We've struggled to do the dirty side of the game at times, says Canterbury City boss Ben Smith

Friday 03rd February 2017

CANTERBURY CITY manager Ben Smith says he wants his side to show their other side of their game.

Smith’s men are in ninth-place in the Southern Counties East Football League Premier Division table with 29 points from their 23 league outings.

Canterbury City host second-from-bottom side Fisher to Homelands Stadium tomorrow.

Dean Harrison has returned to Fisher and lifted the club off the foot of the table in his seventh game back in charge last weekend after beating Erith & Belvedere 3-0 at St Paul’s Stadium in Rotherhithe.

Harrison’s record since his return has seen two wins, two draws and three defeats which leaves Beckenham Town at the foot of the table now. 

Smith said: “It should be an interesting game against Fisher. Yes, they are right down there fighting for their lives but that’s obviously what’s gone on under the previous regime and they seem to have really picked up over recent weeks and will have a lot of belief after getting off the bottom of the table.”

Canterbury City came away from Gay Dawn Farm with three points in the bag after their 3-1 win at Corinthian last weekend.

Smith said: “Consistency has been a major downfall for us in the league this season, especially in our attacking play, so it was pleasing to go and score three away at Corinthian last week and it would do us wonders to have a similar outcome before we play Ashford in next week’s Kent Reliance Senior Trophy Semi-Final.

“We’ve struggled to do the dirty side of the game at times and have often come out on the wrong end of tight games so it was pleasing to see we have that in us.”

Smith has added a couple of players to his squad after losing midfielder Danny Lawrence, who has stepped up a level to play for Ryman League Division One South side Ramsgate.

“We’ve obviously lost our skipper Dan Lawrence recently which is a big blow as in my opinion he’s as good as anyone in the middle but we’ve been able to add Ollie Brown and Scott Punton from Whitstable, who will both add a lot to the team so we move on and we’ll maybe look at adapting the way we play.”

Visit Canterbury City’s website:  www.canterburycityfc.net

Canterbury City  v  Fisher
Southern Counties East Football League Premier Division
Saturday 4th February 2017
Kick Off 3:00pm
at Homelands Stadium, Ashford Road, Kingsnorth, Ashford, Kent TN26 1NJ