You don't win the Kent League by playing pretty football all the time, admits Halsey

Monday 22nd February 2010

HERNE BAY boss Simon Halsey has spilt the beans about the secret towards his side’s 12-match unbeaten run, writes Stephen McCartney.

Halsey’s first game in sole charge of team affairs (following the departure of Barry Morgan) ended in defeat (Flackwell Heath scoring the only goal of a FA Carlsberg Vase tie that went into extra time back in November), but the side have won eleven off their last 12 league and cup games.

“Seven out of seven in the league and I think it’s 11 wins and 1 draw in all competitions,” the former Whitstable Town number two told www.kentishfootball.co.uk today.

When asked the secret behind the lengthy unbeaten run, Halsey paused for a second or two, before replying, “Very, very good question! Good players, players who want to learn and who want to listen. A manager who, I would say, is fair, honest and doesn’t hide anything from anyone. I think the lads respect that. I get a lot out of them for that reason and just the way we play. The way we set ourselves up, the way we do training.

“I just think it’s a combination of everything falls in the same basket to be honest. It’s not one main thing. It’s not the manager or the players. It’s just a combination of everything to be honest.”

This excellent run of form has taken the club into second place in the Bulmers Cider Kent League table with everything to play for in their last 13 league outings.

Halsey’s side are ten points behind Faversham Town, although they do have three games in hand over Justin Luchford’s side.

And they play one of those games in hand on Wednesday night when third-placed Hythe Town visit Winch’s Field.

Scott Porter’s men have played two games less than Herne Bay - and five games less than Faversham - and are nine points adrift of Herne Bay.

“I think it’s a game that both Hythe and myself have to win - and that’s it!” said Halsey.

“I just know it’s one of our games-in-hand on Faversham and we have to get three points from it. As long as I can push my team getting those three points then I’m sure we’ll be there or there abouts.”

It’s a massive week for the Kent League title race, as Hythe travel to Faversham at the weekend.

When asked whether Faversham can be caught, Halsey insisted “Absolutely. Of course they can! Not just by us, but by Hythe as well. Of course we can. We have to win our games-in-hand. That’s why I want those games-in-hand played as soon as possible so we can see where we really are.

“If we can win them and put ourselves a point behind Faversham anything can happen. We could slip up, they could slip up and Hythe could sneak in. It’s a great scenario at the moment.”

Greenwich Borough were beaten at the weekend, courtesy of Simon Moore’s penalty.

“For 25 minutes we were outstanding,” reflected Halsey. “I thought it would have been a highscoring game if we had taken our chances. Alright, fortunately we took the one chance and for some reason we lost our way a little bit.

“They came at us, kept a lot of possession, didn’t have too many shots on target. We had the odd chance here and there and the second half ended up being a bit of a farcical melee if I’m honest.”

With wet conditions forecasted, Halsey insists his side will be able to roll their sleeves up on a soggy Winch’s Field pitch in their important tussle against Hythe.

“I would say a lot depends on the next 24 hours with the weather,” said Halsey. “If it can try out and we can get a bit of sun for a couple off days it may not be a bad game.

“If the weather carries on the way it’s going to be it will be a battle of strength in mud, who can do the best of a very wet, boggy pitch to be honest.

“I don’t have any problem with that. We ground out a result on Saturday, we’ve had a couple of grind outs this season.

“I’ve learnt a lot about my players in that respect that they’re technically not just good footballers, they can put their foot in and when the going gets tough, they roll their sleeves up and mix it up a little bit.

“I’ve explained to the boys when I first took over that you don’t win the Kent League by being a pretty side all the time. Sometimes you have to be a bit direct, roll their sleeves up and get stuck in. They’ve done that a couple of times this year, which is great for me.”

Unfortunately, despite trying a couple of times (at lunchtime and this evening) we were unable to get in touch with Hythe manager Scott Porter, so if you’re reading this Scott, please call.

Visit Herne Bay’s website: www.hernebayfc.net

www.kentishfootball.co.uk will be covering this game

Herne Bay v Hythe Town

Bulmers Cider Kent League

Wednesday 24th February 2010

Kick Off 7:45pm

At Winch’s Field, Stanley Gardens, Herne Bay, Kent CT6 5SG