Metcalf: We showed the heart to win our first game

LORDSWOOD claimed their first league points of the season with a 2-0 home victory over Beckenham Town yesterday, writes Stephen McCartney.

A goal from Anthony Sharpe just before the break changed the half-time team talk from Kevin Metcalf and coach Martin Telford.

Nathan Nelson’s second half goal proved to be enough for the Lords to win their first Bulmers Cider Kent League game of the season, at the ninth attempt.

Despite remaining second-from-bottom, the North Dane Way outfit are now only seven points adrift of VCD Athletic and eight points away from Beckenham.

Metcalf, speaking to www.kentishfootball.co.uk was pleased that his fifth game in charge of the club has resulted in the club’s first league points of the season.

“I am pleased, I’m pleased for everyone,” he said. “There’s been a lot of hard work at the club over the last month, obviously with Martin (Telford) with the training and the board getting the training facilities a lot better than what they were.

“Over the last couple of weeks we have been knocking on the door to be honest, but yesterday was the first win.

“It was a good game to be honest in the conditions. Both teams tried to get the ball down and play but the conditions - the wind and the rain - all the players on the pitch needed a big heart and we came out on top to be honest.”

Metcalf was pleased that his intended half-time team talk had to be thrown out of the window, as Sharpe netted towards the end of the first half.

“We had everything arranged what we were going to say and do and that just changed it totally,” he said.

“Basically we told the lads to keep playing and keep doing the right things.”

And when Nelson fired home after a mistake from Becks’ goalkeeper, following a short corner, it ensured Metcalf was able to enjoy his weekend.

But despite Beckenham and VCD sitting in the bottom four, Metcalf believes the pair of them will climb up the table, although he says they will not win the Kent League title this term.

“Beckenham yesterday, they still play good football,” said Metcalf. “They’re a hard side to beat and to be honest I think VCD and Beckenham will have some say in the league positions.

“I think they will both climb up the table, obviously they’re not going to win it not but they’re going to take quite a few points off a few teams.”

Metcalf admitted Lordswood’s turning point was at Park View Road last week, when Erith & Belvedere escaped with only a 1-0 win.

“I think that could be the turning point,” he said. “In fact I said to Martin after the game that was our turning point.

“To be honest it shows how far Lordswood, as a club, have come. When you take one of the league favourites, as tight as it was, right to the end.”

Metcalf, who says he’s been impressed with his entire youthful team, is hoping to secure back-to-back wins when sixth-placed Herne Bay visit on Tuesday night.

“Again, to be honest, every game now in the Kent League is a tough game, right from the top right down to the bottom and again that shows that the position of VCD and Beckenham but Herne Bay will be a tough game,” he said.

“To be honest the players have been spot on with their training and Martin and myself with the coaching, we’ve upped the level a bit and they’ve responded.

“To be honest the whole team has impressed me. They’re all young and they want to learn.

“As you know I always try to bring a lot of confidence in the changing room. We’ve started in the changing room and training ground and now the boys have taken it to the next level onto the football pitch.”

Lordswood v Herne Bay
Bulmers Cider Kent League
Tuesday 11^th November 2008
Kick Off 7:45pm
At Martyn Grove, North Dane Way, Walderslade ME5 9XX