Faversham's destiny in hands of league fixture secretary

Thursday 16th March 2006
Terry Cordice believes he might as well quit as Faversham Town manager if he cannot motivate his players for what promises to be a thrilling climax to the season - article courtesy of www.favershamtownfc.co.uk


Faversham Town's long-awaited top-of-the-table clash with Premier Division leaders Lewisham Borough was called off on Saturday because of a waterlogged pitch.

It is the THIRD time a game against either Lewisham or fellow title contenders Stansfeld has been postponed - and these games are now loitering with serious intent at the back end of the campaign.

Faversham Town have seven games to play before their destiny in this, their debut season as a re-formed club, is sealed. Four are at home and three are away.

Cordice and his men travel to Stansfeld next Saturday but their fate is then in the hands of the fixture secretary. What they do know, however, is they still have to play Lewisham, Stansfeld and Bromley Green at home as well as local rivals Norton Sports and Sheerness East away.

It is asking alot of Town's young side to take on and beat the best sides in the Kent County League in what is sure to be an action-packed finale.

But boss Cordice and his assistant Peter Holder are up for the challenge - and remain confident they will have no trouble making sure the players are exactly the same.

Cordice admitted: "I was very disappointed that we didn't play on Saturday as we would have given it our all to beat Lewisham and go three points clear of them at the top but the weather took it out of our hands.

"Now we'll just get on with it and try our hardest to beat the Crocks this weekend.

"We play Stansfeld away next Saturday and then it is up to the league to arrange the rest of the fixtures, but we know we must face all the top sides in April.

"One thing is for sure, if the lads are not up for all these games or Pete and I can't motivate them, then we might as well pack up now.

"We'll take each game as it comes and make sure they are fully focused and ready for the task ahead.

"As long as we work hard and take points out of all these games we should be ok."

Crockenhill come calling at Salters Lane on Saturday and Cordice is hoping for revenge on a side that inflicted Town's second defeat in three games at the start of the season.

He revealed: "I'm looking forward to the game against the Crocks. We want three points to avenge the 2-1 defeat we suffered last year. That was a game we dominated but missed a host of chances.

"They had three attacks all game and scored twice! We must make sure that doesn't happen again."

Centre-half James Holder is recovering well from his latest bout of hamstring trouble and should start alongside Kris Browning and Kris Parker who both took knocks in the 2-1 win over Snodland.

New signing Nick Smith is likely to be the only addition, coming into his first squad after missing the trip to Snodland.

Cordice explained: "There was a misunderstanding somewhere along the line but that has been sorted out now. He will train this week and we hope to sign him for Saturday's game all being well."

Cordice will assess the injury situation before deciding whether he will make a return to the starting line-up.

He said: "If everyone is fit then I will probably just be on the bench."

Faversham Town’s run-in:
March:  18  (H) Crockenhill,  25 (a) Stansfeld Oxford & Bermondsey Club.
TBA:  Home: Stansfeld Oxford & Bermondsey Club, Lewisham Borough, Bromley Green.
away:  Sheerness East, Norton Sports.


* Faversham Town's game against Crockenhill kicks off at 2.45pm on Saturday. All half-price tickets for the Lewisham Borough game - which was postponed last week due to a waterlogged pitch - are valid this weekend.

Article courtesy of www.favershamtownfc.co.uk