I want this group of players to be the best group in our history - says Erith Town boss Tony Russell

Thursday 03rd March 2011

ERITH TOWN boss Tony Russell has challenged his side to become the best in the club’s history, writes Stephen McCartney.

The Dockers currently lead the Kent League table by three points but the downside is that they have played the most games than their title rivals - but they can reach the Kent Senior Trophy Final if they beat Beckenham Town at Eden Park Avenue on Saturday.

“I’m pretty sure the club’s never won the competition before, so it’s something this group of players can do and be the first players from the club to win the competition,” Russell said ahead of the semi-final clash.

“We played them the other week and they beat us and deserved to. They’ve signed some new players recently which added to them and I think they’re a good side.”

League leaders Erith Town last met Beckenham Town three weeks ago, and Russell hopes his side doesn’t replicate their poor performance as they did during the disappointing 1-0 home defeat.

He said: “As a group of players we didn’t perform on the day. We were poor, we were really poor and it’s a chance to put it right. It wasn’t good enough against them and we have to prove it was a one off.”

Russell admitted winning the Kent League title might be out of grasp for his side in only his first season in charge - due to the fact that his side have played the most games.

“I think Saturday’s game is a massive game, not only of getting to a Cup final but for our season,” Russell admitted.

“I think the last couple of weeks, we’ve gone a little bit flat and if we win Saturday and get into the Cup Final, you get back on a buzz and on a roll and start enjoying each other and winning games of football.

“On the flip side of that it’s going to be really hard to pick ourselves up. We go to Herne Bay on Wednesday so it’s a really, really important game on Saturday.”

Simon Halsey’s Herne Bay are presently in third place in the Kent League table, with 35 points from 17 games - three points behind the Dockers and level on points with much-fancied Hythe Town.

“Title decider? I don’t know about that. I honestly don’t know about that!” replied Russell.

Russell explained why he thinks the Kent League title is heading to Reachfields Stadium.

“I think you look at Hythe. They’re coming strong and they will be hard to stop. You look at the pitches and the way they’re cutting up, how heavy they are, it plays into the way they play. Hythe do play a bit but they are a little direct and get crosses into the box. I think the pitches at the moment will suit them.

“We played (a goalless draw against) VCD last week on a pitch that maybe, maybe shouldn’t have gone ahead. It was a scrap, which doesn’t suit the way we like to play. It was a really poor game of football.

“At the moment, with the pitches being soft it suits Hythe’s style of play - rather than us and Herne Bay - if I’m honest.”

When asked whether Erith Town can claim their first ever Kent League crown, Russell replied, “My answer would be, it’s going to be hard to do it. At the moment you’re relying on teams slipping up so it’s hard because it’s not in your own hands. If every team win their games in hand, we don’t win it!

“At the moment we could go down to fifth place. All I can say is if we can keep in it I honestly think if we’re there and there abouts when the pitches start firming up a little bit then we’ve got a shout but at the moment we need to dig in and grind it out.

“To be bluntly honest with you, the club has never finished higher than fifth place. I said to the players the other day, I want this group of players to be the best group of players this club has ever seen. I want me and Lew (Watts) being the best managers this club has ever had. That’s got to be the main aim at the moment.

“Let’s see if we can break the top five and anything after that will be a bonus.”

Reaching the Kent Senior Trophy Final for the first time would be the icing on the cake to an excellent campaign against all the odds.

“There will be no talk of a Cup Final. We’ve got to play Beckenham first but given what’s gone on in the season, when I came in there was a different chairman and there was a manager (Steve O’Boyle). Now the old chairman (Albert Putman) has come back and I’m the manager and with everything that’s gone on so far we’ve done really well but so far don’t mean anything yet. We’ve still got the last part of the season to finish off.”

Visit Erith Town’s website: www.erithtownfc.co.uk

Beckenham Town v Erith Town

Umbro Kent Senior Trophy Semi-Final

Saturday 5th March 2011

Kick Off 3:00pm

At 374 Eden Park Avenue, Beckenham, Kent BR3 3JL