O’Boyle wants more hard graft from his Dockers

Thursday 07th May 2009

ERITH TOWN boss Steve O’Boyle says he’s satisfied with his first season in charge of the club - but he's looking for improvement when the new campaign gets underway in August, writes Stephen McCartney.

Having managed the reserve side of landlords Thamesmead Town for three years, where he won the title on each occasion, O’Boyle took over as Dockers’ first-team boss on the eve of the season following Mark Tompkins’ shock decision to quit the club.

But O’Boyle swiftly made his mark on Erith Town, guiding them to seventh place in the Bulmers Cider Kent League table with a record breaking 54 points from their 32-match campaign.

The Dockers also reached their second successive Kent League Cup final, although the holders suffered a heartbreaking defeat on penalties to Croydon in last weekend’s Park View Road clash.

Marcus Cassius, 19, netted his 43rd goal of the season to cancel out Tony Atkins’ 102nd minute header, but Kevin Spriggs was the only Erith player to score from the spot as Croydon clinched their first ever Kent League Cup with a 3-1 win on spot-kicks.

O’Boyle, speaking to www.kentishfootball.co.uk, says he wants more from his players next term.

“We’ll learn from this and build for next season,” he said.

“Can we get another ten points on top for next season - can we get 64 next year?

“Can we get a few more players in because I feel we lack a bit of quality going forward. I believe we can and we’ll move on from this.

“But tomorrow morning when I wake up I’ll be building for next season.

“I’m not used to losing, so it’s hard. I’ve had three good years at reserve team level and I’m used to winning and losing is hard.

“But if someone said to me in August (we’d reach) a cup final and (collect the) most points (in the club’s history), I would’ve taken it, but all in all (it’s been a) decent season.”

O’Boyle spoke about some heroic performances from his side, which including stunning AFC Wimbledon in the London Senior Cup at Kingsmeadow, courtesy of a Cassius hat-trick.

He said: “We’ve had some great days, going to AFC Wimbledon, beating them in their own back yard. We’ve turned (runners-up) Hythe over twice and Hythe have only got a draw against us (in all matches) this season.

“We’re the only team to beat (champions) VCD in 33 games. It says something about my club.”

Visit Erith Town’ website: www.erithtownfc.com