Kentish Football 
Soccer Shorts: Deres bring in quartet
Friday 11th September 2009
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MARGATE director Keith Piper says the Thanet side will extract revenge on Sutton United in the FA Cup first qualifying round clash at Hartsdown Park tomorrow.
Terry Yorath’s men were on the wrong end of an opening day 4-0 drubbing at the hands of Sutton United, but Mr Piper is upbeat ahead of tomorrow’s game.
Margate will be buoyed by the midweek re-signing of veteran John Keister from Dover Athletic. Keister, who can play in midfield or in the heart of defence, looks set to make his second debut for the Blues in place of Kien Millington, who looks set to drop to the bench.
Billy Dunn - on loan from Sutton - misses out through suspension while Kieran Morris is still injured. Otherwise, Margate look set to remain unchanged from the side that drew at Ashford Town (Middlesex) last weekend.
“I’m totally positive and I believe that we will get a result on Saturday,” Mr Piper told www.margate-fc.com.
“But I don’t think we saw the real Margate side against Sutton (in the opening league game of the season) or in some of the games where we’ve had maybe, disappointing results. I think we’re going to be playing in the next round on the 26th against whoever that’s going to be.”
Margate’s former player/coach Steve McKimm is also with the U’s, although increasingly in a coaching role.
KENT LEAGUE officials have confirmed that former England international and Champions League winner, Teddy Sheringham has signed for Beckenham Town.
League registration secretary Doug Francis confirmed that the 43-year-old’s registration had gone through on Wednesday.
There had been much speculation during the summer about the possibility of Sheringham playing for Beckenham in the FA Vase.
League chairman Denise Richmond told www.kentleague.com: “We can confirm that Teddy Sheringham is registered to play for Beckenham Town.
“There is nothing to stop him playing league matches for Beckenham, starting at Holmesdale this weekend, as well as in the FA Vase.”
HOLMESDALE boss Billy Hughes, meanwhile, is relishing tomorrow’s home game against his former club.
“I know a lot about Beckenham as I was there as skipper and as assistant manager,” Hughes told www.holmesdalefc.co.uk.
“They have changed most of the successful team we had back then, but there are still a few players there who I know well.
“I watched their game last week and was impressed, and I’m surer they will come here fired up after their recent results and be ready to give us a game.
“We have been busy working hard both on and off the field and with new signings and players coming back from injury we will have a strong squad to choose from, so I think it will be a good close game, but hopefully the points will come our way.”
ERITH & BELVEDERE have this week bolstered their squad with no less than four new players joining the club.
Dave Hassett re-joins the Deres for a second spell at Park View Road having made a handful of appearances at the beginning of last season.
The striker has plenty of experience of scoring goals at Kent League level with Tunbridge Wells, Greenwich Borough and VCD Athletic. He has also seen Southern League experience with the likes of Dartford, Ashford Town, Chatham Town and Sittingbourne.
Hassett started this season at Martin Grove where he made 4 appearances for Lordswood before making the switch back to the Deres this week having met management following last Sunday‘s FA Vase hard-fought 2-1 home win over Sidley United.
Columbian born striker Juan Ramirez has also agreed to sign this week, from Kent League neighbours Beckenham Town.
An exciting player to watch, Ramirez has also played for Slade Green and VCD Athletic (under the Deres‘ new general manager Martin Ford).
A skilful and pacy striker, he will be very much, one to watch.
Zach Berwick is studying Sports Management at University so should have a good understanding of what the Management Team are trying to tell the players!
"Zach is a youngster from Thamesmead," explained joint manager Richie Radbourne. "He is a hard working midfield player. Very comfortable on the ball and still learning the game, Zach is definitely one for the future."
Probably the most high profile of our new recruits this week is full back Sam Long.
Long was first spotted by Charlton Athletic's community coaches at the age of 7. He progressed through the Addicks youth system, becoming a regular with their reserves.
The 19-year-old full back spent some time on trial with Gillingham during the 2008/09 season, featuring in their reserve side on a number of occasions.
He joined Grays Athletic on work experience in March 2009 and made 6 appearances before the end of last season.
During this pre-season, Sam featured for the Gills in friendlies against Folkestone Invicta, Dartford, Faversham Town, Welling United and Aveley.
