Lillis wants Ryman football at Herne Bay (EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW)

Herne Bay manager Jason Lillis expects his side to reach the Kentish Observer League Cup Final on Saturday, taking full advantage of home comforts, writes Stephen McCartney.

Seventeen-year-old striker Stuart King scored his thirteenth goal of the season in Tuesday’s first leg with fourteen minutes remaining, cancelling out James Brown’s headed opener for hosts VCD Athletic.

“We’re expecting (a crowd of) 200 plus so it will be more of an atmosphere,” said the 37-year-old manager after the game at Harrow Meadow.

“The pitch may suit us better with the players we’ve got,” he added.

Herne Bay are currently in sixth place in the Kentish Observer League table, but they have eight games left to fight for that elusive third spot.

With Maidstone United four points clear of Beckenham Town at the top, the Winch’s Field outfit are one of six clubs that could finish in third place.

And Lillis guided the club as runners-up last season, finishing eight points behind Ramsgate.

The Rams are now three points clear at the top of the Ryman League Division One table and Lillis wants to join them.

Their Winch’s Field ground passed ground grading last year so the former Gillingham and Maidstone United star sees no problems off the pitch.

“I think we’ve done exceptionally well with the changes that’s gone round the club,” he said. “We’ve brought a lot of young players through and I just think hopefully we can stay together and get stronger and stronger and its still not impossible to get that third spot.

“Everyone lost in front of us on Saturday, we’ve got games in hand on a few and we’ve got to play them.

“We’ve got to play Thamesmead and Beckenham at home, we’ve got Erith & Belvedere away - so why not?”

Herne Bay are one of the best supported clubs in Kent League football and Lillis admitted their fan base will expand - Ramsgate being a good example.

The Thanet club are now breaking the 300 mark through the turnstiles now that they’re topping the Ryman League Division One table.

“I think once we got up one the support will come,” predicts Lillis. “You only have to look at Ramsgate. They had no supporters, they’ve gone up there and now their getting 200 plus. But we’ll worry about that when we get there.”

VCD Athletic boss Martin Ford, meanwhile, will be hoping his side’s set-pieces will see them through to their second cup final of the season.

Paul Foley’s header saw them beat Whitstable Town to reach the Kent Senior Trophy Final, where they’ll meet Tunbridge Wells at Welling United’s Park View Road ground on Sunday, 9^th April (3pm).

In fact, Wells manager Martin Farnie was in attendance at Harrow Meadow last night as his side travels to Herne Bay for a league game next Tuesday.

Talking about his side’s set-piece armoury, Ford said: “We work very hard on them. Some sides have long throws and some sides are direct.

“We happen to punish sides from set plays,” he admitted. “We’ve got people who are brave and get themselves in the box and we’ve got players who can get good quality deliveries in there.

“So at the end of the day we are bound to punish sides if you’ve got that quality in your side,” he warned.

The away goal rule comes into play in this competition and Ford knows his side have either got to win on Saturday or draw 2-2 to progress into the final, which takes place at Folkestone Invicta’s Buzzlines Stadium in Cheriton Road on Saturday, 29^th April.

He said: “Our away form is exceptional and anyone who doesn’t back us on Saturday will be foolish”.

Ford welcomes back Mark Greatorex and Clayton Probets but his 16-goal top scorer, Lee Coburn, is still ruled out as his suspension finishes next Monday.

Maidstone United, meanwhile, have one step already in the final, following their 2-1 win at Hythe Town last night.

Hythe’s Roy Guilver cancelled out Nathan Paul’s early opener, but former Ramsgate striker, Mo Takaloo was on hand to score the winner.

Their second leg takes place at Bourne Park, Sittingbourne on Wednesday, 29^th March.

Herne Bay v VCD Athletic
Kentish Observer League Cup Semi-Final Second Leg
Saturday 18^th March 2006
Kick Off 3:00pm
at Winch’s Field, Stanley Gardens, Herne Bay