Soccer Shorts: We can't overspend, says Hessenthaler

Friday 20th November 2009

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EBBSFLEET UNITED manager Liam Daish says the struggles on and off the pitch have made this season his most difficult time in football.

The Fleet are currently second from bottom in the Blue Square Premier, winning just once all season and without a goal in the last six games, and welcome Tamworth to Stonebridge Road tomorrow.

Daish told BBC Radio Kent: "Without doubt, it's been my toughest time as either a manager or a player.

But it makes you better, more equipped and stronger,"

Daish has faced squad problems this season, with only a handful of players available because of financial problems off the field.

A falling number of subscribers to the club website has meant there has been less money to spend, but Daish is optimistic.

"You get on with things. It's no good bleating and moaning. You've got to have a moan every now and then, but you get on with it and it's a test and a challenge I'm trying to enjoy," he said.

GOALKEEPER Lee Hook and midfielder Tom Davis have been placed on the transfer list by Blue Square South side Dover Athletic.

Whites boss Andy Hessenthaler has decided he needs to shuffle the pack following a nosedive in recent form.

The duo - both signed in the summer - will still be involved in Hess's first-team plans while they remain at the club.

Speaking to www.doverathletic.com, Hessenthaler said: "They are not being used as scapegoats or anything like that.

"I made the decision with a heavy heart because Tom and Lee are good lads. But I've just decided that we need to freshen things up.

"I signed Lee and Tom but it's not worked out here for them. The game is all about opinions and who's to say I am right or wrong.

"We had a meeting last night and I spoke to the two lads individually about the situation. Of course, they're disappointed but it's part and parcel of football.

"To bring anyone in, I need to shift players out. There may be one or two more going on the list later, if I feel things aren't working out."

Hessenthaler is hopeful to bring in central defender Yado Mambo in on work-experience from Charlton Athletic.

He said: "The lad is quick, strong and raw. If we get the player, it's a good deal for the club as he will come for free due to him being on work experience. Hopefully, we can get him but there's a few things to tie up."

The Whites chief was hugely disappointed in the manner his side lost 3-1 at Weston-Super-Mare on Saturday.

He said: "I felt there was not a lot of desire from the players. That's not something I've said too often about this team.

"I've defended them in other games. I thought we played well against Newport the previous week and were unfortunate to lose that game. But on Saturday, the performance wasn't acceptable."

Hessenthaler says it is important the everyone at the club from the tea lady to the supporters put the recent results into perspective - as the team have come a long way in such a short space of time.

He said: "If we were to get into the top five this season that would be an incredible achievement.

"We've won back-to-back titles and to win a third would be amazing. But we have to be realistic. We've come up the divisions very fast and this level is not easy.

"Others teams have now sussed us out and we've been too easy to play against. That's something we'll need to change.

"Darren and I hadn't really seen many games in this league before - and the players hadn't pitted their wits against many Blue Square South sides.

"Perhaps our good performance against AFC Wimbledon last season gave us a false impression of the level.

"However, I didn't think we were miles behind Newport last week. They had a strong, solid defence and that quality up front.

"We have quality in forward areas - but need to improve in defence.

"Hopefully we can get a centre-half in and I'll be able to get Jake Leberl into midfield to give us a bit more defensive discipline in front of the back four.

"We're getting a good look at this level now - and on a learning curve. If we don't get promoted this season, it's not the end of the world.

"We're now working out what you need to be successful at this level."

Hessenthaler says people would be gobsmacked at the amount of money in non-league football now.

Whites' playing budget is small fry when you look at Blue Square Premier clubs.

He said: "Cambridge and Oxford have budgets of £1million a year. It just shows you how far we've come. We're just one tier below that.

"Things have changed since Dover were last in the Conference National. Nearly every club is full-time and the money involved is much greater.

"But we're doing well as a club and can be proud of what we've achieved so far."

The Whites chief said the club could not afford the luxury of carrying three quality goalkeepers on the books and has therefore released David Wilkinson.

He said: "We've got two contracted keepers in Lee Hook and John Whitehouse and couldn't really carry David on the books long-term.

"So we've made the decision to let David go.

"Lee is now on the transfer list of course - but we do strictly need to shift players out before bringing anyone in.

"We have identified a keeper but we cannot do anything at the moment as the budget is spent. We can't overspend."

WELLING UNITED have released striker Adrian Stone, having made only seven appearances for the Park View Road club.

The unsettled striker signed for the Wings in September, but failed to score during this spell. It is likely that Stone will return to his former side Bromley, who have missed out on the signing of prolific striker, Danny Hockton, 30, who has opted to move to Ryman Premier League side Maidstone United.

