Soccer Shorts: Injury prone goalkeeper Mitten has played his last game for Folkestone, says Cugley

GILLINGHAM boss Mark Stimson has given his support to Ebbsfleet United in their quest for Wembley glory.

The Fleet are just 90 minutes away from Wembley taking a 3-1 lead into the second leg of their semi-final at Aldershot Town tomorrow.

Stimson has won the Trophy the past three seasons, twice with Grays Athletic and last year with Stevenage Borough.

And he told BBC Radio Kent: “I’ll speak to their boss Liam Daish to tell his boys, don’t miss out on the big one.”

Stimson is full of praise for the Fleet and their boss Daish.

“He’s a hundred percenter and he’s got a fantastic little team there and I hope they can go on and go through to the final.

“It is a fantastic day out, that new stadium is something to be proud of and to walk your team out there is a day I’ll never forget.”

The winners will meet either Torquay United or York City in the final at Wembley on May 10^th.

Torquay travel to York tomorrow with a 2-0 lead from the first leg.

SITTINGBOURNE, who welcome Cray Wanderers to Bourne Park tomorrow in the Ryman League Division One South, have lost goalkeeper Steve Williams to Blue Square South strugglers Welling United.

Brickies secretary John Pitts told www.sittingbournefc.co.uk: “Andy Ford asked to approach Steve. Steve will be on dual registration. In my view, Steve is one of the best keepers in non-league football.”

FOLKESTONE INVICTA make the trip to north London tomorrow to take on fourth placed side Hendon in their third successive away game in the Ryman Premier League.

However, it will be a short journey for Invicta’s solid defender Samuel Kola Okikiolu, who himself is a Hendon resident.

A superb brace by striker Lloyd Blackman ensured the Seasiders were victorious over Carshalton Athletic last weekend (2-1) but Folkestone could consider themselves unfortunate not to have left the New Lodge with any points on Tuesday night in a 4-1 defeat by Billericay Town after Leigh Bremner put Invicta ahead in the first half.

The Essex side snatched two goals in the dying minutes of the match to distort the scoreline after Folkestone sought an equaliser on a very windy evening.

And manager Neil Cugley, speaking to www.folkestoneinvicta.co.uk this week, said: “We've got this one more away game and after getting the three points at Carshalton I also felt we deserved three points at Billericay so I'm not worried about facing Hendon.

“They have done ever so well, trounced Leyton 11-1 in December and have been top of the League but we are feeling very confident and I honestly believe we can go there and get some points.

“There's an excellent spirit in the team and the lads are really working hard and are playing good football and I'm looking forward to Saturday. We look like scoring goals and as long as we keep these players fit there's no way with the team we have that we'll be going down.”

Aside from goalkeeper Charlie Mitten, Invicta have no injury concerns or suspensions to contend with going into the weekend. Mitten broke two bones in his hand on Monday after falling down the stairs and will now be out for the rest of the season.

The match at Carshalton will therefore be Mitten's last for this season with the ex Margate goalkeeper only managing to notch up 24 appearances this year as he has been unfortunate to suffer several injuries in his first season at the Buzzlines Stadium.

Cugley said: “It's very disappointing because he's been ever so good recently and has given a lot of confidence to the back four and he's really kept us in games. He's an all round excellent goalkeeper and he's been there and done it and he doesn't feel any pressure and he's the sort of experience that we need in this team.

“People don't realise just what a quality keeper he is and he is certainly one of the best I have had in my time as a manager. Out of all the goals we have conceded this season, I wouldn't have thought there were many that you can say were the fault of Charlie.

“He might have played his last game for us though. We don't know what league we'll be in next season nor do we know the budget and his injuries have been a concern and we can't make any commitments to any players yet.”

On the subject of a replacement goalkeeper Cugley explained: “I'm not really sure yet because we will still be paying Charlie so we'll have to check the finances. The goalkeeper will have to be better than Luke (Stonebridge) who will certainly be in goal Saturday.”

Attacking midfielder James Corbett is likely to have recovered from the migraine he was suffering from which kept him out of Tuesday's night encounter but with his replacement Leigh Bremner grabbing a goal against Billericay, Cugley has hinted it is likely Corbett will have to settle for a place on the bench against Hendon.

“We haven't got a big squad but we have a very committed one and after Saturday five of the last eight games are at home so I definitely feel we can get the ten or eleven points needed to guarantee our survival,” said Cugley.

