Lordswood will start climbing the table, vows Metcalf

LORDSWOOD boss Kevin Metcalf is confident his side can turn the corner during the second half of their season, writes Stephen McCartney.

The Medway outfit have collected a win and two draws from their first 16 games to date and only have perennial whipping boys, Sporting Bengal United, below them in the Kent League table.

But Metcalf, speaking to www.kentishfootball.co.uk this evening, says he is confident his players will take in what their being told by the management team and change their fortunes out on the pitch.

"What we’ve done, we’re sort of using the couple of months I’ve been there as a pre-season,” explained Metcalf.

“We’re getting the players the way Martin (Telford) and myself want them to play.

“Basically, we’ve changed all the personnel that was at the club before I was there - we kept about four or five of the youngsters.

“We’ve also changed the training and to be honest the actual football club have been very helpful with what we’re doing to get Lordswood up the table.

“I always said it will take up to Christmas to build a side so we’re over that period now and I’m looking forward to the rest of the season to be honest.”

Metcalf and Telford will put 30 players through their paces at training tomorrow night, ahead of Tuesday night’s Kent Senior Trophy second round tie at Erith & Belvedere 24 hours later.

The Deres were defeated 2-0 at home to high-flying Holmesdale yesterday, courtesy of two penalties from Joel Greaves.

Deres goalkeeper, Matt Bromby, was red-carded for bringing down James Dadson and Greaves beat burly striker Richard Dimmock from the penalty spot, and did the same again later on, after Chris Hill was adjudged to have handled inside the box.

Lordswood are clearly underdogs against an Erith & Belvedere side that occupy sixth place in the Kent League table - 15 points adrift of leaders Hythe Town.

But Metcalf wants a similar performance from his side when the two sides met at the same venue back in November.

“We played them over there in one of my first games, they got a 1-0, it could have gone either way to be honest,” recalled the former Tunbridge Wells manager.

“I fancy my chances. Erith are a strong side, they’ve got some really good quality players amongst them so I’m expecting a tough match to be honest.”

The winners will travel to Vandanel Kent County League leaders Orpington in the next round on Saturday and Metcalf recalls that Faversham Town lost to Orpington 3-2 at Salters Lane in the last round.

“Obviously they beat Faversham didn’t they,” recalled Metcalf. “Whatever team goes through will naturally treat them with the respect they deserve.

He added: “It’s the only Cup we’re left in, it’s possibly the last chance to get anything out of the season.”

Metcalf and Telford will be working on their shooting during training tomorrow as they bid to increase their goals for tally.

Lordswood have scored only 20 goals this season. Two sides, Sporting Bengal (13) and Norton Sports (17) have scored fewer.

And that is something Lordswood must work on during the second half of the season, especially as they’re nine points adrift of Beckenham Town.

“Lordswood are now a hard side to beat,” said Metcalf. “But we’ve got to take our chances.

“I’m sure by the end of the season, we’ll have plenty more points than we’ve got.

“I want them to play the right way, get their football right. Credit to the boys, the atmosphere has been great. They know what Martin and myself are trying to achieve and they’re looking forward to each game now.

“We trained over Christmas as well and we get an average of thirty players turning up for training.

Lordswood’s home game against Slade Green was abandoned after 65 minutes yesterday due to a frozen North Dane Way pitch.

“Credit to both teams, both teams tried to play football,” praised Metcalf. “They had one chance and scored. We had five or six, but didn’t.

“I was pleased with yesterday, we created quite a few chances - may it continue.

“We’re now being complemented by away fans and away committee members on the way we’re playing football.

“Get a couple of wins under our belt, I think we’d start climbing the league.”

Visit Erith & Belvedere’s website:  www.erithandbelvederefc.co.uk

Visit Lordswood’s website: www.lordswoodfc.co.uk

Erith & Belvedere v Lordswood
Kent Senior Trophy Second Round
Tuesday 6^th January 2009
Kick Off 7:45pm
At Park View Road, Welling, Kent DA16 1SY