Soccer Shorts: Playing Kent League football has taken its toll on our young players, admits Douglas

The Wings are unbeaten in their last eight games in Blue Square South and are at present sitting in 10^th place in the table – five points behind sixth placed Bath.

“We need to keep our run going and we’ll be looking to get three points to boost our play-off chances,” Day told www.kentishfootball.co.uk.

"It should be a difficult game as they’re on a good run and I think it will be physical.”

Wings’ number seven, teenager Jack Parkinson, says confidence is high going into the game, especially after last Saturday’s result, an excellent 5-0 away win at full-time side Woking.

“We’re all looking forward to it,” Parkinson told www.kentishfootball.co.uk.

“The confidence is high at the moment as we’re on a good run, coming off the back of a great win last week.”

The former VCD Athletic player added: “We all know if we want to get in the play-off’s we need to make sure we’re taking points from teams around is and if we do that who knows where it would put us.”

The Wings have lost just once in ten league games since Day took over the managerial reigns at Park View Road, having joined the club from Ryman Premier League leaders Dartford (where he was a player) last December.

SITTINGBOURNE boss Gary Abbott says tomorrow’s home game against fellow play-off chasers Godalming Town has to be won if the Bourne Park outfit are to maintain their promotion push.

Abbott’s side have saved their better performances on home soil and welcome a Godalming side that are just one place – and four points – above them in the Ryman League Division One South table.

And with 17 league games remaining in only nine weeks of the season to fit in, the Brickies face a tight schedule.

“We have a big game tomorrow,” Abbott told www.kentishfootball.co.uk.

“We’re four points behind so we need a win to stay in touch.

“We’ve won five our of six games at home so if we can keep that going with another win like that, that will take us on to Chatham on Tuesday and three points there and we are right in the mix.

“There’s no reason why we can’t win both games.  We have no injuries, so it’s all looking good.”

HERNE BAY boss Simon Halsey hopes his side are in action against Erith Town at Winch’s Field tomorrow – despite their midweek home clash against fellow high-flyers Hythe Town falling victim to a waterlogged pitch.

“I’m looking forward to seeing a few old faces from the Thamesmead days, knowing Steve O’Boyle and Pottsy,” Halsey told www.kentishfootball.co.uk.

“They should be a side like us who gets the ball down and play, but I think the weather and the pitch may decide if we can do that.

“It may be the team that can adapt better that will take away the points.”

Taking Bay’s midweek postponement at Winch’s Field into account, Dockers boss O’Boyle added, “I don’t think it’s going to be on.”

GREENWICH BOROUGH welcome fourth-placed neighbours Beckenham Town to Holmesdale’s Oakley Road ground in Bromley Common tomorrow and boss Steve Firkins wants a marked improvement from when the two sides met at Eden Park Avenue back in August.

Jason Huntley’s side won the August Bank Holiday clash by two goals to one, and Firkins told www.kentishfootball.co.uk today that he wants his side to gain the local bragging rights when the two neighbours meet.

“Beckenham will be a big game for us tomorrow,” said the versatile Firkins.

“They are a good side that work hard for each other.

“They have been around the top five since the start of the season and that shows their consistency in getting results.

“We, on the other hand, haven’t shown the same consistency and have suffered for that.”

With his side seventh in the Bulmers Cider Kent League table with a record of 7 wins, 5 draws and 6 defeats, Firkins admitted this campaign has been one of disappointment.

“We did go on a decent run of six or seven games unbeaten up until last week’s encounter against Herne Bay,” said the secretary/manager.

“Beckenham beat us early on in the season, which was disappointing for us.  We were poor on the day but they deserved the points as they played better than us.

“If we play the same we will struggle to get any kind of result.”

CORINTHIAN number two Andy Douglas admits this has been a season of toil for the Fawkham based club.

They were thrown in at the deep end a couple of weeks before the start of the Bulmers Cider Kent League season – due to Slade Green’s late withdrawal – and the young side haven’t adapted to the step up.

However, Lordswood are the only side below them in the table, as Corinthian have bagged two points more, with a record of 3 wins and 3 draws from their 19 league outings.

And with 11 games remaining, Douglas told www.kentishfootball.co.uk how things have gone this season.

“The young squad have been tremendous all season, but the heavy grounds and six injuries to important players caused by the physical difference between the Kent Youth League and the Kent League are taking their toll,” he said.

“We have hit a bad patch of form.  However, the team spirit and work ethic is second to none and we will come through this.”

Looking ahead to tomorrow’s trip to eleventh placed Tunbridge Wells, Douglas added, “It will be a difficult game, as although we beat them at home they were a quality team so we will need to get back to form to get a result.”

* All games will be subject to morning pitch inspections.