We're trying our utmost to get promotion, insists Pennock - EXCLUSIVE

Sunday 21st January 2007

Welling United manager Adrian Pennock was delighted for Dane Springer after he scored on his debut yesterday, writes Stephen McCartney.

The 18-year-old, left-sided winger, whose signed on a temporary basis from Charlton Athletic, scored the only goal of the game as Eastbourne Borough were beaten in the early kick off at Park View Road.

Two season’s ago the Walthamstow-based player was the most capped schoolboy at under 18 level and in 2005-06, Springer’s 25 outings for the senior academy side again comfortably topped the under 18 appearance charts at Charlton Athletic.

Springer, who can also play at left-back, played against Malaga in the final of the Nerja Cup tournament in southern Spain in December 2004 and he also grabbed a goal in the pre-season 2005 Lyngby Cup when Charlton took on Portuguese side Odivelas.

Springer’s improved form led to six substitute appearances for Charlton’s reserves towards the back end of the 2005-06 campaign when reserve team coach Mark Robson was fielding young sides.

And Pennock was delighted with his performance against Eastbourne Borough yesterday.

“Obviously it’s nice to score on his debut,” he said EXCLUSIVELY to www.kentishfootball.co.uk. “He’s a young lad and done well – I thought he took his goal very well.

“To be honest with you I’m after a left-sided midfielder. I’ve been working hard trying to find one.

“I spoke to Charlton in the week, they said there’s a young lad who can do a job for us, but that’s the position I’ve been looking for.”

Pennock, whose side are third in the Nationwide Conference South table, are just two points behind leaders Histon.

Pennock said: “A fantastic win. Performance wasn’t brilliant to be honest with you. We were fortunate to win the game but I’ll take three points all day long.”

He added: “It’s fantastic for everyone involved, all the players have to take the credit for it.

”We’ve got a brilliant team spirit within the club and the togetherness is half the battle I believe.”

Pennock revealed “nothing has changed” with the situation regarding striker Danny Kedwell, who has handed in a transfer request.

“Nothing has changed at the end of the day,” he said. “He’s a Welling United player and he’s committed to the cause.

“Nobody has come in. Obviously the Grays offer of £10,000 is the only team that has come in with an offer, which was laughable.”

Pennock faces a logistical problem in getting sixteen players up to Staffordshire for Tuesday night’s FA Trophy second round tie at Nationwide Conference club Tamworth.

The original tie fell victim to a waterlogged pitch and last Tuesday, with the score goaless at the time, the game was abandoned after 40 minutes due to a floodlight failure.

Pennock said: “Obviously we were all disappointed, even Tamworth. There was a lot of travelling for ourselves and our fans but obviously we’re going there like last week and we want to get the win, a result on Tuesday night, and we’re more than capable of doing that.

“Obviously there a Conference team and it will be a difficult game."

Pennock explained what he is expecting from Tamworth.

He said: “I went to their Trophy replay against Altrincham and they're a good, honest team.

“They work very hard for each other, with some very good youngsters in their team and it will be a difficult game.

“We’re on a roll, doing well at the moment. Even though they’re a Conference team there’s not much difference in personnel as were doing exceptionally well at the moment.

“We’re not over confident as they deserve to have a lot of respect."

Back to the league, the Wings travel to Gander Green Lane to lock horns with Sutton United next Saturday, with one thing on their mind – promotion.

“Sutton are always a difficult team to play against – it will be a difficult game,” said Pennock.

“I’ve said all along, there’s no easy games and against Sutton no one’s dominated the games, and it’s one of those games we have to roll our sleeves up and get the three points.

“I want to get promotion. End off. I’m not in it to make the numbers up, we’re in it to win promotion.

“We’re in a great position, and yes, we’re in a good position to push on.

“I don’t want to stand still, we’re third and we’re trying our utmost to get promotion this season.”

Midfielder Jamie Day has served his suspension and is available to make the trip to Tamworth.

But Tony Battersby (cup-tied) and Springer (not signed in time) have been ruled-out.

Pennock added: “We might have a bit of trouble with players getting out of work. They had half a day off work last week and their bosses have to give them another half-day but I won’t know that by Monday but that’s part-time football for you.”

Visit Welling United’s website: www.wellingunited.com

Tamworth v Welling United
FA Carlsberg Trophy Second Round
Tuesday 23^rd January 2007
Kick Off 7:45pm
At The Lamb Ground, Kettlebrook, Tamworth, Staffordshire B77 1AA