EXCLUSIVE FA VASE SECOND QUALIFYING ROUND PREVIEWS

The two Kent League managers whose clubs were hit by vandals in the past week have vowed to win their FA Vase second qualifying round ties on Saturday to bring smiles back to the people whose hearts have been broken, writes Stephen McCartney.

Around £10,000 worth of damage was caused inside the clubhouse at Tunbridge Wells when “mindless morons” broke in last Saturday night, stealing equipment and making a mess.

And around 28 miles away at Lordswood’s North Dane Way ground, Martyn Grove in the Medway towns, manager Paul Piggott revealed to www.kentishfootball.co.uk the extent of the damage caused by the local area’s yob culture.

“We had a little portacabin where we stored our training stuff and the kids have set that alight,” he said.

“It’s caught the roof alight of the away changing rooms, and done a little bit of damage to our water tank that waters the pitch.

“The game is definitely going ahead. They are working quite hard at the club to get the away changing room ready for Saturday, but if they don’t we’ve got other changing rooms at our facilities, which would be in the sports centre.”

Piggott hasn’t been told how much damage has been caused financially, but he does demand a good performance from his depleted side when Cobham visit.

“We haven’t done too much homework on them because we haven’t got our own house in order yet,” admitted Piggott.

“We’re not playing well at the minute, got a few injuries and suspensions so we will be concentrating on what we can do first.”

Bob Chiverton will miss the remainder of the season with a knee injury, Nick Smith and Gary East are both serving lengthy suspensions and Ray Broad and Steve Sharp are both nursing rib injuries.

Speaking about the attacks, Piggott insisted: “We are not down or feeling sorry for ourselves, we’ve got a lot going for our club, and we know a few decent performances will bring results.

“We just need to bring the decent performances first,” said Piggott, whose side are currently in the bottom six with just seven points from their first seven league outings, winning just twice.

Reserve team players Warren Phillips (centre half), Alan Backshell (midfield), Adam Overton (right sided player) are staking their claim for a regular place but one good piece of news is that midfielder Andy Forster, no relation to former Sevenoaks Town midfielder Dave, has recovered from injury.

“Like I said, we’ve got a few players back and we’re quietly confident we can start improving on our performances,” added Piggott.

Tunbridge Wells’ boss Martin Farnie insists it’s business as usual following the attacks on his club.

The Culverden Stadium club welcome Kennington on Thursday night in the John Ullmann Cup before Farnham Town visit in the FA Vase on Saturday.

Farnie said EXCLUSIVELY to www.kentishfootball.co.uk: “The clubhouse is allright at the moment. We were down there training last night, it’s all up and running and functioning.

“It doesn’t affect the players, the only people it effects are the people that work for the football club and some arseholes wreck it.

“If we get a result it will lift their spirits. The only way we can, as the football side, is win the game and bring some morale up and give them something to cheer.

“The players and I had a chat and a win is what we are aiming for.”

Farnie’s men lost their first five Kent League games of the season, and were knocked out of the FA Cup by Dartford in a five-star show.

But ever since beating lower league neighbours East Grinstead in the first qualifying round of the FA Vase - winning 3-2 after being 2-0 down - morale in the camp has increased.

Farnie described their 2-2 draw at below par Erith & Belvedere as “a good draw, a good game, fair result.” as his side claimed their first point of the campaign.

But they go into Saturday’s FA Vase tie at the foot of the table after six games.

Farnie, however, has a full squad to choose from except Albie Barton whose away, and he is delighted to have a different headache.

“I’ve got a full squad to pick from, which is the first time I have had that all season,” he said.

“It’s a good headache to have. I’d rather have this headache than the one I have on a Friday night where people weren’t performing properly, which I had 3-4 weeks ago.

“But results give you a good spirit. We trained last night and the spirit is good. The spirit hasn’t been that low to be honest. It hasn’t been all doom and gloom as people would like to make out.

“The camp is fine, results haven’t gone the way we wanted, but we’ve dealt with it and we’ve come through it.”

Lanky defender Ben Hilden played for Ryman Leaguers Chatham Town on Tuesday night, but will be back in Wells’ colours for Saturday’s game. Farnie revealed it was a one-off to help Chats’ boss Phil Miles.

Sevenoaks Town are hit by injuries and suspensions for their trip to Epsom & Ewell, who play at windswept Merland Rise in Tadworth.

Former Sittingbourne goalkeeper Lee Friend faces a race against time to be fit enough for the clash against the Combined Counties League side.

Friend has been absent for three weeks with a shin injury and is set to replace former Cray Wanderers’ stopper Joe Skillman who is definitely out with torn ankle ligaments.

Defensive pairing Nick Reeves and Perry Spackman have also been ruled-out due to suspension.

And if that wasn’t bad enough for joint-managers Bob Pittaway and Derek Moore, striker James Dalton (groin), midfielder Lee Aldridge (knee), Courtney Rayfield (hamstring) are all doubts and Joe Hampshire, Adam Boots and Matt Fagan are unavailable.

“We are likely to be down to the bare bones for this encounter,” Moore said EXCLUSIVELY to www.kentishfootball.co.uk.  

But the club’s promising reserve and youth team players are going to be thrown into the deep end, but the management duo will make up their minds who will play following Thursday night’s training session.

And after their FA Cup exit at the hands of Moneyfields in the preliminary round, Moore feels his depleted side must win on Saturday.

