7thsept05

Lillis going to enjoy trip to Didcot 
EXCLUSIVE

Herne Bay manager Jason Lillis is anticipating a tough encounter in Saturday’s FA Cup first qualifying round tie at current FA Vase holders Didcot Town, writes Stephen McCartney.

The Kentish Observer League outfit came from 2-0 down to dispose of rivals Sevenoaks Town 3-2 in the preliminary round two weeks ago but face a tougher test on Saturday.

Looking ahead to their trip to Oxfordshire, Lillis said in an EXCLUSIVE interview with www.kentishfootball.co.uk : “We travel to FA Vase holders Didcot Town, which is going to be a tough one as you know, but in the FA Cup anything can happen.

”We are going there to enjoy the day first and if the result comes that will be good.”

Lillis lost his star striker, Danny Kedwell to Welling United in the close season, and the striker has adapted to life in the Nationwide Conference South at the Park View Road club.

But seventeen-year-old striker Stewart King could be the one to fill Kedwell’s boots.

“He’s started off allright, he’s only 17 and he came from the youth set up,” revealed Lillis.

“He’s been at Herne Bay all though his youth career, he’s doing allright, he just needs to keep level headed and keep progressing like he’s doing.”

King netted all three goals in their 3-0 win over basement boys Erith Town last Friday night.

“A good all-round performance, it should have been seven or eight but their goalkeeper kept them in it.  It was a good footballing performance,” reflected the former Gillingham star.

“I don’t think they are going to be the strongest team in the league but you still have to play well and we looked good that night.”

Having finished runners-up to Ramsgate last season, Lillis now knows his side have to live up to expectations.

“No one expected us to do well last year but teams know what they are going to get and expect from us now.  It’s going to be a long hard season for the lads.”

Didcot Town v Herne Bay
FA Cup First Qualifying Round
Saturday 10th September 2005
Kick Off 3:00pm