Kent League clubs prepare for big kick-off

Monday 07th August 2006

Kent League sides have been busy signing players as they prepare for the big-kick off on Saturday, writes Stephen McCartney.

Slade Green, who start their campaign with a trip to Deal Town, have had plenty of comings and goings at the Small Glen.

Adam Morrish and John Paul McKey have now been added to the squad, which is under the leadership of former Cray Wanderers’ pair Danny Evans and Adam Heaslewood.

Morrish has previously played for Southend United, Welling United, Maidstone United, Dartford and Erith & Belvedere.

And Paul McKey has previously played for Sheppey United, Redhill, Greenwich Borough and Crockenhill.

VCD Athletic manager Martin Ford has announced seven new signings ahead of their opener at new boys Faversham Town.

Joining Ford at the Oakwood are Nick Munshall (Gillingham youth), Dean Burns (Thamesmead Town), Kevin Spriggs and Terry Ratchford (both from Dartford), Gary Ward and Paul Smith (both from Whitstable Town) and Danny Edwards from Sittingbourne.

Ford also revealed that he is also in negotiations with another centre forward who should join in time before their second match of the season at Greenwich Borough.

Only James Brown, whose joined Thamesmead Town, has left the club.

With Dartford calling off their pre-season friendly tomorrow night, VCD Athletic take their entire first team squad to Kent County League side Metrogas tomorrow.

The game, at the Metrogas Sports Ground, Avery Hill, kick’s off at 6:45pm.
Much-fancied side Thamesmead Town finished off their pre season games with a 5-1 win over Stansfeld on Saturday.

Two goals from Rikki Cable and goals from Ryan Royston, Pedro Knight and Sam Thomas gave Mead a easy win over the Kent County side.

Speaking about the result manager Keith McMahon, whose side start with a home game against Tunbridge Wells, who were thrashed 7-1 at AFC Totton on Saturday, told www.thamesmeadtownfc.co.uk: "It was a good work out for us, Stansfeld were a little bit physical, but we coped with that.

”I was pleased with the two new signings today, I thought Chris Arnold in goal looked very solid and young Simon Mace up front done very well on his debut for the club.

”It's nice to finish off with a win it's good for confidence but as I've said before it's not about the results more the performance and I thought we passed the ball around well again today and should have scored a few more, but more important is there was no serious injuries today.

”My only concern is Scot Mullholland who limped off at the end with a slight twist on the ankle but he should be fine for next week."

There was also good news for McMahon as club captain Dean Kearley came through 80 minutes in a 4-2 win over Tunbridge Wells for the reserves with no reaction from his hamstring injury that he has been carrying since last season.

Goals from former Tunbridge Wells striker Dave Hassett and Ben Yiadom gave Greenwich Borough their third consecutive win under caretaker boss Peter Garland defeating Bly Spartans.

Borough start the campaign with a trip to Sevenoaks Town on Saturday – the side that finished rock bottom last term.

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