We've got to be at our best to win it, says Corinthian boss Tony Sitford

CORINTHIAN manager Tony Sitford says his side are relishing playing in the club’s first Kent League Cup Final on Monday afternoon.



The Gay Dawn Farm outfit lock horns with VCD Athletic at Cray Valley (Paper Mills) Eltham ground on Monday afternoon looking to win their first final at senior level.

VCD Athletic finished their 30-match Kent Hurlimann Football League campaign in third place with 58 points, ten points behind champions Herne Bay, and are the favourites.

But Sitford is delighted with his side’s seventh-place finish - their highest in the Kent League for eighteen years - and he is looking forward to his side expressing themselves on the big stage.

“It should be a very good game,” said Sitford.  “They’re a good footballing side and we like to think we can play football so it should be quite interesting.

Corinthian have got through six ties against Holmesdale, Fisher and Woodstock Sports, whilst Ricky Bennett’s side have defeated Tunbridge Wells, Beckenham Town and Herne Bay to reach the showpiece final.

“The lads’ deserve it.  They’ve worked hard to get here and they have to go out to make sure they go out there and win it. There’s no good going out there and losing,” added the Corinthian boss.

“I’m expecting a very hard game. They’re a very good side.  They’ve got the same attitude as what we have. They’ve got to go out there and they want to win it so it should be quite interesting.

“It’s a tremendous achievement from the lads’ and (coach) Matt Longhurst.  They’ve done a great job.”

Corinthian’s four-match unbeaten run at the end of the season ensured the club finished behind some established clubs in the shape of Herne Bay, Erith & Belvedere, VCD Athletic, Erith Town, Tunbridge Wells and Beckenham Town.

“That’s what the plan were at the beginning of the season, if you remember,” said Sitford.

“We said we wanted to finish off higher than we did last year, a stronger position with a few extra players, so we’ve achieved that goal.

“This is the first final we’ve been in at senior level.  I’m not talking intermediate level.  It’s the first time we’ve been in this position.

“I haven’t got a clue how it will be won, but it will be won by the team who wants to win it the most, I would imagine.

“They’re both good teams. They’re a very good footballing team, we’re a very good footballing team. It’s down to the laps of the gods, who wants it the most.”

Cray Valley have brought their facilities up to scratch by installing floodlights and a covered stand and have spent a considerable amount of money on other facilities at their ground at Middle Park Avenue.

The Kent League Cup Final has been played at either Folkestone Invicta or Welling United in recent years and the choice of venue this season has raised eyebrows in some quarters.

But Sitford said:  “Apparently it’s very nice indeed.  We’re very happy with it, so yes we don’t have a problem with that all.”

Sitford added: “Everybody knows about us.  We know about VCD.  It’s a cause of everybody going out there and enjoying it. The only way you enjoy it is go out there and winning it!”

Corinthian have lost twice in the league to Vickers this season, but Sitford insisted that will spur on his side even more to create an upset.

“Of course it goes out of the window.  It should give our lads’ that little bit of extra spur the fact that they’ve beaten us twice.  To be honest it should give us that little bit of get up and go.

“That’s the beauty. We know it’s not an easy game. We know we’ve got to be at our best to win it.”

Meanwhile, Corinthian’s Gay Dawn Farm stages the Kent League Reserve Division Cup Final between VCD Athletic and Herne Bay tonight (7:45pm).

VCD Athletic  v  Corinthian
Macron Kent League Cup Final
Monday 7th May 2012
Kick Off 3:00pm
at Badgers Sports Ground, Middle Park Avenue, Eltham, London SE9 5HT