Soccer Shorts: Erith Town unveil the signing of goalkeeper Andy Walker while loyal striker Pete West embarks on his 32nd season at Staplehurst Monarchs United

Here are today's Soccer Shorts articles.

 

ASHFORD UNITED manager Tommy Warrilow says he is expecting a real tough test against Folkestone Invicta as they continue with their preparations for their campaign.

The two sides meet at Homelands Stadium tomorrow to contest the George Sargeant Memorial Shield, with Folkestone Invicta winning the previous four games.

Ashford United won the first Shield in 2016 beating Neil Cugley’s side 5-4 at Homelands but Folkestone Invicta have clinched the Shield the last four years by beating their local rivals 4-1, 4-0 7-2 and 6-1.

“Folkestone Invicta are going to present a real tough test for us. This game, along with Dover, is probably one of the tougher games in our pre-season schedule,” Warrilow told the club website.

“This is going to be a great representation of how much we have developed in recent weeks.

“Neil Cugley has pretty much kept the nucleus of his squad with him heading into the 2021-22 season, just like us really, otherwise you find yourself having to fill loads of gaps every single season.

“I’m sure he’ll be in a similar boat in terms of wanting to build on their previous results in pre-season.”

CROYDON manager Liam Giles has signed former Sutton United central midfielder Aidan Lopeman and full-back AJ Morrison ahead of their Southern Counties East Football League First Division opener against newly-promoted Staplehurst Monarchs United tomorrow.

DOVER ATHLETIC manager Andy Hessenthaler is looking forward to being tested against League Two side Stevenage at Crabble tomorrow (12:00pm).

“There is no doubt about it – it’s going to be a tough test and game for us,” Hessenthaler told the club website.

“Saying that it gives a fantastic opportunity to see exactly where we are at right now.

“We are still very much a work in progress with our season still three weeks away.

“The important thing to me is that we are getting more minutes in the legs, which we need to as we have to get our fitness through the games we play.

“Playing against top-class League Two opposition are the games that will prepare us for the season ahead. We’ll embrace the challenge and keep working on the areas we need to.”

EBBSFLEET UNITED have signed former Aldershot Town centre-half Alex Finney, 25, ahead of their Vanarama National League South campaign.

ERITH & BELVEDERE joint-managers Danny Murphy and Marlon Patterson have signed former Cray Valley (Paper Mills) striker Calum Willock, 39 ahead of their opening Southern Counties East Football League Premier Division game against Hollands & Blair at Park View Road tomorrow.

ERITH TOWN manager Adam Woodward has signed Sam Bailey, Danny Phillips, Emmanuel Oduguwa, Dan Palfrey and two goalkeepers in Jack Moore and Andy Walker, who was released by Isthmian League South East Division side Cray Valley in the summer.

The Dockers have retained Steadman Callender, Sam Fairweather Oates, Harry Gamble, Danny Gannon, Josh Jackson, Tolulope Jonah, Ryan Mahal, Taylor McDonagh, Fred Obasa, Michael Power and Jack White, ahead of their Southern Counties East Football League Premier Division campaign.

FOLKESTONE INVICTA manager Neil Cugley takes his side to his former club, Ashford United, tomorrow to contest the George Sargeant Memorial Shield.

The Homelands clash will be the sixth time the Shield has been competed for with Folkestone Invicta winning the last four.

“I had an enjoyable few seasons at Ashford with the FA Cup runs and I’ve got a lot of friends there,” Cugley told the club website.

“They are a good well-run club and I’m looking forward to going back and meeting up with my good friend Tommy Warrilow who is in charge up there.

“I was disappointed with the number of injuries we’ve had in these pre-season games, but we are starting to get some players back into the squad.

“Josh Vincent, Matt Newman and Jordan Wright all came through last week’s game at Dover and should all feature in the game and Ian Draycott will hopefully also play. I was hoping he would play last week but he wasn’t quite ready and Ryan Johnson will also be back.

“That leaves Scott Heard, Kieron McCann and Callum Davies still missing as they will need further recovery time from their injuries whilst Aaron Simpson missed last week’s game as he wasn’t feeling very well and we’ll see how he is for this week.”

HOLMESDALE manager Lee Roots has signed attacker Khari Oriogun ahead of their Southern Counties East Football League Premier Division return at K Sports tomorrow.

“Khari is by far one of the most naturally talented and exciting attacking players around,” Roots told the club website.

“He offers not only a fantastic footballing pedigree but also boasts excellent Step Five playing experience.

“Khari has been in with the group for a number of months and I am truly delighted to have Khari at the club, signed and fully on board with us for the new season.”

Dami Oni will also be playing his football in Bromley this season.