Striker, Andy Pugh, meanwhile, has joined Welling United on a one-month loan deal from Gillingham. He had a spell with the Wings during 2007 where he scored two goals, both of which came against Bromley at Park View Road.

CRAY WANDERERS have appointed academy manager Darren Anslow as their new reserve team manager.

Chairman Garry Hillman, vice-chairman John Woolf and first team manager Ian Jenkins met this week and offered the job to Anslow, replacing Mark Hanscombe, who quit the role last Sunday.

The incoming boss was quick to praise his predecessor, whom he served alongside for the past year.

"Mark's done a fantastic job over the past five years, and he won‘t be out of the game for long" Anslow told www.craywands.co.uk.

“I joined up with Mark and the reserves about this time last season. Up until then, they were having a poor time of it, but then things picked up after the Chatham game and we ended up finishing second in the League."

FOLKESTONE INVICTA welcome Worthing to Cheriton Road tomorrow, as the top two in Ryman League Division One South come head-to-head.

Buoyed from the hard fought midweek victory over Metropolitan Police, Neil Cugley’s side face promotion favourites Worthing this Saturday afternoon at the Buzzlines Stadium with both sides joint top of Ryman Division One South although the Seasiders have a game in hand.

Worthing lost 3-0 on Wednesday night at Eastbourne Town in a division which has already thrown up its fair share of surprise results so far this season.

In a wholehearted team performance on Tuesday night at Cheriton Road, it was dominant centre half Frankie Chappell whose header from a 90th minute corner ensured Invicta sealed all three points against a side who included several former Folkestone players in their starting eleven; Craig Wilkins, Lee Gledhill and Nick Humphrey.

“They (Met Police) are vastly experienced and looking at their starting line up, it’s full of what I would call ‘big name’ Ryman League players,” Cugley told www.folkestoneinvicta.co.uk.

“Their experience and strength showed but we dug in and defended well. I don’t think they gave Jack much to do and I thought we had the better chances.

“The only complaint I had was that I felt we could’ve pushed them up a little bit from the back but sometimes you’ve got to let teams come onto you as we don’t concede many goals and we are good at popping up with goals later in games when our fitness and team spirit comes through. I thought the front two (James Everitt and Simon Austin) in particular worked their socks off.”

Looking towards to the visit of Worthing, aside from James Dryden who continues to work his way back to full fitness, Folkestone have no injury worries which is likely to see an unchanged starting line up from the side that performed admirably against Met Police.

“As disappointing as it was on Saturday almost getting to Croydon and finding out the game was going to be called off, we did have two or three players carrying injuries that wouldn’t have stopped them from playing but would’ve meant them not being as sharp as we would’ve liked. With such a small squad, we can’t afford to pick up any injuries or illness,” added Cugley.

“With the youngsters on the bench you have to be careful with them as expectations become so high and they’re not world beaters. They’re good lads who don’t get paid and turn up every week. You’re playing against Met Police for instance who are a big and strong side and you don’t want to knock their confidence either and it’s very difficult to find the happy medium as they want to play football. The potential is there and we want to put them on at the right time.

“We’ll be treating Worthing as another game as that’s what it is and we’ll want to win. You have to remember that we are only a third of the way through the season and it’s by no means the be all and end all yet! I won’t be putting too much emphasis on it or putting pressure on the players as there is no need to. They just need to carry on enjoying their football and doing well and we’ll see what happens.

Captain Michael Everitt has now broken the appearance record for the Club and the gaffer reserved several words of praise for the industrious midfielder.

He said: “I think so far this is the best season he has ever had. I think he has been outstanding and has shown an excellent attitude to everything as he always has done. I think we’ve seen an improvement in his overall game and I’m pleased for him as the time he has put in over the summer is paying off. Alongside Smithy and Jacko, I think those three are as good a midfield as anything in this League.

“I think it’s fair to say we’re not the loudest of sides who shout and scream but what we have got is a bunch of lads that are very determined in their individual ways and I think that Mev falls into that category – he does his job and he’s doing it well.

“So far this season we lost to Godalming where Jack made one of the only mistakes he’s made all season, Sittingbourne in the F.A Cup when we didn’t mark from a free kick, against Hitchin who I thought were better than us to be fair and then Aveley who we played really well against. It wasn’t very long ago when we were going out of business! So we haven’t done too badly so far have we?”

TONBRIDGE ANGELS travel to Blue Square South side Welling United in the third qualifying round of the FA Carlsberg Trophy on Sunday (2pm), knowing that defender Tom Bryant will not face a two-match suspension, having been red-carded during last weekend’s 3-2 win at Kingstonian.

In a club statement, issued by Charlie Cole, the club secretary said: “I am pleased to inform you all that the appeal the club put before the FA Disciplinary Committee against Tom's sending off at Kingstonian on Saturday, has been successful.

