You can't always play pretty football in the Kent Invicta League, admits Ashford boss Paul Chambers

BLY SPARTANS boss Matt Hume says he expects another tough game when he takes his table-topping side to Bridon Ropes on Saturday, writes Stephen McCartney.


The Strood based outfit lost their 100% record when they were held to a 1-1 draw by second placed Hollands & Blair underneath the floodlights at Rede Court Road on Wednesday night, but they are three points clear at the top of the Kent Invicta League after six games.

Hume takes his side to Charlton to face a Bridon Ropes side in sixth place in the table, with a record of three wins and two defeats.

“Another tough game,” said the 41-year-old.  “We’re having to say the same in every game we play.

“Bridon Ropes are up there and I think they’re going to be very hard to beat.  We’re away from home but we have to go into it really confident and hopefully we get something out from that game.”

Hume is delighted with his side’s start to the inaugural Kent Invicta League season, especially after his side finished in the relegation places in the Kent County League premier division last season.

When asked whether his club are one of the title favourites, Hume replied, “I’d like to think we are.  I think Hollands & Blair definitely will be. 

“It’s still early days’ to know who will be up there.  You have to wait until Christmas to know who the top teams are going to be but I think it’s starting to map itself now.

“At this level a lot of the teams in this league haven’t got budgets so a lot of teams rely on a little bit of luck to keep players fit and available, more so much that than anything else anyway.”

Hollands & Blair extended their unbeaten run to four games, after midfielder Darren Blackburn cancelled out Ashley Cooper’s early header last night.

Manager Paul Piggott, 40, takes his side to Bearsted on Saturday and he said: “A tough game.  Since I’ve been at Blair we’ve always had tough games with them.  It’s always been the odd goal or a draw so again I expect nothing but a tough game.”

Ashford United lie in eighth place after six games, after winning two and drawing two of their six league games.

Joint-manager, Paul Chambers, admitted his players are finding the physical approach from rival club’s tough.

Ashford were held to a 1-1 draw by ten-man Bearsted at Homelands last night.

“It was really disappointing – we were awful really,” Chambers told www.ashfordunited.co.uk.  

“We set the game as a cut-off point for players to show us what they’re worth and too many of them are just going through the motions.

“They’ve got to learn to start scrapping and putting their foot in and taking one for the team as you can’t always play pretty football.

“Too many are getting lazy.”

Sussex County League side Shoreham visit Homelands Stadium in the First Qualifying Round of the FA Carlsberg Vase on Saturday.

“Hopefully we’ll get a couple signing who’ll be available for the Vase,” said Chambers.

“Fingers crossed we can get a couple of loan players in for the week after too and we can start making a mark in this league.”

Ashford United are the biggest club in the league, play at the best stadium and attract an average attendance of 236 - and they were expected to be challenging for the title.

“The fans have been so great for us and we owe them something,” said Chambers.

“They had every right to feel a little bit short changed yesterday but hopefully we can put that to rights on Saturday.

“The new faces will freshen things up and get us playing again.

“Four new players will really make a difference.  It shows that we won’t accept performances like Bearsted.

“We’re getting great support and we need to repay that and show them what we can do.”

Kent Invicta League managers are invited to contact us with their thoughts on their team’s campaign so far – please email stephen@mccartney2000.fsnet.co.uk

In the subject field of the email, please include your club name and please also leave your contact telephone number.

Additional reporting courtesy of Jack Wilson - www.ashfordunited.co.uk