We know what we've got in our changing room, says Tunbridge Wells boss Martin Larkin

TUNBRIDGE WELLS boss Martin Larkin praised Woodstock Sports’ manager Ben Taylor ahead of tomorrow’s Umbro Kent Senior Trophy tie, writes Stephen McCartney.


Taylor has guided the Sittingbourne based outfit to seventh-place in the Kent Hurlimann Football League table with 22 points from 13 games and Larkin takes his side to Woodstock Park on the back of a six-match unbeaten run.

Looking ahead to the Second Round clash, Larkin said: “Very tough.  They are a really good side.  Ben gets a lot of stick that he doesn’t deserve.  I like the way he goes about his business.  He should get more credit than he does.

“They’re very well organised.  We know exactly what we need when we go there.”

Tunbridge Wells will welcome United Counties League side St Ives Town (from Cambridgeshire) in the Last 32 of The FA Carlsberg Vase on 21 January, following their 2-0 home win over VCD Athletic in midweek.

But Larkin’s men will play seven games before the Fourth Round clash and the manager said: “The players’ know what the priorities are at the moment and we’re on a good run of form.  We’re unbeaten in six since I’ve come back off holiday and we’re doing well and we’ll keep plugging on, take each game as it comes as they always say and make sure that we are ready for the next one.”

There are only two Kent sides left in the competition as Tunbridge Wells were joined by Kent Hurlimann Football League leaders Herne Bay, who needed extra time to beat plucky Combined Counties League side Hanworth Villa on Wednesday night.

Larkin said: “We’ve got our targets.  We know how good we are when everyone’s fit.  A lot of it will depend on fixtures being played, not being cancelled, but we’re quietly confident about what we’ve got in the changing room.  As long as we start working at the same levels and the attitude’s right and the same levels of desire that we’ve got there, we’ve got quality right through the side so we just need to make sure we execute them when we have an opportunity to do so.”

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

Woodstock Sports  v  Tunbridge Wells
Umbro Kent Senior Trophy Second Round
Saturday 10^th December 2011
Kick Off 3:00pm
At Woodstock Park, Broadoak Road, Sittingbourne, Kent ME9 8AG