“The suspension recorded against Tom's records has therefore been lifted, and he will be now be available for the games against Ashford Town (Mddx) and Billericay Town.”

BECKENHAM TOWN’S feet will be brought more realistically back to earth with a bump over the next two weeks.

After tomorrow’s game against Hythe Town, there are no scheduled games at Eden Park Avenue until the 12th December, and the club look set to take advantage of the break by carrying out some pressing and essential work to the Eden Park Avenue pitch.

The ground staff are concerned about the mid season condition of the pitch which appears much poorer than it has been in recent seasons.

Meanwhile, Kent’s sole FA Carlsberg Vase survivors travel to Maldon, Essex to tackle Essex Senior League outfit Tiptree United in the last 64 on Saturday, 5th December - a game being covered by www.kentishfootball.co.uk

Supporters wishing to book seats, priced at £10, on the coach should contact secretary Peter Palmer on 07774 728 758. The coach will depart the club’s ground at Eden Park Avenue at 11 o’clock.

ERITH & BELVEDERE have unveiled the shock signing of former Chatham Town defender Tom Binks, who had quit the Ryman League Division One South club to ferry his son to Tottenham Hotspur’s youth games.

Binks had joined the Chats in 2001 from Sittingbourne and went on to become a Maidstone Road legend.

The vastly experienced Binks played over 350 games for Chatham Town, scoring six goals, before deciding to ‘retire' from semi-pro football in October.

However, joint manager Richie Radbourne has persuaded Tom to return to the game to help out as the Deres face some tricky looking fixtures over the next few weeks.

Meanwhile, midfielder Michael Dodsworth has ended his brief stay with the Deres and has signed for current Bulmers Cider Kent League leaders Faversham Town.

Michael played in six games for the Deres, scoring 1 goal, and will make an immediate return to Park View Road with the Lilywhites for tomorrow's top of the table clash.

Deane has an impressive list of clubs to his name, having played for Charlton Athletic, Chesterfield, Luton Town, Cork City, Hornchurch, Farnborough, Gravesend & Northfleet, Braintree Town and Billericay Town.

Also leaving the club is defender Aaron Burrett.

He started the season at the heart of the Deres defence but has recently fallen out of favour with the Deres management team and has joined Kent League strugglers, Lordswood.

Midfielder Adrian Deane scored within two minutes of his Erith Town debut last weekend.

Deane, who collected seven caps for the Republic of Ireland’s under 21 side, made 78 starts and 13 substitute appearances for the Deres, scoring 28 goals.

Also departing Park View Road this week is assistant manager and coach, Dave Fells, who is taking a short break and will be back in approximately one month‘s time.

FISHER take on Norton Sports in the Bulmers Cider Kent League tomorrow and manager Gary Lisney is hoping to arrest the south Londoners recent slide.

Lisney has a near full strength squad going into Saturday's game with both player/assistant manager Bryan Glover and keeper Adam Lisney recovering from illness and injury respectively. Gillingham Trialist and wing wizard Taser Hassan is also expected to be included in the squad.

LORDSWOOD have announced two more signings to join the revolution at the club following Jason Lillis' appointment.

Former Hythe player Roy Guiver has joined, and former Lords player Aaron Burrett has joined from Erith & Belvedere.

Both players played under Lillis at Herne Bay and are likely to go staight into the squad for tomorrow’s home game against Deal Town, who had their home game with Norton Sports called off within ten minutes before kick-off last weekend.

Guiver joins up with ex-Hythe team-mates Adam Hooper and Scott Punton, whilst Adam Todd, Alan Scott and Danny Cook have also joined in recent weeks.

Lillis has been reunited with two more former players as he continues to rebuild at the Kent League’s basement side.

Lillis, speaking to www.lordswoodfc.co.uk, said: "I'm happy to get them. I know what they are capable of and they reminded me at training this week they once went 11 games at Bay without conceding a goal. I always like to start from a base and my first aim is to get things right defensively, then move on and concentrate on other areas."

Another boost is Wes Hammond's imminent return after being out since late September, following surgery on a broken toe.

The former Faversham and Margate centre-half hopes to be back in a fortnight. Goalkeeper Rowan Arnott could return at the weekend, one of three used already this season.

Lillis said: "Rowan has been unavailable due to personal and family commitments but trained on Tuesday and will probably get his chance. I haven't made up my mind who is first choice and have got another keeper coming in to play for the reserves next week. I have got to look at the whole squad strength over the next fortnight."

SEVENOAKS TOWN’S manager Simon Jones and his assistant Joe Little were pleased with the result, but not the performance in the 2-1 win at Holmesdale on Saturday.

