We can't afford to lose any more games, says Hollands & Blair boss Paul Piggott

HOLLANDS & BLAIR boss Paul Piggott says his side must get back on track when they welcome Bridon Ropes to Star Meadow on Saturday.

The Gillingham-based side excelled on their big night when they more than matched Ryman League Division One South side Ramsgate in the Kent Senior Cup sponsored by Portablefloodlights.com Second Round tie on Tuesday night, which saw referee Mr Paul Yates award FIVE penalties during the game and there were nine during the penalty shoot-out.

Michael Jenner scored a hat-trick of penalties and Ben Brown was rewarded for his hardworking display with a goal as they held Tim Dixon’s side to a 4-4 draw after extra-time.

But Ramsgate, who had goalkeeper Shannon Harris red-carded, sealed progress into the Quarter-Finals after winning 4-3 on penalties, after Jay Doe and Sean Hetterley, who hit the bar twice during the game, skied their spot-kicks.

Piggott was immensely proud of his side following the epic encounter.

He said: “They’ve given so much to it.  When you put so much into a game like that and you keep coming back from the dead like we did and you lose it at the final hurdle, it’s hard to take but they’ve got character, they’ll bounce back.

“I’ve never seen a game with so many penalties in it!  There you go, that’s why we’re in football because of days like that!”

Hollands & Blair’s debut match in the Kent Senior Cup – after winning the Kent Senior Trophy for the first time in the club’s history last season – brought the romance back to the competition.

It was like a typical FA Cup tie and Hollands & Blair relished performing on the big stage in what was their biggest game in their history.

Hollands & Blair are in third-place in the Kent Invicta League table, with 27 points from 11 games. 

They are seven points behind unbeaten leaders Phoenix Sports, who are jointly-managed by Steve O’Boyle and Tony Beckingham. 

Piggott’s side return to the bread and butter of the Kent Invicta League when Bridon Ropes visit on Saturday.

He said: “It’s going to be tough.  We’re going to brush ourselves down and get ourselves ready for Saturday because it’s an important league game. We can’t afford to lose any more games so we’ve got to go out and get ourselves a win on Saturday.”

The former Lordswood boss wants to guide his side into the Kent League – and further after playing at Ryman League Division One North side Chatham Town under floodlights on Tuesday night.

“Playing under lights, decent pitches, this was a Ryman League club and this is where our boys want to be,” added Piggott.

“We want to be in the Kent League, we want to get in there, that’s our first port of call, but once we get in there we want to progress.  We want to be like the Herne Bay’s, Ramsgate’s, we want to do that sort of thing but it’s going to take time and money but we’ve got to have our goals.”

Talking about goals, Piggott was disappointed with seventeen-goal striker Ricky Freeman, who missed the Ramsgate game after picking up an injury playing Sunday football.

“Ricky got injured playing Sunday football, playing five-a-side, which I’m disappointed with, but that’s the level we play at.  We can’t stop players doing that.”

Freeman may have regretted that decision because had he impressed against Ramsgate there were plenty of scouts from the Ryman League who may have given him a chance to progress his career.

Visit Hollands & Blair’s website: www.hollandsandblair.co.uk

Hollands & Blair v  Bridon Ropes
Kent Invicta League
Saturday 10^th November 2012
Kick Off 2:00pm
at Star Meadow, Darland Avenue, Gillingham, Kent ME7 3AN