“Dami is an extremely gifted and talented footballer. He has performed extremely well in a very impressive pre-season campaign. He is an extremely well-rounded and very well-organised player. I am truly delighted to have Dami signed and on board with us for the new season,” added Roots.

HYTHE TOWN manager Steven Watt has signed former Welling United centre-back Scott Doe, 32, ahead of their Isthmian League South East Division campaign.

KENNINGTON manager Dan Scorer has signed goalkeeper Sam Hignett, defender Matt Kirby and striker Noah Carney.

Kirby previously featured for Ashford United, while Carney and Kirby progress from Kennington Juniors, as part of Graham Jordan’s under 16’s Kent Cup winning squad.

The pair have both previously played for Margate’s under 18s, and attend The Abbey School in Faversham, which offers a pathway into Dover Athletic’s National League Academy squad.

The Ton, meanwhile, make their Southern Counties East Football League Premier Division debut at Gravesend-based Punjab United tomorrow.

K SPORTS manager Barry Morgan has retained the services of captain Jack Bray ahead of their Southern Counties East Football League Premier Division opener against newly-promoted side Holmesdale tomorrow.

LYDD TOWN manager Mickey Doyle has re-signed striker Dale Horton from Canterbury City and defender Matt Hadlum from Kennington on the eve of their Southern Counties East Football League First Division opener at home to Lewisham Borough.

Defenders Ryan Smith, Jordan Tomsett, Al Coyne and Owen Kessack have been retained and so has central midfielder Harry Bryne.

Goalkeepers Jack Preston and Louis Burton; defender Josh Coombs; midfielders Dale Organ, Reece Mortimer, Alfie Prior, Brad Baker, Josh Hastings; and striker Adam Williams have all signed for the club.

PUNJAB UNITED manager Chipie Sian says he wants to get off to a winning start agaisnt newly-promoted side Kennington tomorrow.

"For me, the last couple of years we struggled.  I've changed our style of play this year.  I'm hoping we can get a top half finish," said Sian, who has home advantage on the opening day of the Southern Counties East Football League Premier Division season.

"We worked hard on certain things this year and hoping we can have a really good start to the season."

RAMSGATE manager Matt Longhurst has unveiled the signing of former Rusthall striker Danny Lear, 21, who scored three goals against the Rams in a pre-season friendly for the Southern Counties East Football League Premier Division newcomers.

"He's the same age Alfie May took this league by storm. This lad has so many similarities, his work-rate and finishing are the closest I've seen to Alfie," said Longhurst, the full-time manager of the Isthmian League South East Division side

ROCHESTER UNITED manager Phil Miles has unveiled the signings of Tyler Dockwray, Tom Cackett and Lucas Payne ahead of their Southern Counties East Football League First Division opener at home to Meridian VP tomorrow.

SEVENOAKS TOWN manager Micky Collins has re-signed striker Jason Thompson; defenders Danny Divine and Jason Fregene ahead of their Isthmian League South East Division campaign.

SNODLAND TOWN manager Luke Wallond has signed defenders Jason Hayes, Sam Wheeler and Sammy Swift; midfielders Del Vanekatta and Max Proven and striker Bailey Pearce ahead of tomorrow’s Southern Counties East Football League First Division opening game at home to newcomers Westside.

STAPLEHURST MONARCHS United make their Southern Counties East Football League First Division debut at Croydon tomorrow and manager Steve Sands has made some signings ahead of their trip to Croydon Sports Arena.

Defender/midfielder Frankie Poole and winger Sam Murray have both left Crowborough Athletic to sign for the Jubilee Field outfit and leaving Rusthall to sign for the club are winger Sam Jones and central midfielder Paul Butler and Sam Huckle has left Gillingham based side Hollands & Blair.

The club have retained full-back Nathan Baker; centre-back Karl West; midfielders Tom Goodayle and Harvey Monk and winger Alex Bishop and goalkeeper Steve Lawrence has experience of the league above.

Striker Pete West will go into his 32^nd season at the club, which is the longest-serving player at one club within the National League System here in Kent.

TONBRIDGE ANGELS manager Steve McKimm is not panicking after his Vanarama National League South side lost 1-0 to Sevenoaks Town on Tuesday night.

Striker, Louis Collins, who has now scored four goals in five pre-season games, scored the only goal of the game for the Isthmian League South East Division side, having returned to play for his father Micky after a spell at Dover Athletic.

McKimm told the club website: “There are certain things I wasn’t happy with tonight and other things I thought we did quite well. It’s still pre-season and we will work these things out and remedy them as we prepare for the start of the campaign on 14 August.”

WELLING UNITED manager Steve Lovell has signed former Millwall left-back Chi Ezennolim, 19, ahead of their Vanarama National League South campaign.