Our big local derby against Whitstable are always good to be a part off, says Herne Bay's Sam Denly

HERNE BAY manager Sam Denly says he wants his side to show the quality to beat their bitter rivals Whitstable Town on Tuesday night.



The Bay have played only once at Winch’s Field in 2014 due to the fact that their pitch has struggled to cope with the wettest winter in 250 years.

As a result, seventeenth-placed Herne Bay have played 28 league games and have collected 9 wins and 7 draws with 34 points and they are five points clear of the relegation zone, although they do have to play catch up.

Whitstable Town arrive at Winch’s Field sitting two places lower with 31 points from 27 games, collecting 8 wins and 7 draws.
 
The two sides met at The Belmont in the Ryman League Division One South back in August, but the two sides played out a goal-less draw.

Nicky Southall’s side knocked Herne Bay out of the Kent Senior Cup Sponsored by Portablefloodlights.com with 1-0 win on the first day of October, in a game that hit the headlines when Whitstable finished the game with eight men after James Morrish, John Guest and Steve Hafner were all sent-off.

Denly said: “Looking forward to the game against Whitstable tomorrow night (weather permitting).

“I have said before that big local derbies are always good to be a part off and on the day form goes out of the window. Whoever wants it the most added with that bit of quality will come out on top.

“We have a lot of games coming up and tomorrow is the start of a relentless run of football. It will be tough going on the squad and we will need to keep rotating and using lads sensibly to get through the build-up of fixtures we have ahead of us.

“Although at the same time we are looking forward to a run of games when the weather finally relents.

“The lads once again have trained hard and are fit and prepared for the remainder of the season.
 
Meanwhile, Canterbury & District League Division One (second tier) club Beltinge Football Club have pulled off a transfer coup by enticing Herne Bay winger Danny Lawrence to sign for the club.

Denly said: “It is a real shame as Danny is a great lad and the player and part of a very close Herne Bay squad but I understand and wish him well.”

Lawrence, meanwhile, told the club’s website why he has signed for the Herne Bay based club, who are in seventh-place of a 12-team division.

“I have had a long chat with Sam and it’s a combination of lack of first team opportunities and a new job, which is going to make it difficult to commit.”

Canterbury City’s groundshare deal at Herne Bay will be expiring at the end of the season and City face a bleak future after The Football Association have refused the club’s proposal to play at Rede Court Road because the ground is used to landlords Rochester United and their Kent County League tenants Fleet Leisure.

A statement published on Canterbury City’s website said: “In the event we have not secured an alternative groundshare arrangement by 31^st March 2014 very regrettably indeed Canterbury City Football Club will have no option but to seek to drop down to the Kent County Premier League at the end of this season.

“That would be a bitter blow indeed and really undo the last eight years work at the club.

“As you will appreciate we have contacted numerous local and not to local clubs in East/Mid Kent over the last months without success to date. 

“Perhaps the realisation of our predicament may prompt a club to step forward to help us.

“This is all the more disappointing given we have put a viable new stadium proposal in conjunction with a developer to Canterbury City council, which the council are currently evaluating.”

Visit Herne Bay’s website:  www.pitchero.com/clubs/hernebay

Herne Bay  v  Whitstable Town
Ryman League Division One South
Tuesday 4^th March 2014
Kick Off 7:45pm
At Winch’s Field, Stanley Gardens, Herne Bay, Kent CT6 5SG