We have to beat the big boys, says Jones

Tuesday 05th January 2010

SEVENOAKS TOWN boss Simon Jones admits his side’s position in the top four in the Bulmers Cider Kent League table is a false one, writes Stephen McCartney.

The Greatness Park outfit are sitting proudly in fourth place in the table, with a record of seven wins and three draws from 14 games and are eleven points adrift of leaders Faversham Town.

Without a game in four weeks, Jones spoke to www.kentishfootball.co.uk tonight, reflecting on his side’s campaign so far, and wants his side to excel against the leading lights.

“We’ve been alright,” said the Bromley based Jones. “I think I’ve been saying to a few people that we are doing very well.

“The table is probably telling one or two mistruths. “I think it’s well documented that I believe that we’ve done remarkably well. We’re punching a little bit above our weight.

“We’ve had some good wins and what we need to do is to take the good form against the teams that are recognised as lower in our league and if we can beat a few of the teams that are around us or above us then I think we’ll have something to brag about.

“But until that time I think maybe we’re in a situation where it’s not exactly representative of where we truly are in the overall picture of things.

“My views are that we are punching a little bit above our weight and the view of the table at the minute is painting us in a better picture.

“Now that’s not to say that we’re not going to enjoy a few of the plaudits and some of the limelight that brings us, but if the guys can then use that as a good springboard and a platform and some confidence boosting against the teams around us then who knows.

“We may solidify and maintain our fourth position that we’re occupying at the minute.”

Jones fears that his club may not be able to cope with the expected fixture pile-up, caused by progress in cups and unfit pitches.

He said: “With all the weather chaos, there’s going to be such a huge backlog of games, who knows what’s going to happen?”

“It’s naturally going to throw up strange results, problems with player availability as we’ll be playing so many midweek games with all those cup games.

“There’s a different sort of confusion or chaos that’s going to come out having these postponed games.

“We haven’t played for four weeks and this will naturally going to effect performance, availability, recovery times and fitness.

“Whoever reacts and has a big or deep enough squad and are lucky with injuries and suspensions I think will do very well.

“For us, we didn’t want to have this break. We were playing some good football with a good degree of confidence and we were grinding out results and we wanted to keep the run going.”

Jones is still waiting for confirmation when their much-delayed Kent Senior Trophy tie against Vandanel Kent County League minnows Milton & Fulston United will go ahead.

It was once again called off last weekend, due to a frozen pitch at Bourne Park, and cannot be played this Saturday because Sittingbourne are scheduled to play a Ryman League Division One South game against Chipstead, although this current cold snap will most probably cause more chaos this weekend.

But Jones urges Kent County Football Association officials to switch the venue to the vacant Greatness Park.

“It’s meant to be Milton, although there’s a question mark to where that’s going to be played,” said Jones.

“I understand that there’s nobody at Greatness Park this weekend. I know our ground is available should anybody wants to use it. There’s an option but Milton and the Kent County Football Association are trying to sort that one out.

“We’re on a great run and we wanted to continue that run and keep playing. It’s like starting the season afresh as we’ve had no football for a month and we want this game played.”

He added: “Our next game will be like starting the season again. If we can pick off where we left off before Christmas then who knows.

“If we keep playing as we have done and show the commitment I think we will cause other teams more problems and as a manager I want to ask other teams questions.

“If we can do that then hopefully the results go with us, we never know where we’ll end up.

“The big challenge I’ve asked the players is to beat the teams in and around us. We haven’t done that yet. We’ve beaten teams that (are towards the bottom). We haven’t beaten the Faversham’s, the Herne Bay’s.”

Visit Sevenoaks Town’s website: www.sevenoakstownfc.org