Kent League Latest: Seager collects his second award

Some of the news that’s coming from Kent League clubs this week:

Whitstable Town manager Marc Seager has picked up the Kent League’s manager of the month award for September.

The Belmont side have collected maximum points from their first six league games and lead the Kent League table by one point, but they have two games in hand over rivals Thamesmead Town and Faversham Town.

The Oystermen travel to Deal Town in the first round of the Kent Senior Trophy tomorrow, and the award, which is sponsored by Deal firm Jacetts, was last in Seager’s hands last December.

“I am delighted to have won the manager of the month award as it’s recognition not only of the hard work that myself and the management team put in over the month but more importantly the players who deserve every praise for the way we have started the season,” Seager told www.whitstabletownfc.co.uk

“It’s early days yet but I am delighted with the start we have had. We are staying focused on each match as it comes along. It’s an old cliché but one I use often.

“I try to keep the lads feet on the ground and concentrate on one game at a time.

“The most important game is he next game against Deal in the Kent Senior Trophy. Nothing else is on my mind until after the game and then and only then, I shall start thinking about Tuesday.

Beckenham Town welcome Hythe Town to Eden Park Avenue missing two players, reports www.

Tony Gallagher has signed for Thamesmead Town and Leon Dussard has left.

However, on the injury front there is better news regarding Danny Lawson who is approaching full fitness after coming through a full 90 minutes in a midweek friendly.

There is also better news for Steve McKenzie, who should be back in action in about two weeks.

Thamesmead Town boss Keith McMahon, who takes his side to Saffron Walden Town in the first round proper of the FA Vase tomorrow, was pleased to sign Gallagher, whose available for selection.

He told www.thamesmeadtownfc.co.uk  : “Tony gives us strength in midfield and in defence. He has a soft spot for the club as he has a lot of friends here. He will be a big addition to the squad.”

Faversham Town boss Terry Cordice is going all out for revenge against Herne Bay in the Kent Senior Trophy at Salters Lane on Saturday (article written by James Brown, courtesy of www.favershamtownfc.co.uk )

Cordice and his promoted Faversham Town side kicked off life in the Kent League with a 3-2 away defeat to the Winch's Field outfit on 15 August.

And Cordice believes his side have a score to settle against Bay after coming within a whisker of grabbing an unlikely point in their big Kent League debut.

The Lilywhites trailed 3-0 at the interval but staged an incredible second-half revival that saw them score twice before Jason Mills let fly with an incredible 25-yard shot that hit a post in the dying seconds.

Faversham Town have recovered from that early setback with a string of wins and lead Bay by six points after Saturday's 1-1 draw with Tunbridge Wells at the Culverden Stadium.

And Cordice believes his side are more than capable of avenging that opening-day defeat with victory in this first-round Trophy clash, which kick’s off at the normal time of 3pm.

He said: "That defeat to Herne Bay in our first match was a classic game of two halves. Looking back I guess we were a bit over-awed by the big occasion and didn't perform at all well in the first half.

"But we showed what we could do after the break and were unlucky not to get a point, especially when you consider that Millsy hit the post right at the death there.

"We're a more settled side now and have a few new players too so I'd like to think we can put on a decent show. One thing is for certain, if we can play like we did in the second half for the full 90 minutes then we'll be difficult to beat."

Faversham Town took more than 50 supporters down to Herne Bay for that historic first game back in the Kent League and Cordice is banking on the Salters Lane faithful turning out in force once again.

He said: "Our fans were great that day. They really lifted us second half and the lads responded. Now we are hoping for another big crowd at Salters Lane.

"I saw that Whitstable had more than 1,100 for their FA Cup against Margate last Saturday. It shows that interest is growing in non-league football in this part of the world and that has to be a good thing.

"This is another cracking fixture. It's fantastic to draw one of your local rivals in any knockout competition and I'm expecting a great atmosphere.

"Herne Bay have a good fanbase but I am sure our supporters will not want to be outnumbered or outsung for that matter. They've been brilliant all season."

Slade Green have received a massive boost ahead of tomorrow’s Kent League Cup Group A opener with Lordswood after striker Shaun Malyon put pen to paper to sign for the Small Glen club.

Malyon has not played for the Green since the 2-2 draw at Erith & Belvedere on 17 December.

Shortly after this during a training session Malyon suffered a reoccurrence of a groin strain that has troubled him over the last three seasons.

This latest setback had left Shaun comtemplating retiring from the game. However, after witnessing Saturday's game with Herne Bay and having talks with Danny Evans and Adam Heaslewood the former Sheppey, Herne Bay and Furness player promptly signed. Shaun will resume training in three weeks time following a family holiday.

Meanwhile, Jason Clews and Paul Gross have now completed their three match suspensions and John Paul McKey has returned from holiday and are all available for selection against their Medway visitors.

As promised, VCD Athletic boss Martin Ford has strengthened his squad, signing highly-rated full back Marc Merridan from rivals Thamesmead Town.

Merridan, who started at Vickers in their youth team, is expected to make his debut in tomorrow’s Kent League game against Greenwich Borough at the Oakwood, Old Road, Crayford.

Ford, whose club shared Borough's Harrow Meadow ground last season, told
www.vcd-athletic.co.uk  “We have been tracking Marc for a while, it was a tough decision for him to not go back to Thamesmead this season.

“But this is his club, having played here as a youth team player. We are delighted to have him back and we want to get him enjoying his football again and back to full fitness.”