could be ligament damage, which could mean he would be out for several weeks.

Kyrone Josephs - who went off in the same game - is set to return to the squad against Sporting Bengal at the Mile End Stadium tomorrow, after recovering from a groin problem.

Alfred Keroma was due to resume training this week after a long lay-off, while defender Lee Demaertelaere has suffered a setback in his recovery from ankle ligament damage at Lordswood on October 31.

Toby Webb completes a three-match ban this weekend, following his sending off at Deal, and will be available for the Bulmers Cider Kent League Premier Division League Cup semi-final first leg tie at home to Beckenham Town on Tuesday night.

Jones reflected positively on another good night for the club after the exciting 4-3 Bulmers Cider Kent League Premier Division win over Hythe Town on Tuesday.

Speaking to www.sevenoakstownfc.org he said: We changed so many things, personnel, and formation to name just two and it showed how adaptable we are as a team.

"We called up Adam Porter and Oli Miles from the reserves and they didn't look at all out of place. Billy Shinners came back up front and looked good, and it allowed us to give Tony Atkins and Daniel Akpoveta a breather. Overall I coulddn't ask for more."

The defeat left Hythe boss Scott Porter to concede their title hopes were over having been pipped by VCD's late run last season.

Meanwhile Jones recalled the 3-2 win in the corresponding fixture last month admitting: "That was a lucky result for us, because everything that happened that night went in our favour.

"This time we did all the right things, stepped up and matched them, and didn't need lady luck toi bale us out this time."

TUNBRIDGE WELLS have signed another two highly promising products from the club’s under 16s set-up with goalkeeper Callum Hampson and striker Jack Harris signing Kent League forms.

The pair have helped the youth team to a cup final and into contention for a league title push. They become the third and fourth players to sign from the current under 16s squad.

“Callum has been with us since he played for the U13s,” Darrell Cousins, U16s Coach told www.tunbridgewellsfc.co.uk.

“He was a raw goalkeeper when he came to us, making a transformation after starting out playing as a centre forward for Ridgewaye - but you could see that he had talent.

“He is another player who works hard on his game; he’s been to Brighton on a six-week trial, and has had other clubs looking at him over the last two seasons. This last 18 months, he has really come on leaps and bounds with training from Greg Thurstans and also Michal Czanner.”

First team manager Martin Larkin has been impressed with Hampson’s application, adding that he has helped with the coaching of some of the younger goalkeepers moving up through the youth system at Culverden Stadium.

“He knows the areas he needs to work on, and I’m sure he will do so - he certainly has the potential to feature in the future first team plans, and one day be the Tunbridge Wells number 1.”

“This is an exciting opportunity for me to develop further,” Hampson said. “I’m grateful to all the coaches that have helped me over the years - including at Ridgewaye, Greg Thurstans, Michal and all at Tunbridge Wells.”

Meantime, Harris has already hit 15 goals for the U16s this season. Again, he has been with the club since he joined at U13s level, coming in from Tonbridge Invicta - a club that he is still thankful to for his time there.

“I had Jack watched during his Invicta days and was impressed with him - but I had to wait for him to come over to The Wells,” Cousins revealed.

“It was worth it. Jack is a big, strong lad. It took him time to get his focus set purely on running the front line, but he has worked hard and is beginning to develop into an excellent forward.

“The extra training he has been given by the first team has brought him on no end. He still needs to work on some areas of his game - he knows that - but he has the right attitude to go and apply himself.

“Jack is the best forward I have seen doing what he does, and I honestly couldn't ask for any more from him. That’s why signing first team forms is important for his development at this stage. He still has a long way to go to be the finished product, but if he stays focussed I’m sure he can go all the way. Watch out seniors, Harris is on his way!”

“Both these boys deserve all the rewards they are getting, and its great to see them develop with Tunbridge Wells,” Larkin concluded.

““A big thank to Darrell and his team for their hard work to identify and then develop raw talent over the years into potential prospects for the first team. That is very much a core value of this club both now, and moving forward into the future.

“These, and the other two recent promotions of youth team players should send a message to all talented youngsters in the Tunbridge Wells and Tonbridge area that we are a club committed to nurturing young talent and giving them first team opportunities.”

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