It’s important for a club like Cray Valley should be winning trophies, says Kevin Watson

CRAY VALLEY (Paper Mills) manager Kevin Watson says it’s important for the club to win trophies.

The Millers reached the London Senior Cup (Sponsored by Coventry) Semi-Finals after beating league rivals Croydon 3-2 on Wednesday night and they will travel to either Metropolitan Police or Tooting & Mitcham United.

Tomorrow, Watson takes his side to Whitstable Town in the Kent Reliance Senior Trophy Semi-Final, before going to Tunbridge Wells next Tuesday for a Challenge Cup Quarter-Final tie.

“It was a fantastic achievement by James Collins and the club and the group of the players last year (to win the London Senior Cup with a 2-1 win over Metropolitan Police).  Not many of the players are a part of the current squad so it’s a different kind of experience but it’s important for a club like Cray Valley should be winning trophies,” said Watson.

Watson revealed that 16-goal striker Kevin Lisbie, who missed the midweek win through illness, Josh James, Matt Parsons and Denzel Gayle will return at Whitstable tomorrow.

Watson added: “We’ve been a little bit depleted with injuries and suspensions and it’s been tough over the last month or so.  It’s a good sign for us that we’ve been able to bring people in there and we’ve still managed to get results.

“Once we get everyone back there’s going to be some selection decisions for me but they’re the sort of decisions that you want as a manager really.”

Whitstable Town go into the game in second-place in the Southern Counties East Football League Premier Division table with 45 points from 22 games, a couple of points adrift of leaders Sevenoaks Town, who do have two games in hand.

The Millers, meanwhile, are in eleventh-place in the table with 33 points from 23 games and are on a six-match unbeaten run.

“I went to watch Whitstable against Erith Town, who had two men sent-off,” said Watson.

“We beat Whitstable at their place so I expect a slightly different game.  They’re a very physical, experienced team. We go down there, it’s a bit of a journey but it’s something that we’ll embrace.  It’s a Semi-Final, one team is going to get through. They’ll fancy themselves and we fancy ourselves. 

“I think if we perform on the day we’ve got a good chance but there’s a lot of if’s.

“We’re in three Cup competitions, it’s important because it keeps the season alive and like I’ve said to the lads when you look back on your careers it’s often teams that they’ve achieved something with they actually remember playing with those players and it brings that bond, it certainly did for me, so that’s what we’re in it for to give players and the club, the board and all of the other stake holders memories and experiences and it’s another opportunity to do it this season.”

Visit Cray Valley’s website:  www.cray-valley.co.uk

Whitstable Town  v  Cray Valley (Paper Mills)
Kent Reliance Senior Trophy Semi-Final
Saturday 10 February 2018
Kick Off 3:00pm
at The Belmont, Belmont Road, Whitstable, Kent CT5 1QJ