We want to finish as high as we possibly can, says Herne Bay boss Simon Halsey

HERNE BAY boss Simon Halsey says he wants to finish as high as possible in their inaugural Ryman League Division One South campaign.



The Bay were dumped out of the Kent Senior Cup (Sponsored by Portablefloodlights.com) by Charlton Athletic in the quarter-finals last night.

The Addicks sent their under 21 development squad to Winch’s Field but the south Londoners proved too strong, winning 3-0, courtesy of two goals from Bradley Jordan and a strike from Michael Smith.

Charlton Athletic are destined to attract Thamesmead Town’s largest crowd of the season when they visit Bayliss Avenue in the semi-finals.

Herne Bay return to the bread and butter of Ryman League football and travel to Tooting & Mitcham United on Saturday. 

The Terrors were the Kent side’s first opponents in the Ryman League on the opening game of the season and grabbed a 1-0 victory.

Halsey’s side are in a disappointing eighteenth-place in the table, with 32 points from 27 games, eleven points clear of the sole relegation place, which is occupied by Three Bridges, who visit Winch’s Field next Wednesday.

Halsey said: ”We’ve still got 15 games to play, that’s 45 points to play for, so if we can get as many points out of those 45 that we can, as I keep saying, it’s not a case of just consolidating.

”We want to finish as high as we possibly can and set ourselves up for next season.  Once we are at that level of safety then we can start introducing a few players that we’re looking to build on for next season.”

Halsey says eight more points will maintain the club’s Ryman League status.

”We’ve got too many games in hand to be involved in a relegation dog-fight,” he said.

”After the next five games if we haven’t pulled too many points out perhaps then (we will be). 

”We’re on 32 points so hopefully we’ll get another eight points out of that and we’ll be ok and then we can start planning for next year, but it’s definitely not a case of consolidating and just being a part of it. We want to finish as high as we possibly can.”

When asked what he needs for next season, Halsey said: “Just a bit of consistency. Everyone is to take something from this season that’s including myself, the players and put all of that into a bit of consistency.

”The first sort of nine to ten games when we had a little run where we didn’t lose, we need to get a bit of that back, but when you’re playing good teams and better players’ individually it’s hard to get the consistency when you take the step up.

”But as I always say to you it’s quite a complement to think everyone was expecting us to be up and amongst it and it’s a compliment to ourselves to play at the Faversham’s, the Dulwich’s and the Maidstone’s.”

Looking ahead to their visit to Imperial Fields on Saturday, the Herne Bay boss added: “They’ve got a new manager (Jamie Lawrence, formerly of Bradford City) in and he’s brought in a few new players.  They’ve had a couple of great results in the last two games.

”The pitch up there is superb. Hopefully it will suit us.”

Meanwhile, former Cray Wanderers striker Laurent Hamici has left Tooting & Mitcham United and has signed for their league rivals Chipstead.

Visit Herne Bay’s website: www.pitchero.com/clubs/hernebay

Tooting & Mitcham United  v  Herne Bay
Ryman League Division One South
Saturday 2^nd March 2013
Kick Off 3:00pm
at Imperial Fields, Bishopsford Road, Morden, Surrey SM4 6BF