We have 90 minutes to nail our pre-season, says Halsey

Sunday 01st August 2010

HERNE BAY boss Simon Halsey says he has no names on his team sheet yet for their tasty Kent League opener against Erith & Belvedere at the weekend, writes Stephen McCartney.

Halsey is a disappointed man as he has watched his side not win any of their five warm-up games and they only have one more pre-season friendly to get it right.

That game is away to bitter-rivals Whitstable Town on Tuesday night, and Halsey, who was speaking to www.kentishfootball.co.uk, knows exactly where his side are going wrong.

“As I said to them, we’re running out of games to nail it and we haven’t nailed it yet,” he said, following their 1-1 draw against an in-experienced Faversham Town side as they shared the Kent League Shield.

Disappointed with the lack off tempo against the Lilywhites, Halsey added: ““I told the boys exactly what the cut off time was to forget about pre-season and you’ve got to start upping the ante.

“We didn’t do things quick enough, we didn’t pass the ball well enough, we didn’t move it in the right areas quick enough and generally it was a lazy performance to be honest.”

Halsey and his temporary number two Marc Seager, head back to their former club, Whitstable Town for their last remaining warm-up game, on Tuesday night.

“That’s it, we’ve got one game, 90 minutes now to nail our pre-season, which is what I’m looking at,” said Halsey.

“I expected to have a settled side, know where I am but we haven’t as yet, so hopefully we can nail it into 90 minutes on Tuesday night.

“I want them to do exactly what I ask them, pass the ball better, move the ball quickly, move it into the right areas and play it into the wide areas, where we do all our danger with our wide players running at people and generally pass it better.

“We haven’t done it yet but it’s not the end of the world, but I’m just a bit disappointed it hasn’t happened by now.”

When asked if he knows his starting eleven that will kick-off their Kent League campaign against Micky Collins’ Deres, the Herne Bay boss replied, “No! Not at all! I haven’t got a clue at the moment and I’ve told the players that.”

Whitstable, who kick-off their Ryman League campaign later on 21 August, continued their pre-season programme with a single goal victory over Combined Counties League side Croydon at the weekend, courtesy of Ian Pulman.

Visit Herne Bay’s website: www.hernebayfc.net

Whitstable Town v Herne Bay

Pre-Season Friendly - Bruce Smith Cup

Tuesday 3rd August 2010

Kick Off 7:45pm

At The Belmont Ground, Belmont Road, Whitstable, Kent CT5 1QP