I fancy us against Greenwich Borough, says Keith Levett

Sunday 27th February 2011

SEVENOAKS TOWN boss Keith Levett admitted his players looked unfit as they laboured to a 2-2 home draw against basement boys Sporting Bengal United yesterday, writes Stephen McCartney.

Sporting Bengal had arrived at Greatness Park on a six-match losing streak, but they impressed and should have come away with more than a point.

Midfielder Joe Minter opened the scoring for the home side after just 75 seconds, but Sevenoaks were pegged back eight minutes before the break through Shiblu Miah’s close range finish.

The second half was a tale of three penalties - one scored and two missed - as referee Mr Jamie Broughton took centre stage.

Sporting Bengal’s best player, Yasser Rashid struck the foot of the post after Danny Twinn was adjudged to have glanced Miah’s cross with his right hand, before Richard Stevens gave Sevenoaks a 73rd minute lead when he converted his spot-kick, but he blazed over his second penalty after he was pushed by goalkeeper Alfie Brincatt as Sam Eastgate swung over a corner, before substitute Prince Pippim deservedly levelled late on.

“We haven’t played for two weeks, we looked a bit rusty,” said Levett.

“We didn’t play particularly well against Lordswood (in a 2-0 home defeat) last time out and we’ve sort of put in another poor performance really.

“Performance wise we’ve been good all season but the last two games have probably been our worst two performances of the year.

“I’ll have to think about why that is but I’ll put it down to the fact that we haven’t trained this week. I think we looked tired against Lordswood and we didn’t look fit today. We looked second best for long periods of the game. We look out of shape, we look out of sorts a little bit and as a performance we are all very disappointed.

“We have to improve on that and see if we can pick ourselves up and go for next week.”

The Horsmondon based, 42-year-old insisted the side will train this coming Wednesday, as their prepare for a home clash against Greenwich Borough on Saturday.

“We couldn’t train down here and we didn’t have another facility so we were knackered really. We needed a training session this week. We didn’t have one. When you don’t train you border on a pub side.”

Steve Firkins’ Greenwich Borough side are presently sitting in fifth place in the Kent League table and have either won (10) or lost (8) their eighteen league games.

However, the Kent League’s smallest club are one of the better footballing sides in the division and Levett is looking forward to a good game.

“I love playing teams like Greenwich Borough,” said Levett.

“I’d play them every week because they get the ball down, they try to play and they over play. I fancy us against them all day long. If we’re at the races and we’re competing and we’re pressing I fancy us against them to be honest. They’re one of those teams where you like to play. Teams like that, they try and play and they give you a chance because they play.

“We’re like that but the trouble is when we don’t play well we give teams too many chances. We like to play but we play in the wrong areas.”

With his side now in eighth place in the table, with seven wins, three draws and eight defeats, Levett wants his side to bounce back and finish the season strongly.

He said: “If you play like that we’re going to be in trouble for the rest of the season so we hope we’re not going to play like that and turn it around.”

Sporting Bengal, meanwhile, travel to Erith & Belvedere on Saturday. With the Deres’ away game at Norton Sports called off late due to a waterlogged pitch, Micky Collins, Julian Leigh and Frank May (manager, assistant manager and club secretary) swiftly made their way to Greatness Park to cast their eye on the east Londoners.

Levett warned them: “I think they were technically good players. I didn’t underestimate them. I knew they weren’t bad. When we played them last time we got lucky.

“They’re quick, they’re fast, they run. They’ve got something about them. People slag them off. I’m not one of them. I think they’re not a bad side.

“How people beat them seven, eight-nil, good luck! We’ll done! Tunbridge Wells beat them 8-0 and we spanked Tunbridge Wells twice. I don’t know how they do it! I’ve got to speak to them and ask them how they do it? What’s the recipe?

“I think it’s getting at them very quickly, playing the ball in the final third very quickly, pressing and letting them make mistakes.

“When it goes four or five nil they may lose their discipline and (the goals) start going in.”

Meanwhile, Sevenoaks confirmed yesterday that they have signed striker Billy Driver from Ryman Premier Leaguers Maidstone United.

Visit Sevenoaks Town’s website: www.sevenoakstownfc.org

Sevenoaks Town v Greenwich Borough

Safety Net Associates Kent League

Saturday 5th March 2011

Kick Off 3:00pm

At Greatness Park, Mill Lane, Seal Road, Sevenoaks, Kent