Kentish Football 
We've had a good start but we're not getting carried away, says Phoenix Sports boss Steve O'Boyle
Phoenix Sports are unbeaten at the top of the Kent Invicta League after winning twelve and drawing one of their 13 league games.
They welcome second-placed Bearsted on Saturday – Tony Cornwell’s side being the only team to avoid defeat in fifteen games played by Phoenix Sports this season.
Phoenix Sports go into the game seven points clear of the Bears, with a game in hand, but O’Boyle is looking forward to a big month ahead.
Phoenix travel to third-placed Hollands & Blair on 24 November, before facing Kent League leaders Erith & Belvedere in the Kent Senior Trophy Second Round at the start of next month, before the crunch game away to unbeaten Ashford United on 15 December.
But before all that, O’Boyle is looking forward to the top-of-the-table clash against Bearsted.
He said: “It’s a big game. We played them earlier on in the season and we were 4-2 down with about two minutes to go and really they should have beat us.
“What game are we expecting? A really tough one! They’ve got some good players and we’re expecting a really tough game.
“We’re just looking to go into the game on Saturday and play well and just worry about Saturday’s game. We’re not looking too far ahead really so as far as we’re concerned, it’s just another game.”
“Things are going ok, considering we’ve only got one player from last year because all the rest walked out, so things are going ok, things are going good.
“We’re playing alright. We’re playing some good stuff, scoring a lot of goals. I don’t know really what the secret behind it is. We’re just winning games of football.”
Both sides go into Saturday’s showdown with 105 goals being scored between them in the Kent Invicta League, so fans will expect a goal fest.
“We’ve got quite a good number of forwards and scored a lot of goals,” said O’Boyle.
“Bearsted have got a couple of boys up there on the golden boot as well so they’ve got to be taken care of on Saturday.
“When we played them away they were a handful so they have got to be contained really.”
O’Boyle added: “I’ll be honest with you. The boys are scoring goals but they are getting a lot of chances so it’s not about the forwards. The boys in midfield are creating a lot of chances for them so they should be given a bit of credit as well.”
Looking forward to their big month ahead, O’Boyle said: “We’ve got a really tough month coming up after Saturday we’re away to Hollands & Blair. We’ve got Erith & Belvedere in the Kent Senior and then after that I think we’ve got Ashford on the 15th December so we’ve got to deal with Saturday first – there’s no point looking too far ahead!
“If you look at stuff like that you get a bit carried away. Yes, we’ve had a good start but obviously it’s all about Saturday’s game and we’ll see where we are on Saturday.”
O’Boyle works with one Kent footballer who has been rewarded for putting in hard graft over the years to help Dartford clinch three promotions in six years and are now in fifth-place in the Blue Square Bet (Conference) Premier table, following last weekend’s famous 2-0 win at full-time outfit Luton Town.
O’Boyle first met wing wizard Ryan Hayes when they was playing football together at Thamesmead Town and the pair work together at night at the iconic Smithfield Market in London.
The Phoenix Sports manager said: “He works with me. I took him under my wing when he was seventeen when I was at Thamesmead so I’ve known him a long time.
“He’s doing well at Dartford. Let’s hope he continues really.
“I’m picking him up at 12 o’clock (midnight) but when you’re going to work in the morning, we’re coming home so it ain’t too bad.
“With Ryan there’s no way in the world he can work Friday night and play Saturday. With him, midweek games as well are a bit of a nightmare for him especially as he’s away but we do work around it.
“They’re having a good season Dartford, aren’t they?”
Visit Phoenix Sports’ website: www.phoenixsportsclub.org
Phoenix Sports v Bearsted
Kent Invicta League
Saturday 17th November 2012
Kick Off 2:00pm
At Phoenix Sports Club, Mayplace Road East, Barnehurst, Kent DA7 6JT
Red Dragon I.T. Ltd