19thsept05

Monday 19th September 2005

Baldacchino quickly back in management - as promised

Kentish Observer League club Slade Green are delighted to announce the appointment of Wayne Baldacchino as their new reserve team manager and Ray Bagnell as his coach, writes Stephen McCartney.

The pair were both present at Slade Green's 2-1 win over Sittingbourne reserves and will take charge for the first time next Saturday in the division two fixture at Tunbridge Wells.

They arrive at the Small Glen club having started the season as assistant manager and coach at local neighbours Erith & Belvedere.

Speaking about the appointment, first team boss Phil Miles, said: "This is a major acquisition for Slade Green Football Club.

"Wayne has a proven track record having won both the Kent League Division One and Two titles (in successive years) with Erith & Belvedere."

Baldacchino - who promised he'd be back in football quickly after leaving the Park View Road club - watched his new charges in action on Saturday, as they beat Sittingbourne 2-1 at The Small Glen.

Slade Green began well and twice hit the bar only to fall behind to a 20th minute penalty following a handball by 16-year-old Shane Vinny.

However, on the stroke of half-time the home side were back on level terms through Simon Mace following good work from Robert Taylor - the son of Martin Taylor, who won the Kent Senior Trophy with Slade Green in 1992.

The second half proved to be an evenly contested affair but it was The Green who scored the decisive goal with 20 minutes remaining, courtesy of a fine individual goal from Jason Elliot.

Sittingbourne pressed for an equaliser and had their chances but so did the home side, who duly recorded their third win from their opening four games.

In what was his final game as caretaker manager Phil Miles described the performance as workmanlike rather than pretty and continued: "The lads showed great bouncebackability today following our midweek defeat against a very strong Greenwich Borough side, that included eight first team players."