21stoct04

Sevenoaks set to sign striker as they look to extract revenge on Hythe

SEVENOAKS TOWN manager John James is on the brink of bringing a striker from a higher league club to Greatness Park to play alongside leading goalscorer Andy Constable, writes Stephen McCartney.

Constable has attracted interest from other clubs, but he has been tied down to a contract and currently tops the Go Travel Kent League golden boot chart with ten goals.

James, in his first season as first team manager after stepping up from managing the reserve side, has revealed he is on the edge of bringing someone in to complement the former Bromley and Whitstable Town hit-man.

“Andy is on ten goals now and we are just looking for a strong partner to come in and take us on to the next stage,” James revealed.

“We are working hard at the moment, but we need to finalise a deal with somebody.”

If James can snap up his target, the club will be aiming for a top-six finish in the Go Travel Kent League, which will be a vast improvement from an eleventh place finish in their first season back in the league last term.

“We are working to get someone to play alongside Andy and score enough goals to stay in the top six all season, which is our aim,” the manager added.

Sevenoaks have progressed quickly both on and off the pitch and will be looking to set their sights higher in the next three seasons.

James added: “In two or three years time, we will be hoping to have longer cup runs and a longer season.

“At the moment it’s still a learning curve for us but we are building gradually.

 "Everybody at the club, committee wise are very happy with our progression.”

 James, however, warned they mustn’t go overboard.

 “We mustn’t go too mad, we must take it easy and mustn’t run too fast.”

There are only two Kent League fixtures on Saturday due matches in the first round of the FA Vase taking place.

Beckenham Town host Herne Bay, who were knocked out of the two FA competitions a little bit earlier than expected, and at Greatness Park, second placed visitors Hythe Town, a point below leaders Whitstable Town, can return to the summit of the league if they win at Sevenoaks.

James, however, will be hoping it’s a home win, and extract revenge on their opening day 3-1 defeat at Reachfields Stadium.

He said: “We owe them one from the first game of the season.

“We lost 3-1 down there, but the score never reflected our performance or how the game went.

“We made a hatful of chances and didn’t finish them off.

“We were punished by some good finishing by the Hythe front two.”

James will be hoping they can win their third home game of the season and put themselves in second place in the table with victory over Paul Fisk’s side.   If they do, they will go top of the league if they beat FA Cup heroes Erith Town at Greatness Park next Tuesday.

 “We’ve had a good season at home with our only defeat by Ramsgate at home in the league and look forward to picking up some points against Hythe after last Saturday’s good performance at Herne Bay," he said.

Sevenoaks Town v Hythe Town
Go Travel Kent League Premier Division
Saturday 23rd October 2004
Kick Off 3:00pm
at Greatness Park, Mill Lane, Seal Road, Sevenoaks