Soccer Shorts: Bromley place striker Warren McBean on the transfer list

Friday 18th February 2011

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ASHFORD UNITED have arranged a charity game against Charlton Athletic to raise funds for Maxine Alcorn-Weller and her family.

“We are hoping to raise enough money to send Max and her family to Disneyland Paris and also to buy a decent car to enable Max to get to her treatment,” said Peter Young, when speaking to www.ashfordunited.co.uk.

Mr Young added: “Maxine has been a member of Staff at Ashford since she was 16 and also a personal friend of mine since she was 9.

“In Jan 2008 she was diagnosed with Fluid on the Brain and underwent an operation at Kings College to have a shunt put in to drain the fluid away. At this time she was also told that she had small tumours on the Brain but they were slow growing and not aggressive.

“But over the last 2 and a half years, Max has undergone many operations to keep the shunt working, the tumours however have grown at an alarming rate and have become more aggressive over time. She had a course of Radiotherapy in Jan 2010 to try and halt the growth, but this did not work, Max has now started a course of Chemotherapy.

“Because of where the Tumours are – right behind her eyes, Max is unable to have her illness diagnosed by a Bi-opsy, it is simply far too dangerous, she would either end up being blind or not come through the bi-opsy at all. This has meant that Max has been unable to claim for many benefits available to Cancer Patients, and Simon, her husband has had to give up work to become her full time carer.

“Therefore I hope that as many of you as possible will be able to join us at The Homelands on Monday 21st February in our effort to raise funds for a very deserving young lady.”

Entrance Fee £6.00 Adults, £3.00 Concessions, Kick off will be 7.30pm and the gates will be open at 6pm.

Charlton players will be in the main hall after the game to sign autographs.

Mr Young added: “On a personal note I would like to thank Paul Bowden-Brown and Tony Betteridge for their help and support in this.”

BECKENHAM TOWN boss Jason Huntley confesses he is completely baffled by his side's Jekyll & Hyde form - unbeatable away - comfortably beatable at home.

Huntley, reflecting after Becks 4-2 home defeat at the hands of Tunbridge Wells on Tuesday, told www.beckenhamtownfc.co.uk: “How can we play as well as we did at Erith Town on Saturday - defensively tight, imaginative in attack, then three days later turn in a performance like that - conceding another four goals and suffering our third consecutive home defeat - I'm totally at a loss to understand it".

It is a puzzling situation for Huntley: Becks home form has been nothing short of a complete disaster - even basement club Sporting Bengal United, who have only managed to score 23 goals in their 20 matches so far this season managed five of those against Becks at Eden Park Avenue!

A major problem now confronts Huntley. Even if he now reluctantly has to concede his side are out of contention as far the Kent League title race is concerned - the next three key cup ties for Becks which will unquestionably define their season are at Eden Park Avenue.

On Tuesday they face the first of their three cup encounters when they entertain Ryman League Metropolitan Police in the third round of the Surrey Senior Cup - followed by an Umbro Kent Senior Trophy Semi Final against Erith Town (on 5th March) and finally a mouth-watering home tie - this time again Conference leaders AFC Wimbledon in the quarter final of the London Senior Cup.

Huntley is concerned about the possible damage likely to be caused unless they can turn around their home performances.

Huntley lamented: “We had away victories at Corinthian Casuals, won at Epson & Ewell, got a solid victory at Barking and don't forget how well we played in the FA Cup at St Albans City. We have been involved in some really good games this season - Kings Lynn Town was another memorable encounter. We just can't allow all this to be thrown away.”

Huntley has another opportunity to get things right when his side entertain Norton Sports on Saturday - Becks have already completed a "double" over their visitors this season with a 3-2 home victory in the FA Cup back in September followed by a 1-0 away win in the league in October.

The cup countdown is about to start for Becks and they desperately need to be able once again to hang up the "home sweet home" plaque at Eden Park Avenue.

Meanwhile, Cray Wanderers will face Haringey Borough in the London Senior Cup at Eden Park Avenue on Thursday, 24th February (7:45pm).

BROMLEY are delighted to confirm the signing of Liam Harwood from Thurrock and midfield player Jamie England formerly of Tonbridge Angels.

Also in view of recent reports, the club would like to confirm that Warren McBean has been made available for transfer. However, he has not left the club and is included in the squad against Dorchester Town tomorrow.

The club are delighted to confirm the signing of Crystal Palace defender Jerry Nnamani on a one month loan deal.

He was part of the former Under 15 Bromley squad pictured above from the 2006/07 season which included Harry Harding and John Marquis, who is now with Millwall.

Meanwhile, Dean Lodge has returned to Kingstonian on dual registration.

Manager Hayden Bird, was clearly upset with his side’s performance during their 1-0 home defeat to Staines Town last weekend.

"To say I was angered at Saturday’s performance is putting it mildly,” Bird told www.bromleyfc.net.

