We have been on a poor run of form, admits Kent Football United boss Sam MacNeil

KENT FOOTBALL United manager Sam McNeil says their game away to Bearsted tomorrow will make or break their season.



The Crayford-based club are in seventh-place in the Kent Invicta League table with 20 points from 11 games and are 19 points adrift of league leaders Hollands & Blair, but MacNeil’s side have four games in hand over the Gillingham-based frontrunners.

Kent Football United travel to fifth-placed Bearsted (who have collected 23 points from 15 games) tomorrow.

“Tomorrow’s game is a very important game in our season,” admitted MacNeil.

“We have been on a poor run of form losing our last two league games with silly unforced errors spoiling spells of fantastic possession football.

“Over the past month I’ve installed a more focused strategy on retaining possession and it’s worked but we’ve been let down by some bad mistakes which has halted our progress.

“However, I will stick to my guns with the style of play I want as I want this to funnel down through the club.”

Reflecting on the club’s campaign, MacNeil said: “Our season so far has been very good. With our games in hand we are up there around the top three. We have made the Quarter-Finals of both the League Cup and London Senior Trophy for the first time in our history so it’s been about progress and progress we have made.

“I do not want our season to peter out through into disappointment. What shows a top team is one that can keep tabs on those at the top.

“Hollands & Blair and Lydd Town are two very strong resilient sides so anything but three points on Saturday I feel sees us out the race.

“We are very much the outside bet this year for sure but a much better bet than recent seasons!

“On our day we can beat anyone. We have some fantastic players as long as we stay stronger defensively.

“I am delighted to welcome back Michael Odeiobi, 19, to the side. He has missed the last six weeks due to moving to university. However we’ve come to an arrangement to get him down to play which is fantastic for us defensively.

“He is very strong, quick and intelligent and is one of the many good young players we currently have at the club.”

Looking ahead to the second half of the season, MacNeil added: “Our aspirations are to get as high up this league as possible.  My target is top three but I’d be happy with top five. It shows fantastic progress.

“Obviously I want to win it and when we played Blair away we showed we are good enough now to be competing up the top of the league. We want to make a cup final also whether that be League Cup or London Senior Trophy.

“I have a fantastic set of players and I’m sure we will keep being successful but we must stop the rot this week away to the Bears.

“The club is developing well off the pitch which means we are ready for the jump to step five but the work’s got to be done on the field.

“You can’t take no team for granted in this league. Anything can happen in non-league football. Look at Eltham Palace, second from bottom and they beat us and drew with Lydd. Funny old game!

“The New Year offers a big challenge with two legs against Bridon Ropes in the League Cup and home games against Lewisham and Lydd. It’s a month that will decide our season. If we are able to win Saturday and get two league wins in January we are chasing down the teams at the top. 

“However, I’m not looking into January. If we don’t win this week it makes Lydd in January irrelevant.”

Visit Kent Football United’s website: www.pitchero.com/clubs/kentelitefootballclub

Bearsted  v  Kent Football United
Kent Invicta League
Saturday 21^st December 2013
Kick Off 2:00pm
At Otham Sports Club, Honey Lane, Otham, Maidstone, Kent ME15 8RG