7thaug05

Sunday 07th August 2005

Shell takes positives from tournament
EXCLUSIVE

The manager of Ashford Town's under 15's remains upbeat for their season ahead, despite losing both their games in today's GB Approvals Trophy, writes Stephen McCartney.

Vince Shell's side opened the tournament this morning, but Gillingham secured a deserved 1-0 victory thanks to a goal in the first five minutes of the second half.

The other semi-final was contested by a very impressive AFC Wimbledon side against Millwall. And it was a cross-cum-shot goal from the left hand side that rescued a draw for Millwall in the final minute (40), which meant the game went to a penalty shoot-out.

Fourteen penalties were taken, and the Dons' came out victorious, winning 6-5, after the game finished 1-1.

However, Millwall consolidated third place, scoring three second half goals in their comfortable 5-0 win over the host club.

But AFC Wimbledon made sure the GB Approvals Trophy ended up inside their trophy cabinet, and they were deserved winners of the tournament, beating Kent side Gillingham by three goals to one in the final.

In an EXCLUSIVE interview with www.kentishfootball.co.uk, Vince Shell admitted he learnt from their two defeats against Gillingham and Millwall.

"I think I learnt which direction we need to go in," he said.

"The whole aim is to ensure the boys are playing at the highest standard.

"This gives me a fantastic indication what standard we need to reach for these boys, and we'll be looking to push them."

Shell admitted his side ran out of steam in the second half of their 20-minute each-way matches.

"I thought both games in the first half we matched them," he said. "It was just the extra legs in the second half and we really tired in both games.

"I think the most important thing is we're not going to be playing against teams like this every week.

"Hopefully the boys will take some encouragement from this and take this into the season.

Shell should take the credit for enticing clubs such as Gillingham and Millwall to Homelands for this prestigious tournament.

"It's nice, it's a nice experience, despite the results. I hope the boys take a lot from it and I hope they enjoyed it all. I have enjoyed it - in a very strange way," he added.