We're ready to pounce, says Halsey

Tuesday 05th January 2010

HERNE BAY boss Simon Halsey says he is pleased with his side’s progress as they enter the final four months of the season, writes Stephen McCartney.

Halsey joined the Winch’s Field club during the close season as Barry Morgan’s number two, but was appointed manager last November and has won four of his five games in charge.

The Bay are presently sitting in second place in the Bulmers Cider Kent League table, with a record of nine wins and a draw from their 13 league outings.

After being dumped out of the FA Carlsberg Vase to Flackwell Heath, courtesy of a long-range effort during extra time, Halsey’s side bounced back by claiming wins over Holmesdale, Erith & Belvedere and Tunbridge Wells.

“I think we’re absolutely in fine condition,” Halsey told www.kentishfootball.co.uk tonight.

“We’re in a good position in the league, obviously we’re still in two cups, so if you were to do a half term report, I would say very pleasing.

“We’ve kept three clean sheets in the last five games, so all in all, yes, I’m very pleased.”

Last weekend, league leaders Faversham Town were defeated by Greenwich Borough at Oakley Road, and Herne Bay are now only seven points behind - although Bay have two games in hand.

Halsey said: “As I’ve always said to everyone, yes, we always have a look at Faversham’s results, but at the end of the day all I have to worry about is making sure that Herne Bay Football Club are in the right areas to make sure if anyone does have a slip up we can capitalise on it.

“But as I’ve said to everyone we’ve got to win those two games in hand first to really know where we are.

“Until those games are played it’s hard to comment really. After those two games in hand are played we’ll have a good look at it then.”

Subject to the condition of the Winch’s Field pitch, Holmesdale visit Winch’s Field for a place in the semi-finals of the Kent Senior Trophy up for grabs.

This will be the fourth time that the two club’s have met each other this season, with Herne Bay maintaining a 100% record over the Bromley based side.

“The last three games we’ve played against them they’ve only had one goal in them, so I’m expecting another tough encounter,” warned Halsey.

“Gary Daives has been in charge for about a month now and they’ve had some quite good results.

“I’ll be treating Holmesdale the same as I do any other team with the utmost respect and I will be fielding my strongest side to try and win the quarter-final of the Cup.”

With the Kent League imposing a Christmas break, Halsey revealed that his squad have maintained their fitness over the festive period.

“It’s not been difficult to train,” he revealed. “I’ve had the boys in all over Christmas and they were in new years eve morning. They were in two or three times over the Christmas period.

“It’s the lack of games that’s the disappointing thing, especially for me as a new manager. I want as many games played as I can. I’m 100% into it at the moment, I will be forever obviously, but I just want to get games played.

“The disappointing bit for me is I haven’t played as many games as I should have since I’ve taken over.”

One thing for certain, however, is that it’s going to be an exciting race for the Kent League title.

Halsey agreed, by saying, “I think it’s going to be a massive four months for most probably six or seven teams in the league at the moment.

“Sevenoaks are pushing up there; Erith & Belvedere are amongst it; Beckenham aren’t out of it; Hythe, if they win all their games in hand, will push themselves into a good area, so the next four months could be a great, great Kent League, it could be one of it’s best years.”

Halsey says his side will be ready for the rigours ahead of them.

He said: “I’ve been around since the first pre-season training session but to be honest they’ve applied themselves with absolutely 100% commitment.

“They’ve done everything I’ve asked of them. They’ve prepared themselves right, they’ve trained over the Christmas period, they’re a young bunch of lads and they’ve conducted themselves in a first class manner for me really. I wouldn’t expect anything less of them.

“We’ve got a great rapport around the club at the moment, got some great camaraderie within the dressing room.”

When asked if chairman John Bathurst has put pressure on him to clinch the Kent League title and with it promotion into the Ryman League next season, Halsey replied, “Not at all. He’s never once in any conversation put that quote into it.

“As I’ve said to everyone, as a chairman, as a manager, as a player, that’s what you set out to do at the start of every season - to win the league and get promoted.

“There’s no pressure on anyone. I don’t put any pressure on the players. We have to really, really take each game as it comes - I know it’s an old cliché - but we have to take each game as it comes and deal with each game, not three or four in front of us down the road.”

Visit Herne Bay’s website: www.hernebayfc.net

Herne Bay v Holmesdale

Kent Senior Trophy Quarter-Final

Saturday 9th January 2010

Kick Off 3:00pm

At Winch’s Field, Stanley Gardens, Herne Bay, Kent CT6 5SG