“Although I am not going to criticise individuals in these notes, the entire display was completely unacceptable to the standards of Bromley Football Club.

“Having won only four in the last twenty two games in Mark Goldberg’s reign, there was an immediate upturn in performances with the new regime. However, with the novelty of a new management team wearing off, it appears the players are reverting to bad habits.

“In short, I’m not prepared to accept this and the players have been told in no uncertain terms that unless they represent Bromley FC in a positive light, they have no future at Hayes Lane.

“Every team I have worked with have always played the right way, with a passion and desire supporters relate to and a spirit that often proves to be the twelfth man. Quite honestly, I didn’t see this versus either Welling or Staines. As a team we didn’t work hard enough, our decision making on the ball was poor and collectively we were devoid of any ideas.

“I witnessed it under Mark and I’ve seen it in the last two games. Consequently we are blowing our chances following a great start and I’m not prepared to sit back and watch that happen.

“Either players are prepared to run through a brick wall for Bromley or they are not. If it’s the latter, they can go. Thankfully, I am fortunate enough to have plenty of contacts and if I need to bring in players I can trust to work hard for Bromley, that’s exactly what will happen – very quickly!"

Bird continued, "There were however, positives on Saturday. Courtney Harris showed signs of promise while Charlie Ide looked like a genuine threat up front. Charlie is a player I value very highly and I believe he will score the goals we have lacked to sustain our position. If we provide the right service to Charlie, I have no doubt he will score goals.

DOVER ATHLETIC boss Martin Hayes has come under fire after a run of five defeats from seven games since his FA Cup heroes were knocked out at Huddersfield Town last month, writes Justin Allen.

As much as Hayes was not getting too carried away in the middle of the Cup hysteria, he is not going to "top himself" after a disappointing run of league results.

Although he does admit he would understand had his chairman Jim Parmenter wanted to push him off a bridge after the shambolic display served up during the 1-0 defeat against Weston-super-Mare last Saturday.

Martin admitted to www.doverathletic.com: "We deserve everything that came our way from the fans after the game. We were awful.

"It's not the sort of performance we were expecting and I admit things have gone flat for us in recent weeks.

"Fans demand passion and hard work and we just did not show any of that on Saturday.

"There are certain aspects in our game that are not clicking. We are not that far away but in this league you get punished if you fall even slightly short.

"Against Weston, we fell way short - and it was absolutely rubbish.

"We've now got to go away and look at a few things - and for starters make sure we put in good performances.”

Hayes admits that the FA Cup run - as brilliant as it was - did serve to be a distraction from the bread and butter Blue Square Bet South business.

"Simply because it was a rollercoaster," he said. "It was incredible and the players were up in the clouds, especially after we beat Aldershot at a packed Crabble."

Getting to the third round was not only Dover Athletic's greatest achievement, it was the highlight of Hayes' managerial career too.

And it is a sign of the times that just FIVE WEEKS later, fans are calling for his head.

But Hayes is not bitter about that in any way and said: "This club has high expectations and the fans have had three excellent seasons."

In fact, whatever happens between now and May, the FA Cup run still makes this an incredible season. So, in truth, Dover Athletic fans have had four good years.

And the Dover boss added: "Yes, they've had a great time. The club, under Andy Hessenthaler, got through those lower leagues very quickly and had an impressive first season, finishing runners-up.

"Fans have been used to unbroken success and things have got sticky in recent weeks - and I really do hold my hands up and admit the Weston game was poor. We all know it and everyone was very down in the dressing room after the match.

"But we have to look forward and try to change things, get the team playing well again and find some consistency. Especially at home.

"We're a young side and have some talented players. The reason why many of these lads are playing in the Blue Square South is because they are inconsistent with their performances.

"In those FA Cup matches at Gillingham and home to Aldershot, they showed their potential.

"And they set incredibly high standards with some of those performances. It is no exaggeration when I say that some of the performances will probably never be reached again - such was the incredible nature of what was achieved in those games.

"Even recently against Bromley we showed it - and Braintree were battered by us in the second half. We've given them their toughest two games this season.

"But we need to find more consistency in the league. It's not good enough at the moment."

The home form has been dreadful this season. So far Whites have only managed three wins in the league at Crabble - in contrast to their nine away wins from 12 matches, easily the best in Blue Square Bet South.

Hayes said: "Losing at home makes things more painful for the fans. Had our away record been at home, and our home record away, in a strange way things would not seem as bad.

"Of course, though, it is our home form that is hurting us badly. If our results at Crabble were better, we'd be challenging for the title, not sitting in eighth."

Although Hayes reckons his "photo is probably on a few dartboards" in Dover, he is calling on fans to get behind the team and create an atmosphere - even despite recent poor performances.

He said: "I really am calling on fans to get behind the team and to stay patient, even when things aren't going well.

