Kent sides plot FA Youth Cup shocks - EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEWS

Monday 23rd October 2006

The youth team managers of Thamesmead Town, Ramsgate and Tonbridge Angels are all plotting to cause shocks in this week’s FA Youth Cup third qualifying round ties, writes Stephen McCartney.

Kent League club Thamesmead Town travel to Nationwide Conference outfit Stevenage Borough tonight and if they can pull off a shock victory they will enjoy a dream tie at Priestfield Stadium against Gillingham in the first round proper.

Keith McMahon, whose guided the club to the top of the Kent League table, is also in charge of the youth team and he is relishing their trip to Broadhall Way tonight.

“To get Gillingham is a massive incentive but tonight is a big incentive,” he said EXCLUSIVELY to www.kentishfootball.co.uk hours before their big game.

“To go to Stevenage Borough, which is a very nice ground, the players will enjoy it.

”We go there as underdogs but if we can go there and win there will be a very nice tie at the end of it.”

McMahon’s young side have already disposed of two clubs that ply their trade at a higher level than Thamesmead Town.

“We’ve had two tough draws,” admitted McMahon. “We’ve had Northwood, a Southern Premier League side, and we went away to Waltham Forest, a Ryman One club, and we beat them both.

“My team are all first years, all 16, so they will have a good experience.”

Emmanuel Danso, who became the youngest ever player to score for the club, Lee Dawson, Daniel Willis, Bradley Killick and goalkeeper Adam Woodward have already tasted first team football.

But McMahon hopes his young side can pull of a shock result in Hertfordshire tonight.

”It’s a lovely tie to be fair,” he said. “The players will love to play at Priestfield. One of the Gillingham players, Frankie Chapple, used to play for Thamesmead 4-5 years ago. The players know him and it’s a tie all the boys want to play in.”

But Thamesmead have their work cut out against full-time opposition tonight.

“We know their a Conference side. They play a bit like Gravesend in the PASE scheme, which is a Conference league.

“They beat Croydon 1-0 after extra time in the last round. We are expecting a tough side.

“All our boys have been working or at college today but anything can happen in youth football.

“But we have got a decent side,” he warned. “If we do win they wouldn’t shock me as much but as long as we play to our best ability we will give them a really good game.”

Ramsgate welcome unbeaten Epsom & Ewell to Southwood Stadium on Wednesday night and victory over the Southern Youth League eastern division leaders will give Aaron Perry’s side a trip to Brighton & Hove Albion in the first round proper.

“A very big incentive,” Perry said EXCLUSIVELY to www.kentishfootball.co.uk today. “Obviously Brighton away is a very lucrative tie for us.”

But the Rams host an Epsom & Ewell side that have collected seven points from their first three league games.

“We had a scout watch them when they played against Ashford Town (Middlesex)”, revealed Perry.

“They’ve scored (a total of) 12 goals and their centre forward has scored eight of them so it gives us an indication that me may be the main man.”

But Perry believes his players won’t let themselves down as they bid to make it through to book their trip to the Withdean Stadium.

“Most of the players know what’s on the line,” he said. “The bottom line is they have to play for themselves and the club and do what they can.

“Some players may play at a decent level so that game could be their biggest game of their careers.”

But www.kentishfootball.co.uk will be at the Betterview Longmead Stadium on Tuesday night between the Kent showdown between Tonbridge Angels and full-time Gravesend & Northfleet.

Whilst Thamesmead and Ramsgate will play League clubs if they get through their ties this week, whoever wins this game will travel to North Greenford United or Dunstable Town in the first round proper.

But Angels’ Southern Youth League team manager, Gerry Cox believes whoever gets through on Tuesday night can enjoy an extended run in the competition.

But his side host free-scoring Fleet, who have already defeated Chatham Town (9-0), Erith & Belvedere (6-0) and Sevenoaks Town (6-3) and will be looking to knock out another Kent side.

Cox, meanwhile, believes his side will do better than the three Kent sides that have lost to Kent’s highest placed non-league football club.

”Quite confident because it’s only one occasion this year where we haven’t scored four goals or more ourselves,” he EXCLUSIVELY told www.kentishfootball.co.uk.

“I’ve probably got to say given a full-time nature they should start as favourites.

“I think both teams, having seen the draw, there’s an incentive whoever wins this game will go on to win the next round as well.

“Getting a League club would be very nice and the icing on the cake, but obviously the further we can progress in the competition, whatever the opposition (is what we are looking for).

“Obviously we know they are full time. They receive good coaching every day and we expect them to be well disciplined.”

The former Fleet youth team manager has a full-squad to pick from bit Jordan Wright will miss their biggest game of the season to date as he is on holiday.

Visit club websites:

www.thamesmeadtownfc.co.uk

www.ramsgate-fc.co.uk

www.tonbridgeangels.co.uk

www.gnfc.co.uk