He said: “We would like to carry on our decent league form into the Vase because winning is a good habit and hopefully we can secure a win and see where it takes us.

“Last year Epsom & Ewell played in the Ryman League and now play in the Combined Counties League.

“Although their form on paper does not look strong, we can take nothing for granted particularly following our FA Cup exit against a team who were also struggling for league form,” he warned.

“We will train on Thursday and following fitness tests on a number of the players will name the squad and where appropriate we will draft reserve and youth team players.”

And on his side’s chances, Moore added: “To be successful in football you need a degree of good fortune. It would appear we are running a little low on good luck at the moment.”

He did point out that any replay will take place at Greatness Park next Wednesday (7:30pm). Remember extra time is playing in FA Vase ties before you can even think about a replay.

Herne Bay welcome Selesy to Winch’s Field on Saturday looking to improve on their league form.

Selsey are currently third in the top flight of the Sussex County League, but the north Kent club should be doing a lot better.

Jason Lillis’ side are six points behind league leaders, and arch-rivals, Whitstable Town, in ninth place.

When asked what he though of his side’s league position, Lillis EXCLUSIVELY told www.kentishfootball.co.uk : “Could be better, a lot better. We just have to put it right.”

But Lillis has done his homework on the Sussex side, adding: “It will be a tough game. I’ve had them watched, I think they are big and strong and quite physical.”

Lillis is, however, at full-strength for the home clash but is expecting his players to improve their league form, adding: “We are always looking for a good run.”

Whitstable Town are riding on the crest of a wave at the moment.

Leading the Kent League table after winning all five league games, conceding just five goals (four of them were in their 5-4 win over Deal Town on Tuesday night), manager Marc Seager is enjoying life at the Belmont.

Seager takes his side to newly promoted Sussex County League top-flight side Oakwood (who play at Tinsley Lane, Three Bridges, Crawley RH10 8AJ) in a competition he won whilst playing for Deal Town in 2000.

The Oystermen then welcome Hythe Town to the Belmont next Tuesday before the “seaside showdown” against their Ryman Premier League neighbours Margate in the second qualifying round of the FA Cup on 30 September.

“It’s been a great week,” Seager said EXCLUSIVELY to www.kentishfooball.co.uk. “First and foremost we went top against Faversham last Wednesday and then a nine goal thriller last night, which put us back top, which is always great for us.

“We are not counting our chickens just yet, nine games, nine wins - it’s an absolutely fantastic start.”

But Seager, who met up with his former Deal Town FA Vase winner manager, Tommy Sampson and team-mate Terry Martin for a golf day earlier today, used the old cliché of “one game at a time,” in what is an exciting time for the north Kent club.

“It’s great for the club and players with the Margate game coming up, a big game, seaside battle with a big crowd but we have to play a good game in the Vase and then a league game.

“If we get above ourselves, we’ll start dropping points. It’s an old cliché, but one game at a time.”

Seager has, however, done his homework on their FA Vase opponents.

He said: “They are a young side that’s come up from division two, had a half decent start, trying to find their feet.

“But it will be a tough test. Their pitch has a slope and they are a hard working side who never give in.

“It’s a battle and if we go down there with the wrong attitude we will go out. My job is to get the players in the right frame of mind.

Vase winner Seager, will, however, play his strongest side because he wants to do well in all three fronts.

“It’s a headache for me but a nice one but I will play my strongest side,” he said. “If there is a time for players to have a rest you can rotate them but I want to win games.

“I want to win on Saturday because I want to have a good run in the Vase. I’ve been luckily enough to win it, we have the belief and the ability to have a run.”

Seager caught up with former Deal Town boss Tommy Sampson (whose now coaching Horsham YMVCA in the Ryman League Division One South) and his former Deal team-mate Terry Martin at a golf day today.

“It’s good to catch up,” said Seager. “The FA Vase is a top tournament and there’s only a few people lucky enough to in it.

He recalled: “We (Deal Town) were the only Kent side to win it and it will be good for my side to get to the national stages and get a team from up north and see what happens.”

But the spotlight will quickly turn on their Seaside Showdown with Margate, and Seager hopes his side can rock their Ryman Premier League neighbours.

“The Belmont will be buzzing, with a big crowd and hopefully we can put on a big performance,” he said.

“The crowd were fantastic against Corydon (Athletic), but there’s always a fairytale in the FA Cup - let’s hope it’s Whitstable Town.

“Margate are a great side, we are the underdogs, but we will give it our best shot.

“There’s always a little fairytale in the most special competition in the world. I’m not saying we’re going to get to he first round proper, that will be out of this world, but to get to the fourth qualifying round against a top Conference club would be great.”

But Seager knows collecting three points when Hythe Town visit next Tuesday night is important in the long-term.

He said: “I’ve got a very young side, they’ve learnt and matured a lot last year and are looking forward to the new challenges.

“They are top of the table now and we are the team to beat - can they handle the pressure?

“When you’re top everyone wants to beat you. Deal put on a good performance last night but I do believe we’ve got the ability and potential to be a top side.

“But we’re not getting above ourselves after nine games. It’s no good if we lose the next three or four games and undo the hard work.

“It’s nice to be on top with teams chasing us dropping points around us, which is great.

“This is why we want to try to win our midweek games, putting pressure on the teams around us.