I don't see Lydd as a team at the bottom of the table, says Dave Smith - Crockenhill set to pull out

LYDD TOWN boss Dave Smith has added three players to his squad ahead of tomorrow’s home game against Bridon Ropes.



Smith guided the club to the Kent Invicta League Challenge Shield (Sponsored by Sandom Robinson) Final after beating Bearsted 3-0 at Honey Lane last weekend.

They will face Hollands & Blair, who beat unbeaten league leaders Phoenix Sports, in the final, which will be played at Ashford United’s Homelands Stadium on Easter Monday, with a 2pm kick-off.

But Lydd Town boss Smith wants to collect as many points as they can to climb out of the bottom four of the Kent Invicta League, starting with the visit from seventh-placed Bridon Ropes tomorrow.

”This I see as a must-win game,” said Smith.

”The cup final is good but it is in the future.  The need for the team to move up the table is paramount as I have stated.

”I do not see Lydd and the players we have as a team that is near the bottom of the league but also we have no right to be up the table so this is all then down to the hard work we all have to put in.”

The former Bromley Green boss has enticed former Ashford pair Ryan Norman and Luke Hughes to the club – and has also added Mark Wallis to the squad.

”I have worked with Ryan before and on his day is one of the best wide players I have seen and he will add plenty to our attack,” said Smith.

”Luke is only 17 and is showing the potential to be a real asset for the future.

”We have also added Mark Wallis who is a strong combative midfield player who again will give us an extra option in our midfield.

”We have needed additions as I have lost a few players for various reasons since I have come in.  I expected this and is a natural thing to happen when a management structure changes.”

Meanwhile, league leaders Phoenix Sports, who are nine points clear of Hollands & Blair with thirteen league games remaining, are confident that they will get their ground up to Kent League standards ahead of the deadline at the end of March.

Only one club will be promoted from the Kent Invicta League at the end of the season and the Barnehurst based club are favourites to go one better after finishing runners-up to Bly Spartans (now Rochester United) last season.

The floodlight company are on site from Monday and the preparation work for the stand takes place over the next few weeks in time of the stand’s arrival on 6 March.

On the pitch, Phoenix have signed much-travelled striker Aiden Pursglove (Bexley Borough), tough-tackling midfielder Lee Morgan (VCD Athletic) and Marcos Perona arrives from Erith Town.

But Crockenhill will be pulling out of the Kent Invicta League at the end of the season.

A spokesman said that chairman and manager Keith Jarvis has resigned at the end of January.

“The club were hoping Keith Jarvis would move the club forward in buying our ground and establishing a sound base in which to progress.

”Our improved position in the league this season has solely been down to Keith’s commitment towards development of the team.

”Before the rumours start circulating, I can confirm that the club are applying to play in either the Kent County Premier or First Division next year.

”The club now have no money to upgrade the ground to the expected standards and feel it unfair on other clubs wishing to join the Kent Invicta League next season.

”The remaining volunteers at the club are determined to see this great club survive  despite a farmer wanting to take us for all the money he can. We will stand firm in our commitment towards making sure that football continues to be played at Wested Meadow.

”We desperately now need much needed investment to pay our outstanding bills although in the meantime we will focus on getting a team out on Saturday.

”As agreed with the committee Steve Cullen will now take over as chairman until the end of the season.”

Visit Lydd Town’s website: www.lyddtownfc.co.uk  

Lydd Town  v  Bridon Ropes
Kent Invicta League
Saturday 9^th February 2013
Kick Off 3:00pm
at The Lindsey Field, Dengemarsh Road, Lydd, Kent TN29 9JH