Although not offered a deal at Gillingham, he subsequently joined Grays Athletic again.
Long is currently having trials at Aldershot and in the meantime has agreed to turn out for the Deres.
"Sam is an excellent young player and we're absolutely delighted that he has agreed to join us" Ford told www.erithandbelvederefc.co.uk.
"We hope to get a few games out of him before he sorts out a full time contract for himself somewhere else.
"All four of these signings are fantastic news for the club and I think we'll be an exciting team to watch. They are all fit and available for the match against Tunbridge Wells on Saturday and we look forward to working with them all.”
Leaving the club however, is Paul Gross. The versatile defender is currently training with Beckenham Town.
TUNBRIDGE WELLS boss Martin Larkin, meanwhile, is looking forward to tomorrow’s trip to play the Deres.
“I would say that Erith & Belvedere are still one of the league’s big clubs with a fantastic pitch and ground and a good group of players,” Larkin told www.tunbridgewellsfc.co.uk.
“We are unlucky that we are playing them a week after they have brought Martin Ford into the frame, as no doubt he will bring a couple of players over which will give those there already a boost.
“Any side that has Ross Cable in it are going to be a threat, too. We all know what Ross is capable of - he can pull something out of the bag at any point in the game, so we will certainly be aware of that.
“However they will also need to contain us, Benji Agana and Mike Lord are playing very well, and we are getting more guys back from injury - so we certainly won’t be a push over. This is certainly not a game we will just be expecting to win - we will have to do all of the right things again, and take our chances when created.”
SEVENOAKS TOWN manager Simon Jones is still waiting for his first win in the FA Vase - and wasn’t happy about the manner of the 3-1 extra time defeat at Hassocks last weekend.
“We were great in the first half, and they couldn't get near us,” Jones told www.sevenoakstownfc.org.
“We missed two open goals, and so many other chances went begging.
"I think we were still in the dressing room for the second half, and to win a game like that the minimum you need is passion, but we lacked that and so many other things.
"I didn't say anything in the dressing room afterwards, which says it all. I was absolutely distraught about the result, because I thought we had a good chance of doing something down there.
New signing Dominic Weston, younger brother of Gillingham midfielder Curtis came off the bench, only to be injured forcing Oaks to finish the tie with 10 men.
EBBSFLEET UNITED manager Liam Daish believes his side deserved more than a 0-0 draw from their Blue Square Premier clash with Rushden & Diamonds in midweek.
The hosts created the majority of the chances at Stonebridge Road, but the score remained goalless.
"They're a team that won 6-1 on Saturday and we limited them," Daish told BBC Radio Kent.
"We had the lions share of possession, and some good chances. It just didn't fall for us but I can't fault that."
He added: "I was pleased with it. The lads started well and didn't stop. They kept the tempo high and just lacked a goal.
"To be fair we've beaten Eastbourne away and we had a good performance against the top-of-the-table side [Oxford Utd] on Saturday."
The Fleet remain in the bottom four but Daish insists his young squad are improving every game.
"I think my two centre-halves are getting there now," he said. "I thought Dean Pooley did well at right-back and it was a side that worked collectively very hard.
"The lads were defensively strong and gave us a bit of a platform and confidence for people to join in with the front two.
"I think sometimes we've looked a little isolated up front but here we were closer to the ball and there were some good moves, good football and some great crosses. We just needed that one to get on the end of."
Daish takes his side to Forest Green Rovers tomorrow - and he wants his side to score the goals against their fellow strugglers to climb out of the Blue Square Premier drop zone.
“We haven’t scored in the last two games, and as much as we’ve worked hard and closed teams down and competed, at the end of the day - we’ve got to score goals and that’s the name of the game.
“We’ve realised that, the work rate’s there and the effort’s there but that’s the minimum a manager can ask.
“We’re now looking for that little bit of quality.”
WELLING UNITED have confirmed that midfielder Steve Perkins and left-back Mickey Haswell have both departed the Blue Square South club.
Perkins has been released as the travelling from his Chiswick home has become too much - and Haswell has had his contract cancelled by mutual consent.
Boss Andy Ford, who hasn’t managed to play a settled side this season, travel to Dorchester Town tomorrow.
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