We're building our team around Piscina, says Moore - EXCLUSIVE

The Sevenoaks Town management team of Derek Moore and Bob Pittaway are building their squad around Luke Piscina, writes Stephen McCartney.

Piscina, 22, has opted to leave Ryman Premier League side Tonbridge Angels, where he was a crowd favourite, to play Kent League football at Greatness Park.

And Piscina, who spent a period at Greatness Park towards the end of last season, has scored in Sevenoaks’ last two pre-season friendlies, against Ryman League sides, Folkestone Invicta and against Dartford tonight.

“Luke is a very important part of our team - we’re building a side around Luke,” Moore said EXCLUSIVELY to www.kentishfootball.co.uk  after their 4-1 defeat to Ryman League Division One North club Dartford.

“Luke is a player we’ve known about for many, many years. We worked with him at Tonbridge and we’ve chased (him) for the last season and a half really and actually delighted to have secured him.

“He’s a very important influence within our side. It’s no disguising the fact, that the players around him are responding to having him in the side.”

Piscina gave Sevenoaks a ninth minute lead tonight when he drilled a shot across Tony Kessell and into the bottom far corner, following a one-two with right-back, Toby Webb, who was playing for Loughborough University last season.

But Dartford were on level terms when John Guest unleashed a screamer into the top left-hand corner from twenty-yards.

Sevenoaks, who were missing NINE players for tonight’s pre-season friendly, could only bring on a goalkeeper, Jamie Lawrence, at the interval, and wilted with twenty minutes left.

And Dartford were able to capitalise on this and wrapped up the victory with three goals in the final eighteen minutes, through Ryan Hayes and a brace from substitute, Eddie McClements.

Moore is looking forward to welcoming Tooting & Mitcham United to Greatness Park on Saturday (3pm).

The Terrors are managed by former Bromley trio, Billy Smith, George Wakeling and Frank Coles - and squandered the opportunity to clinch promotion into the Ryman Premier League with Maidstone United at the final hurdle last season, losing the play-off final to Hastings United.

“Billy Smith’s a great friend of Bob and me,” said Moore. “As you know, we’ve been in the game a long time.

“There’s no coincidence that we’ve brought down teams like Dartford, Billy and Horsham (YMCA) last Saturday, so looking forward to it.

“They’re a good side, make no mistakes, it will be another big test.

“It will be our last big test before we start to play some Kent (County) League sides to just get ourselves into the groove ready for the season ahead.”

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

Sevenoaks Town v Tooting & Mitcham United
Pre-Season Friendly
Saturday 28^th July 2007
Kick Off 3:00pm
At Greatness Park, Mill Lane, Seal Road, Sevenoaks TN14 5BX