The long-serving boss dismissed a recent rumour that former Dover Athletic and Ashford Town assistant manager Steve Nolan would be coming to the Buzzlines Stadium to take up a coaching capacity in light of the recent departure of Gillingham legend Mark Saunders.

He said: “Well that's a new one! We're not looking to bring anyone like that in and I'm really pleased with everything at the Club. Micky Dix is doing a great job and Kevin Watson is really helping with training so we don't have to bring anyone else in”.

MARGATE travel to Upminster to take on fellow play-off hopefuls AFC Hornchuch tomorrow.

Back in December, goals from James Pinnock and Luke Coleman either side of a penalty for the Essex side, which was converted by Mark Janney, saw the Thanet side record a 2-1 victory.

As things stand today, however, Margate are now sixth in the Ryman Premier League table and three places below their Essex hosts.

Looking for a third successive win for the third time this season, Margate go into this crucial clash knowing that any slip up could cost them a place in the play-offs.

However, on the injury front, striker Rob Haworth could be a doubt following his substitution after just five minutes of the win over Billericay.

Roberto Corbishley, Mark Goodfellow and Dan Young played for the reserves last week and could be close to a first team return but that still leaves Luke Coleman, Justin Skinner and Michael Yianni all missing.

The Urchins have always been in touch with the play-off places throughout the season and are currently in third place following a recent run of form that sees them ranked six in the form table – with an almost identical record to Margate’s.

Looking forward to tomorrow’s clash at Bridge Avenue, Margate’s Jay Saunders told www.margate-fc.com : “Another big game, but they’re the games you want to play in.

“Players raise their games when we’re playing the better sides and if we just take each game as it comes, we’re confident we can beat anyone.”

ASHFORD TOWN boss Steve Lovell has praised his side for bouncing back with a fine victory over promotion chasing Metropolitan Police.

A header from captain Sean Ray secured the points for the Nuts and Bolts as they turned in an excellent second-half display, and Lovell was happy with the performance, writes Sam Dixon.

“It was a good performance on Saturday against a good side,” Lovell told www.ashfordtownfc.co.uk:
 “We defended very well as a team and created quite a few chances. The previous two games were very strange because we played nothing like the team we had seen for the 12 games before that. But it shows the character of the squad to bounce back with a great.”

With promotion probably out of the question Lovell is already looking forward to next season, and is challenging his current crop of players to show their worth as he looks towards a promotion charge next term.

“Next season is going to be a very exciting one for everyone connected to Ashford, on and off the field,” said Lovell.

“There will be some changes in personnel in the playing department. A lot will depend on the performances of the individuals between now and the end of the season.

“We have quite a good side at the moment but I’m sure the squad will need strengthening and if we are going to reach our goal next year it’s important to have strength in depth and that is something I’m going to concentrate on in the close season.”

Back to the current campaign and this Saturday when the Nuts and Bolts travel to Walton & Hersham looking to avenge the 3-1 defeat at Homelands last month. Lovell is expecting another tough encounter.

“Walton & Hersham are another good team but I thought in the home game we were right in the contest but we gifted them three goals and were punished for it. I think it will a different story this weekend, we were missing three key players in the home game so I’m hoping we can reverse the scoreline.”

“As for team news, the squad will be the same as last Saturday with possibly the addition of Lee Hockey who could play with s protective mask after breaking his nose a few weeks ago.”

DARTFORD boss Tony Burman has added Luke Piscina to his squad ahead of tomorrow’s trip to Enfield Town.

Former Tonbridge Angels favourite Luke Piscina has been snapped up from Kent League side Sevenoaks Town, during the same week that Derek Moore and Bob Pittaway both quit the Greatness Park club.

Looking ahead to the table-topping Darts trip to north London, Burman, speaking to www.dartfordfootballclub.co.uk said: “We have another tough away game against Enfield who have slipped out of the play-off position and have had a change of manager in recent weeks.

“I have no doubt Enfield will be looking for revenge after we beat them 6-1 at Princes Park.”

Midfield playmaker Eddie McClements is still not fit but he should be fir for the Easter weekend. Brad Potter will be out for two weeks and striker Tom Bradbrook has an infection to his wisdom teeth which need to be removed tomorrow.

“Tom has put off the operation twice for the cause but is in too much pain at the moment for a third time,” explained Burman.

