We're preparing for next year, says Larkin

Friday 12th March 2010
TUNBRIDGE WELLS boss Martin Larkin says his side will adapt to the difficult pitch conditions at Champion Hill when they play struggling Fisher tomorrow, writes Stephen McCartney.


The south Londoners have struggled this season and go into the game with only Lordswood below them in the Bulmers Cider Kent League table and have yet won a league game at their shared ground at Dulwich Hamlet.

The pitch at Champion Hill doesn’t have much grass on it, but Larkin, who was speaking to www.kentishfootball.co.uk, insists his side will cope.

“I was there about a month ago to watch Ashford play Dulwich Hamlet and the pitch wasn’t great then but we played very well last week on our pitch,” he said.

“We’ve got some players with a nice mix in the midfield now who can get stuck in when they have to and at the same time they can play, but we have to earn the right first.

“We may be a little bit more direct than we normally are but once we’ve done that and earned the right we can get the ball down and play and try and play.”

Praising the job that his opposite number (Gary Lisney) has done, Larkin said, “Great credit to them, they’ve obviously come in at the last minute and had to nick players where they can.

“They’ve obviously brought in a couple recently.  They’ve got Luke Coleman who we knew very well from last year.  He was exceptional for us so we have to look after him.  I think he’s playing slightly out of position from my scout tells me from Monday night so we’ll have to have a good look through that scouting plan and get something sorted out.”

Fisher go into the game with a morale boosting win over Ryman Premier Leaguers Cray Wanderers in the last sixteen of the London Senior Cup.

Fisher were 2-0 down in extra time but pulled it out of the bag, courtesy of an own-goal from Cray skipper, defender Mark Willy, and a late leveller through Lloyd Boateng before snatching victory by winning 4-3 on penalties, despite being dominated during all but five of the 120 minutes on a dramatic night at Champion Hill last Monday.

“I see Cray were missing a couple of players, but it’s a completely different game on Saturday,” said Larkin.  “It’s a league game, there’s a lot of pressure on them because Lordswood are improving week in, week out and they’ll certainly won’t want to finish bottom with Sporting Bengal surprising everyone this year.

“That bottom place is wide open so Fisher will want to get some points against us to make sure they don’t finish bottom.”

In his first season in charge, Larkin is already looking to next season and with 10 league games remaining, Tunbridge Wells are sitting in tenth place with 6 wins and 7 draws under their name.

“This year was always going to be 30 games of preparation for next year because it was done from complete scratch at the start of the season,” said Larkin.

“Disappointed not to have won a Cup game, that’s something we’ll certainly look at next year especially with the prize money in the FA Cup and FA Vase.

“I’ve certainly learnt a lot.  It’s a lot different to last time when I was managing in the youth team section at Ashford, so it’s good.  

“Everything we’ve done this year will certainly put us in good stead for next year.”

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

Fisher  v  Tunbridge Wells
Bulmers Cider Kent League
Saturday 13th March 2010 
Kick Off 3:00pm
At Champion Hill Stadium, Dog Kennel Hill, Edgar Kail Way, East Dulwich, London SE22 8BD