"Let's not give the other teams an advantage by helping them in any way. I know if I was an opposing manager, I'd be telling my players coming to Crabble 'get behind the ball, stay solid and frustrate them - and the fans will hopefully get on their backs or the atmosphere will go flat'.

"Of course, the players need to perform too, but I do urge the fans to get behind us too - and turn up in numbers.

"We can still make the play-offs because there are plenty of points still to play for. We're not giving up now."

"We are playing in a different style and I understand players need time to adapt and understand new ideas. Ultimately however, I’m determined to create a team the Bromley public are proud of and if that means making changes, changes will be made."

The Club can also confirm that Marlon Patterson has been released.

EBBSFLEET UNITED have extended the loan spell of Brentford defender Ryan Blake.

The 19-year-old left back made his debut for the Fleet in their 1-0 win over Hampton & Richmond at Stonebridge Road on January 11, and will now stay at the club until April 12. He has played eight games already this season.

Last week Blake appeared for Northern Ireland Under 21s in their 2-0 defeat to Wales Under 21s at Wrexham's Racecourse Ground, and he joins fellow loanee Conor Okus in extending his stay with the Fleet.

Okus, the Dagenham & Redbridge midfielder who has played nine times and scored once, stays with the Fleet until early March.

The Fleet have signed young Gillingham goalkeeper Daren Hawkes ahead of tomorrow’s home Blue Square South Bet game against Basingstoke Town.

With first-choice keeper Preston Edwards suspended for the match after being sent off after just ten seconds against Farnborough, manager Liam Daish has moved to bring in Hawkes, the Gillingham youth team keeper, who is signed on work-experience terms.

The second-year Gills scholar earned a call-up to the first team as cover for injured ex-Fleet number one Lance Cronin earlier this season and also has experience in the Gills reserves. The Gillingham website describes him as "a good shot stopper and a commanding presence between the posts".

MAIDSTONE UNITED boss Andy Ford has released much-travelled midfielder Danny Lye ahead of their home clash against fellow strugglers Croydon Athletic.

“We face Croydon, who like ourselves are at the bottom end of the table,” Ford told www.maidstoneunited.co.uk.

“They have turned the corner though as they have got new Danish owners who have put some money into the club and they have now got a better side than when we beat them back in the autumn.

“I had Croydon watched last week and have heard that they have lots of pace in the side which Tonbridge struggled with.

“I understand that their goalkeeper Charlie Mitten was outstanding in goal so we need to be very aware of Croydon’s ability and try not to let them get the wind in their sails early on.”

SEVENOAKS TOWN boss Keith Levett admitted his side never really got to grips with Lordswood in their

2-0 defeat in the Kent League last weekend.

The Oaks’ had player-coach Rob Quinn sent off against Jason Lillis’ side, as they crashed back down to earth following their impressive 4-1 home win over local rivals Tunbridge Wells.

Levett told www.sevenoakstownfc.org: For the first time in a while I thought we didn't play our game, and Lordswood imposed themselves on us.

"They dominated the breakdown ball in all areas of the pitch, and we never really got to grips with their style of play.

"I don't think we closed the space down quickly enough, and this gave Lordswood time to hit the ball behind our back-four all game, their first goal was about us not getting close enough to our opponents and allowing too much space in our half.

"We started ok, but looked tired as the game went on, and they looked a threat on the break. With seven games in 21 days it looked like it had caught up with us a little bit and in the second half we never got going.

"We did have some chances, but we have to say we were beaten by a side who outcompeted us on the day, that is something we must all make sure doesn't happen again.

"I feel we still need to mix our play up at times and be a bit more direct, without reverting to a negative long ball style of just hitting the ball down the sides.

"When we don't get the balance right we sometimes play a little in front of teams, but we have a week to organise ourselves and take stock of our performance.

"We were all disappointed after such a great performance and result against Tunbridge Wells on Wednesday. and we will make sure we are ready for the trip to Corinthian (tomorrow).”

Levett added: "With alll respect to the opposition i think the next couple of games gives us a good chance to pick up points and move up the table."

Meanwhile, Danny Twin, last season’s player-of-the-year, has rejoined the club from Erith & Belvedere.

WHITSTABLE TOWN boss Peter Nott paid tribute to the travelling fans that backed their side throughout their midweek 1-1 draw away to league leaders Bognor Regis.

“On behalf of the players I would like to say a big thank you for the great vocal support we received,” Nott told www.whitstabletownfc.co.uk.

“Believe me it really did make a difference especially when we were up against it. Our supporters were an absolute credit to the club and sung their heart and from start to finish.

“We were all very appreciative of your support and hope to see and hear you all at Fleet on Saturday.”

Meanwhile, Nott revealed that leading goalscorer Ian Pulman has turned down offers from both Thamesmead Town and Faversham Town to stay with the club.

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18 February 2011