Talented striker Cassius can only get better, warns O'Boyle

ERITH TOWN manager Steve O’Boyle has set his in-form side a target to reach in their remaining 17 league games, writes Stephen McCartney.

The Dockers are now in seventh place in the Kent League table with 25 points from 15 games and came away from Herne Bay with an impressive 5-2 win at Herne Bay yesterday.

Contracted striker Marcus Cassius took his tally to sixteen for the season with a hat-trick, with Dan Parrish and Myrie Allen also getting on the score sheet.

O’Boyle, speaking to www.kentishfootball.co.uk this evening, was delighted with his side’s performance, especially having lost to the same side in the Kent Senior Trophy last month.

“It was a very good win,” he said. “To be fair, when we played them in the Cup a couple of weeks ago, they played us off the park during the first half.

“Herne Bay are a very good side, good going forward, so we knew yesterday’s game we had to be up for it and to be at our best to get anything out of the game.

“First ten to fifteen minutes, they put us under a lot of pressure, we weathered the storm and after that we deserved the win.”

Despite his hat-trick yesterday, O’Boyle believes Cassius can improve his game.

“Marcus was superb yesterday, he gave their back three a torrid time and it puts him on top of the golden boot, I think he’s got 16,” said the pleased manager.

“I wouldn’t say he’s the finished article yet, but what I would say to you he’s a great talent.”

O’Boyle hoped that his side’s rise up the table would go unnoticed, but when you win three of your last four games and climb the table, that’s a hard thing to get away with.

“We were hoping not too many would notice that,” he said. “We would like to do things quietly. Nobody takes much notice of us.

“We’re building a half decent squad together but we have got a really hard month coming up. We’ve got Tunbridge Wells followed by Croydon, we’ve got Hythe and VCD to play. It’s really going to be a tough month.”

Erith Town’s next game is scheduled for Tuesday night, a Kent League Cup Quarter-Final First Leg clash at Tunbridge Wells.

But O’Boyle believes the Culverden Stadium pitch will be too frozen for the game to go ahead.

“I’ve had the weather forecast up today and it’s not good,” he predicted. “It’s minus four come Tuesday night.

“We will prepare for the game, but I’ve got to say it’s not looking too promising is it?”

Reflecting on the first five months of the season, O’Boyle says he is pleased that the team that he has built are finally gelling.

“I think we’ve done reasonably well,” he said. “I’m starting to get my own players in now. A lot of players have left and a lot of players have joined the club and now their starting to gel together.

“But I will say we are one or two players away from becoming title contenders.

“I’ve signed some good players of late, Lee Coburn, who is playing up front for me, has been with us for ten weeks now and he’s been superb. Adam Cotterill from Slade Green. I’ve brought in Kevin Spriggs from VCD as player coach.

“We’re starting to build a half decent squad. With Dean Burns and Lee Craig back from suspension, we’ve got a good squad at the moment.”

Previous manager, Mark Tompkins led the club to their best ever season last term; a top five finish and Kent League Cup glory.

O’Boyle, meanwhile, wants to better that.

“Realistically, I want to finish in the top six,” he said. “I will say, I want to finish with more points than they finished last year.  They had 51 points last year, 52 or above is a bonus for us this year.”

The Dockers welcome eleventh placed side Croydon to Bayliss Avenue in the league on Saturday and O’Boyle expects yet another tough match.

“They’re doing ok at the moment, so it will be a tough game,” he warned. “Obviously we’re looking at Tunbridge Wells, a really good side and it should be a good game - if it’s on!

“If I was a betting man I would say it’s going to be off, but I’d rather be playing Tuesday than training Wednesday!”

www.kentishfootball.co.uk will be covering this game, if it goes ahead.

Visit Tunbridge Wells’ website:  www.tunbridgewellsfc.co.uk

Visit Erith Town’s website: www.erithtownfc.com

Tunbridge Wells v Erith Town
Bulmers Cider Kent League Cup Quarter-Final First Leg
Tuesday 6^th January 2009
Kick Off 7:45pm
At Culverden Stadium, Culverden Down, Tunbridge Wells