Our record breaking league position is down to Laurent Hamici's goals, says Jenkins

Monday 08th November 2010

CRAY WANDERERS boss Ian Jenkins says the goalscoring prowess of Frenchman Laurent Hamici has helped propel his side to their highest ever league position in 150 years, writes Stephen McCartney.

The Wands climbed into fifth place in the Ryman Premier League table, as Hamici’s fourteenth goal of the season sealed a 1-0 win over Wealdstone at Hayes Lane on Sunday afternoon.

“We played some lovely football to be honest with you,” Jenkins told www.kentishfootball.co.uk.

“We passed it around the pitch really well. We had players on the pitch playing some nice one-two stuff and it was quite a good game to watch.

“They had some good chances as well but all in all we were the team that deserved to get the three points.”

Hamici has scored 11 of the club’s 25 league goals this season and Jenkins admitted this has been key in the club’s vastly improved season.

“I mean, any player that scores that amount of goals is obviously a threat to any opposition,” said Jenkins.

“We’ve never had that prolific goalscorer in the squad since Leigh Bremner was at his peak, so he’s goals are down to him where we are in the table.

“It speaks for itself, I think we’re top goalscorers in the league so without them we wouldn’t be up there. His goals have made a big difference to us. We are playing well and creating a lot of chances but he seems to be the one scoring the goals and long may it continue.”

The Wands play their third game of the season against Maidstone United at Homelands Stadium on Tuesday night, before returning to Hayes Lane to face fourth-from-bottom side Aveley on Saturday.

The Stones have visited Hayes Lane twice already this season, losing the league game 2-1, before extracting revenge in the FA Carlsberg Trophy.

“I think they got their revenge in the Trophy game to be honest with you,” admitted Jenkins.

“We should have been out of sight that day and we conceded two late goals in stoppage time so we’ll be looking to put that right.

“The way we’re playing at the minute, if we play the way anything like we have been we’ll create chances and put them away. We’ve got to consolidate now and keep up in the top five if we can.”

Jenkins praised the fans that are giving his improved side vocal support - something that only happens at Hayes Lane when landlords Bromley are at home.

He said: “This is probably the first year we’ve had decent crowds coming through the gate. There’s a good nucleus of 30-40 bods behind the goal getting behind the team, cheering us on and signing. It’s nice to have all that and long may that continue as well.

“People are coming through the gate to watch us so we must be doing something right!”

Then it’s onto the visit of Aveley. Jenkins added: “Anyone can beat anyone. We played them over their place last month and beat them 3-0. It was quite a comfortable day apart from Loll (Hamici) getting sent off. He was silly up there and deserved to be sent off.”

Jenkins explained how he has turned his beloved club around this season.

“We had a lot of older players in the squad last year and we didn’t start the season to well,” he reflected.

“I don’t think we were fit enough so we addressed that and got them fitter and we’re basically fuller footballers. We may not be the biggest team in the world but we are confident on the ball. We can pass it really quickly and that will be the way to go.

“When you get results you see the confidence grow. But it will be a test if we go through a bad patch with the youngsters but at the moment everyone’s buzzing at the club.

“The aim is to stay there and then pick up a few more places and see where we are after Christmas. It’s too early to be talking about staying in the play-off’s, but we’re good enough to stay in the play-off’s at the end of the season.

“The squad’s quite strong and players will be coming back. If we get a full squad back we’ll be competing definitely.”

Tyrone Sterling remains on the sidelines, but hard-working forward Bremner and central defender John Guest face fitness tests before the Kent derby away to sixth-from-bottom Stones.

Visit Cray Wanderers’ website: www.craywands.co.uk

Maidstone United v Cray Wanderers

Ryman Premier League

Tuesday 9th November 2010

Kick Off 7:45pm

At Homelands Stadium, Ashford Road, Kingsnorth, Ashford, Kent TN26 1NJ