Rival managers complain about derby draw - EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEWS

Tunbridge Wells manager Martin Farnie was not happy when his club were handed a trip to their Kent League rivals VCD Athletic, when the second round draw of the FA Carlsberg Vase was made earlier today, writes Stephen McCartney.

The two clubs met five times in competitive action last season, with the Vickers enjoying the upper hand.

The Vickers collected all six points in the league and both sides drew their two Kent League Cup Group C clashes.

Triumphant VCD picked up the Kent Senior Trophy in April, winning 3-1 on penalties after the game at Park View Road finished 1-1 after extra time.

But Farnie rued his club’s bad luck against the Crayford side, and will be hoping for better luck when they travel to play at the revamped Oakwood ground on 18 November - seven days after a league fixture at the same venue.

“I’m not happy with the draw,” he said EXCLUSIVELY to www.kentishfootball.co.uk.

“I want as many Kent League sides to progress and it would be nice to play different sides than your own league.

“I’ve played VCD five times last season. We had them twice in the league, twice in the league cup and the cup final.

“We’ve got them twice in the league, I don’t mind that, but the FA Vase is all about getting away from your league.

“I’m disappointed that one of us will be going out of the competition.”

But Farnie’s side have scored a total of 15 goals in their previous three ties in the competition, albeit at Culverden Stadium.

“I’d rather get a nice home draw,” said Farnie. “But you have to get on with it now and hopefully we can get good result against them.

“We’ve scored 19 goals in five games I think in the league and Vase. We’re playing well at the moment.”

But Martin Ford is delighted to have been drawn at home, but like his opposite number was disappointed to draw another Kent side.

“I’ve just spoken to Martin Farnie. It’s not a great draw but we’re at home. We are grateful for that but it’s going to be a tough game,” admitted the long serving VCD boss.

“It seems a little but of fate upon us again. Martin and I would not rather play each other at this stage of the Vase draw, but one side in the Kent League is guaranteed a place in the last 64.

“People will make us favourites with a home draw, but Tunbridge Wells are firing on all cylinders but come 18 November we should be at full strength.”

Two years ago Steve White had virtually retired from football. Now he’s in possibly the form of his life for Erith & Belvedere and on Saturday scored all four goals in the Deres’ 4-1 FA Carlsberg Vase first round victory over Cobham. His performances have been the shining light in a difficult season, and have rewritten the club record books.

Steve White enjoyed his "finest hour" for
Erith & Belvedere, netting all four goals in
their 4-1 win over Cobham in the first round
of the FA Vase on Saturday.
Photograph courtesy of  www.briandickie.co.uk

Saturday’s performance was White’s finest hour in a Deres shirt. Having fallen behind at home to Cobham in the first minute, Erith roared back with four goals, all from the 35-year-old striker, the last from the penalty spot.

In doing this White became the first Deres player to score four in a game since Brian Morrison in the club record 10-0 away victory at Ramsgate in 1981.

It’s not the first landmark White has reached this season: a few weeks ago he reached 200 appearances, and his seven goals this season have taken him to a career total of 64, thus breaking into the Deres’ all-time top 20 scorers’ list.

White’s impact on the club cannot be measured in statistics alone, though: as the above figures show, he might not have the most prolific scoring rate, but the influence of his experience and intelligent creative play is such that last season, while bagging just six goals, he achieved the unprecedented hat-trick of players’ and supporters’ Player of the Year plus the Chairman’s Trophy.

And all this after spending two years in semi-retirement. He fractured a kneecap in spring 2003, and this combined with his baby son’s illness persuaded him to step back from the game: he missed two entire seasons before his inspiring return last year following his son’s recovery.

He made his home debut on the night Erith played their first home game at Park View Road, and christened the new venue with the opening goal after just 27 seconds.

Seven years on, he’s become the first player to make 200 Deres appearances entirely within the Park View Road era, and in a season which sees the club struggling, with a nine-game winless run ending on Saturday, White has been the main highlight.

In the Vase second round the Deres have been drawn away to Chessington & Hook United, who like Cobham play in the Combined Counties League.

Hythe Town, like VCD Athletic, come into the competition at this stage, having reached the last 64 last season.

Paul Fisk takes his side to Sussex County League Division One side Hailsham Town, who at present are unbeaten on home soil.

But Fisk, whose side were knocked out by Winchester City last season, is relishing their FA Vase tie.

“Well, I just looked at the league table and they’ve lost just one n the league but whoever we play at this stage will be quite good,” said Fisk.

“They are on a cup run, like we thought last year but we are coming in cold really.

“We are looking forward to it. At the beginning of the season the fun of it is a couple of coach trips somewhere different in the Vase, which is nice.