The pair expected more after the League Cup win the week before, and fittingly on the day of the big spectacular in the City of London earlier in the day, Jones said: "It was a really strong performance by the boys against Norton, but this was an anti-climax, definitely after the Lord Mayors Show.

"We were very fortunate to win, but credit to Joe (Creasey) for taking a gamble and scoring, but we didn't give their 'keeper enough to do in the game. We looked a team of individuals and huffed and puffed.

"The conditions were terrible, and I think we had the worst of them in the first half, and I think we both felt the boys thought the job was done at half-time.

"Great to see Billy Shinners score his 10th league goal, which is a nice little milestone for him. We went to sleep for their goal, scored by one of our old boys Tony Atkins, before Joe got the winner. I did feel sorry for Chris Arnold though,” Jones told www.sevenoakstownfc.org.

TUNBRIDGE WELLS boss Martin Larkin says there is certainly more to come from his side as they look forward to travelling to Bromley to tackle Greenwich Borough at 2pm tomorrow.

Since the beginning of the season, Larkin has been holding off for the one-third-season milestone before giving his assessment of the side in his charge, and the league as a whole for 2009/10. Now with ten games played, Tunbridge Wells sit in 9th place.

“It’s been a 10-game period where we still haven’t put out our first choice 11 - but we are getting close to being able to do that. We operate with a very small squad so we have to be able to adapt better when guys are missing,” Larkin told www.tunbridgewellsfc.co.uk.

“In terms of the league, the big sides are certainly up at the top - although Erith & Belvedere have surprised me. I expect Hythe to move through the pack, but Faversham are still the best-organised and strongest team we have faced this year.”

Of course, having lost only two matches during those opening ten league games, The Wells find themselves just three points away from occupying sixth place - a target that has become almost a cliché with managers looking to improve things at their respective Kent League clubs.

More than one manager in their first season in charge of a new club in this league would be happy with a finish in that region.

Being within touching distance, while in some respects pleasing can also prove frustrating, as Larkin reveals: “It’s definitely frustrating with the number of games we have led, only to draw - but we should keep our focus here. We are essentially trying to improve season-on-season, so we have targeted a finish better than the 10th place last year.

“If we can pick up points each week then we will certainly challenge for that 6th place, though. That in turn will help to attract players, sponsors and fans for next year, and the whole process of bettering last year begins again!”

Picking up points each week is happening more often than not at the moment - but while Larkin had hoped for nine points from the last three games, The Wells actually earned five - dropping four from two draws.

“Staying unbeaten from those three is what I took away from the last few games. The guys showed a real desire after the Deal game to learn from their mistakes and put the things they are taught in training into practice.

“The Deal game was obviously disappointing but we showed some real quality in the first 45 minutes - as we did against Fisher. We as a team and coaching staff felt we dominated the Lordswood game, but just failed to create enough clear cut chances to win it. We didn’t want to lose any of those games, but we really should have come out with a better haul than five points."

Relating to the current habit of drawing games during the opening ten matches of the season, Larkin reveals how the coaching staff are now shifting the focus, having become satisfied that the work of the last several months put in has made Tunbridge Wells a difficult side to beat - in spite of constantly having to chop and change the starting line-up due to injuries and suspensions.

“We will now be concentrating more on attacking, and giving the guys more ideas of what to do in the final third. Hopefully that will lead to more goals but without reducing our ability to defend.

“It’s all about giving the players ideas and options and then repeating them in training so that when that situation comes up in a game it is ingrained and they make the right choices on what to do with the ball."

Having isolated the previous bundle of matches for particular attention - Larkin now finds himself contemplating a tough-looking trio of matches to push the side towards the mid-point of the season.

That starts on Saturday with a trip to Oakley Road to play Greenwich (note the unusual 2pm kick-off time), a home match against Beckenham and then a midweek visit to an improving Corinthian side to begin December with.

“Greenwich away will be very tough - they have a lot of pace going forward and did exceptionally well last year,” Larkin says.

“Beckenham have had a great start and again have a huge amount of attacking talent in their side. They’ve obviously performed really well in the FA Vase too - and will be buoyed by that. Corinthian are somewhat unknown, which has its issues - and it’s an evening game.

“The bottom line? If we can go through these games unbeaten again, we will be happy as we look to continue to improve.”

While focus on moving up the pitch begins in training, six goals were shipped in the last three games - something that one hopes will tighten up for the remainder of November. Having a settled back four would help for a start, if the current injury and suspension issues could ease off a little.

“Perry Spackman is targeting the Beckenham game as his comeback match - and he is a huge presence at the back. We have definitely missed him. But Scott Whibley has done well, and Steve Ashmore has had a good couple of weeks. Brad Draper earning joint Supporters’ Player of the Month Award for October speaks for itself - so it will take a lengthy discussion to decide on the best way forward with the back four.”