Cordice hasn't given up hope on his number one target

Terry Coridce has not given up hope of signing his number one transfer target Marcus Hodges.

Faversham Town boss Cordice saw the Kent County League's top marksman at close quarters when the Lilywhites won 1-0 away to Bromley Green last Saturday.

Julian Beal's second-half strike gave Town a precious three points that keeps them two points behind Premier Division leaders Lewisham Borough with a game in hand.

Hodges, who has scored 20 goals in all competitions this season, was out of luck in front of goal with Town playing a counter-attacking game at The Swan Ground.

But Cordice, who played at sweeper, was impressed with his touch, movement and eye for a chance even though his two successful strikes on goal came after the referee's whistle for offside.

Hodges has just moved to Faversham but turned down the chance to join Town's push for the title when the club put in seven days for the player last month.

But Cordice is still hoping the man he describes as Town's "missing link" will change his mind.

He said: "Marcus is a good player and it took an excellent performance from John Goodwin to keep him quiet on Saturday. He is just the man we need.

"He didn't score which was a relief but did have the ball in the net twice. It was offside both times but I was impressed with his finishing all the same. He could be the missing link we have been looking for because we are playing much better at the back - that's four clean sheets in a row now."

Cordice does not like talking about the Cable brothers Rikki and Ross but he knows better than anyone that the mercurial duo have not been replaced at Salters Lane.

Skipper Beal led from the front on Saturday and is now the top scorer on the club's books with six goals. But Cordice will not be surprised to learn that almost half of Town's 48 goals this season have been supplied by players no longer at Salters Lane.

Cordice said: "We have some good forwards at the club but I am lacking a natural goalscorer and that is why I am hoping Marcus changes his mind. I am convinced he could be a real success here."

Town's eagerly-awaited trip to play title rivals Stansfeld has been postponed on Saturday with Cordice's men now travelling to bottom club Lydd Town.

This is the second time the Lilywhites have been thwarted in their efforts to play third-placed Stansfeld who are six points adrift of Town but with two games in hand.

Last year, a reserve team game in the Kent Junior Cup at Salters Lane took precedence on the day the South London side were due to visit. But all efforts to rearrange the kick-off time and even the venue, met with no success.

Town fixture secretary John Webb said he had been in touch with the league and the switch was down to a combination of events.

He said: "I'm told that the league presumed we would want the game postponed because of a clash with a representative game.

"When they realised that both ourselves and Stansfeld did not have players involved in this game, they set about rearranging the fixtures. And because Sheerness East have played only 12 games this season, their game with Stansfeld took priority.

"It's all a bit complicated but we'll just get on with it."

Cordice said he was disappointed not to be taking on Stansfeld but would treat Lydd Town with respect.

He said: "This has all come as a bit of a surprise but these things are out of our hands. I am very disappointed because this is the second time a game against Stansfeld has had to be postponed but there you go.

"We'll now go to Lydd Town and I'll be approaching this game just the same even though we beat them 3-1 at home.

"We learned a lesson from the cup defeat to St Margaret's as well as the draw with Fleet Leisure. We'll just be as professional as we can and hopefully, come away with another three points."

Article courtesy of www.favershamtownfc.co.uk