On the plus side, striker Jay May will be added to the squad after serving his four-match ban and Piscina, 23, has been added to the squad for tomorrow’s vital clash.

SHAUN WELFORD was at the double for Dover Athletic last weekend and Whites will aim to complete their eighth double of the season by beating Walton Casuals tomorrow, writes Matthew Clements.

Should they do so it will be the fifth match in a row in which Andy Hessenthaler's men have 'doubled' an opponent - following the completed doubles against Corinthian-Casuals, Chipstead, Tooting & Mitcham United and Molesey in recent weeks.

That statistic of seven doubles so far (with another eight possible) is in contrast to last season when only six were completed in total from Dover's 21 league opponents. More importantly, none of the six doubles last season were against sides in the top nine final positions.

Dover have been the model of consistency this season, suffering only one poor run of results - three draws and a loss during December and January. For the most part they have been imposing and dominant. Even the dropped points have often been in games that Andy Hessenthaler’s team have controlled and sometimes looked like running away with.

The chances of Whites running away with the title appear unlikely though. Although in an incredibly strong position, rivals Tooting & Mitcham United and Cray Wanderers are continuing to churn out wins. Cray, courtesy of two late winners in the last two games, are now in second place and haven't lost since October.

Whites know that three consecutive victories against Walton, Leatherhead and Ashford would see them virtually home and dry but Hessenthaler’s men undoubtedly have the toughest run-in. After Easter they have to face play-off hopefuls Sittingbourne, Worthing, Met Police and Walton & Hersham; the last three of those four being away from home.

In the form the team is currently in, it is no wonder the club is being named Champions-elect but there are no guarantees. The confidence among supporters in the team could barely be any higher though, much of which is founded on the strength of the squad and incredible defensive record of late.

The form of John Keister throughout the season, both in midfield and defence, has been a key component of the side's imprenetrability. Whites' experienced captain has swept up everything at the back throughout the unbeaten run since January and taken pressure off his younger team-mates.

The infectious Craig Cloke has also stepped up to the plate, showing increased maturity in his decision-making at the back. Hessenthaler may have to do without him on Saturday however, as Cloke is struggling with shin splints.

Also doubtful this weekend is striker Jimmy Dryden, who missed training on Tuesday due to a knee injury. Frannie Collin is likely to be on the bench again this weekend, as he's still regaining fitness following his hamstring strain.

Alan Pouton is definitely out with a troublesome back problem. Craig Wilkins is expected to be missing for the rest of the season after undergoing a second operation on his knee. It is a testament to the depth of quality at Hessenthaler's disposal that two players of Pouton and Wilkins' quality and experience have not been sorely missed when injured.

Hessenthaler is expecting to see more from his recent loan signing, James Simmonds, in the next few weeks. The Chelsea midfielder made a positive debut last weekend, getting used to his team and the style of play more as the game progressed.

Hessenthaler told www.doverathletic.com:  "It wasn't easy for him, it was all new to him, but he did some good things and I think he is going to be a big asset for us over the next month."

The gaffer was also pleased for Shaun Welford, who scored both goals in the 2-0 victory over Molesey. The former Ramsgate striker has been in superb form in recent weeks, producing consistently hard working displays without getting too many chances to get on the scoresheet.

Hessenthaler added: "I think he has had a bit of unfair criticism and I was delighted that he got the two goals on Saturday. He brings something different to the team with his hustle and bustle style. Sometimes you need that, and he always works so hard."

Welford's performance embodied the hard working and professional attitude Hessenthaler and Darren Hare have instilled into the Dover squad this season and the team will need to keep up that level for a few more weeks yet if they are to remove the '-elect' from their Champions-elect tag.

Hessenthaler added: "We've got to just keep driving on and not let up in any way."

BROMLEY, who play a Blue Square South game at Bishop’s Stortford tomorrow, have signed attacking midfield pair Mark De Bolla and Karl Beckford from AFC Wimbledon.

Both players, on loan until the end of this season, go straight into the squad for tomorrow’s trip to Hertfordshire.

Set-piece specialist De Bolla is no stranger to Kent football, having played for Gravesend & Northfleet last season.

Returning to the Bromley side will be goalkeeper Gareth Williams and striker Omari Coleman, who both sat out the midweek London Senior Cup semi-final defeat to Hendon, having previously played in the competition.

Meanwhile, striker Nic McDonnell remains some way off returning to the team but both Ben Judge and Tutu Henriques trained last night and should be fit to travel.

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