Kentish Football 
We've reached the Final the hard way, admits Erith Town boss Tony Russell
Thursday 14th April 2011
ERITH TOWN manager Tony Russell hopes his young side will handle the big occasion when they lock horns with Tunbridge Wells in the Kent Senior Trophy Final on Sunday, writes Stephen McCartney.
The Dockers go into the Park View Road clash sitting in fifth-place in the Safety Net Associates Kent League table, with a record of 11 wins, 7 draws and 9 defeats, two places and two points ahead of Martin Larkin’s side.
Erith Town stretched their winless run to nine league games, but they did show character to fight back from 3-1 down to claim a point against Corinthian last Monday, courtesy of Alex Tiesse and Joe Foster scoring inside the final ten minutes.
But they have done it the hard way when it comes to reaching their first Kent Senior Trophy Final, winning away at Greenwich Borough, Hythe Town and Beckenham Town en-route to Welling.
“We’re really looking forward to it,” said Russell. “We trained last night. I had to sedate some of the boys’ as they’re a bit excited, I must admit.
“This particular cup competition, we’ve had a real tough draw. We beat Greenwich away, we beat Hythe away and Beckenham away - probably up there with the three hardest away games you’re going to get in this cup competition, so we’ve done it the hard way.”
When asked how the silverware will be won, Russell said, “I think which team defends the best and what team deals with what the final brings, with the pressure, will win.
“We’ve got a lot of young players in there and we don’t know how they’re going to react to the occasion, whether they play the occasion or just play the game.
“I’m hoping they enjoy themselves. I spoke to them after the Corinthian game - the first time I spoke to them about it - as much as it’s built up, it’s just another bit of grass and goals at either end and the same principles apply, and if their girlfriend is in their stand and their uncle, who never sees them play turn up, if they start doing their own little things, that’s when we’re in trouble.”
With both club’s going to play in front of their largest crowd of the season, Russell hopes in-experience doesn’t cost his side glory.
“When we got to the point where we knew realistically we wasn’t going to win the league, I had a chat with Lew (Watts, my assistant manager) and we threw some of the youngsters in since then to give them the experience - and they’ve been starting.
“Maybe results have affected us by doing that, but I feel now they’ve bedded in and they’re just starting to come to fruition.”
When asked what his own personal Cup Final record was, Russell said, “I’ve had a couple. I remember I played the year Cray Wanderers went up. I played for Thamesmead and we beat them 1-0 in the (2004 Kent League Cup) Final. And I played for Cray in the Charity Shield the following year against Thamesmead and won.
“I’ve been lucky. I’m trying to think - I don’t think I’ve lost a final as a player so I see how I get on as a manager!”
When it comes to naming the favourites for Sunday, that is a hard one to call.
Russell said: “I’m a big believer that the league table doesn’t lie and I think we’re two points in front of them and they’ve got a game in hand so it’s pretty even Stevens to be fair.
“I don’t think that (our last) game (where we won 4-3 on 3 January) will have any relevance myself. It’s a shocking pitch (at Culverden Stadium), both teams had to just deal with it. I think Welling’s pitch is going to be decent by the sounds of it, so I think it will be a different game.”
With Lee Morgan failing in a desperate attempt to be fit for the big game, Russell has enticed former Thamesmead Town star Pedro Knight out of retirement for the final month of the season.
“Lee Morgan’s out for the season. He got a nasty injury against Fisher in February. He played for the reserves on Saturday in a last-ditch attempt. He was hoping it was going to be alright but he had to come off after 25 minutes. It looks like he’s got ankle ligament damage so he’s not available so we’ve brought in Pedro Knight, who is a friend of mine.
“He wanted to have a break as he’s just had a kid. He’s a good replacement to be fair to him.
“He played for Waltham Forest (in Ryman League Division One North) last year and he’s got great ability. He’s just had a kid and moved to Enfield as well. He said he ain’t going to play anymore ‘I might hang them up and just chill out with the family’, but I’ve been badgering him over the phone to play for me.”
Russell added: “The short time I’ve been in management I’ve learnt that it doesn’t matter how many coaching badges you’ve got, you’re only as good as the people you know in football, contact wise.
“I’ve gone back to players I used to play or. I’ve also tried to know as many managers I can in all levels. I was at Cray for five years and I speak to Jenko (Ian Jenkins) quite a lot about players. Lew knows the Welling and Dartford guys so we both try to widen the network so we can keep our eye on players and see who’s available and who’s not.”
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Visit Erith Town’s website: www.erithtownfc.co.uk
Tunbridge Wells v Erith Town
Umbro Kent Senior Trophy Final
Sunday 17th April 2011
Kick Off 3:00pm
At Park View Road, Welling, Kent DA16 1SY
Red Dragon I.T. Ltd