Dalers unveil Hughes as their new coach

HOLMESDALE joint-manager Tony Beckingham still rules out his side’s chances of winning the Bulmers Cider Kent League title this season, writes Stephen McCartney.

The Dalers go into their local home derby showdown with Croydon on Tuesday night sitting proudly at the top of the table with eight wins and a draw after ten games.

They came away from VCD Athletic with a 1-0 win yesterday, courtesy of a last-gasp Lee Morgan spot kick.

That was Vickers’ fifth defeat of the season and leaves the Crayford side third from BOTTOM with nine points from eight games.

The pressure mounts on Holmesdale when on Tuesday night, second placed Hythe Town, travel to sixth placed side Faversham Town, looking to snatch top spot.

“I think we deserve to be competing with the top teams,” Beckingham told www.kentishfootball.co.uk tonight. “I think after ten games we’ve proved that.

“I think the other teams have more resources than us and that will count in the end, but we’ve got to be proud of our achievements so far.”

Former Erith & Belvedere defender, Morgan, now playing up front for the Bromley side, only just tucked away his spot kick to seal victory at Oakwood.

“He just about put it away,” said the joint-boss. “It was not the best penalty I’ve seen and he’s got to improve on that if he wants to keep being the penalty taker. It went in, which is all that matters.”

The Dalers lock horns with Croydon for the second time this season, having sealed a 3-0 victory at Croydon Sports Arena in August.

“It’s too early on to say these are defining games, anyone can beat anyone else on their day,” said Beckingham.

“If we win we go into the two cup games with the pressure off. Hythe are probably the hardest team to beat in this league and I think for me their the favourites.

“Croydon they’re struggling, haven’t played too many games, with games in hard. Although they’ve lost one or two players, they’ve kept everyone else. They had a very good win against Beckenham Saturday.

“I thought they were a good side when we played them at the Arena and 3-0 flattered us.

“Mark Tompkins (who took over from Dickson Gill as manager) came in after that game and brought in some of his players, so it might be a changed team from the one that we played.

“I know it’s the third of the season, we’ve been lucky with injuries and things like that. There’s a long way to go winning league titles. I’ll be happy with a top six finish.”

After losing coach Hugo Langton to Ryman League Division One South outfit Ashford Town, Beckingham appointed former Beckenham number two, Billy Hughes, as the club’s new coach.

New Eltham based Hughes quit the Eden Park Avenue club after two seasons working with Jason Huntley and has been coaching at Vandanel Kent County League side Metrogas.

Hughes’ first game in his new role was at VCD Athletic yesterday, and Ken Thurgood and Beckingham believes this will be a happy relationship.

“We’ve found having three in the management team is a nice number,” explained Beckingham.

“It takes the pressure off. It’s not too much work for two people, three’s a good number.

“We can take it in turns to watch games, do a bit of scouting and it doesn’t bring us thin on the ground.

“He had two really excellent seasons at Beckenham, has plenty of contacts and knows some good players.”

Despite losing Joel Greaves to Ryman One South side, Croydon Athletic two weeks ago, this hasn’t rocked the side at all.

“He was absolutely brilliant for us, good luck to him,” said Beckingham. “We’re just glad for him to play better football and no-one’s going to stand in his way.

“I think we’re trying to do the right things, bringing the players on. We’ve got a young team to develop and if their spotted and trying to play at a higher level, we’ve got no problem them going onto bigger and better things.

“It’s a great compliment to our club that Hugo Langton has left our club and is now assistant manager at Ashford.”

Holmesdale are still without James Dadson (hamstring) and Steve O’Rourke (knee), although Croydon go into the game without Bronek Dabrowa, who was released from hospital last night with only severe bruising to his shin and is expected to be back into action within the next two weeks.

Visit Holmesdale’s website: www.holmesdalefc.co.uk

Visit Croydon's website: www.croydon-fc.co.uk

Holmesdale v Croydon
Bulmers Cider Kent League
Tuesday 21^st October 2008
Kick Off 7:45pm
At 68 Oakley Road, Bromley, Kent BR2 8HQ