Kentish Football 
Soccer Shorts: Slade Green keep their feet on the ground, despite ten goal romp - EXCLUSIVE
Read some of the reports of pre-season friendlies that have taken place in the Garden of England during the past seven days.
Slade Green’s assistant manager Wayne Baldacchinno is keeping his feet on the ground, following Thursday night’s 10-0 pre-season friendly win over local side, Running Horses, writes Stephen McCartney.
John Gallagher hit a hat-trick as the Kent League side romped to a 10-0 against a side that featured Adam Heaslewood, who was Slade Green’s player-assistant, last season.
Further goals from John Paul McKey, a rare effort from skipper Lee Barber, and goals from Paul Springett, Joe Lee, Ryan Whitmore, Luigi Cerulo and an own goal, kept Baldacchino level headed.
“We were always in a lose, lose situation with this game,” he admitted EXCLUSIVELY to www.kentishfootball.co.uk.
“If we had lost we would have had a few eyebrows raised and if we had won by the odd goal, it would have been like a defeat.
“By winning 10-0 people will say that is what is expected of us so we could not win really.
“The game though can be used as a good confidence booster to the whole squad and we will take that thanks very much.
“A few weeks ago we had no friendlies arranged so this was one of those games that was arranged last minute but done both teams and managers a favour.
“We are grateful to the Running Horses for bringing their lads over midweek as it gave us a chance to use 20 players in the first and second half of the match.
“Despite the scoreline, which was nice to see on paper, some of the link up play we produced was excellent.
“The team is really starting to gel nicely and we are looking forward to our first League match next Saturday versus Sporting Bengal.
“Fitness levels are getting better with each match and we looked sharp both mentally and physically last night.
“We had a wide range of goalscorers which was good to see as we do not want to be relying on one or two lads getting all of the goals.
“It is going to be a tough season we know so it is vital that players share the responsibility in the goals area.
“The down side to the game was that we came away with a couple of strains which puts one or two in doubt for the Chatham Town game on Saturday.
“That will of course give other squad members a chance to impress and hopefully they will take their chance.
“Competition for places is good and we want players to understand that nobody should relax about their position in the team.
“They have to work hard to keep their shirt and the attitude from the lads so far has been outstanding.
“Lee Barber, Sean Mallyon and ex-Deres Stevie Lee and Luigi Curelli have all put pen to paper for the Green and we are sure they will, along with the rest of the lads signed so far, give it there all once the season kicks off.”
Hythe Town 3-1 Folkestone Invicta
Two second half goals from striker Buster Smissen gave Kent League side Hythe Town a morale-boosting pre-season win over Ryman Premier League neighbours Folkestone Invicta in Wednesday night’s Jim Robb Memorial Trophy encounter, writes Richard Murrill.
Smissen struck twice in the final 20 minutes after Joe Neilson had given Paul Fisk’s side an early lead before Roland Edge brought Invicta level during the first half.
Invicta made Damian Abel captain for the night on his return to his former club and the striker blasted over with the game’s first chance after four minutes when left back Edge played the ball over in a move started by Mark Saunders.
But it was Hythe who opened the scoring a minute later when Neilson found the net after Dale Skelton touched the ball across to him when goalkeeper Kieron Mann came out to save from Smissen following a ball forward from right back John Walker which put the striker away down the left hand side of the box.
Few Invicta fans would have begrudged 20-year-old Neilson a goal against his former club after he had broken his leg towards the tail end of last season not long after joining the Reachfields club.
Invicta responded as James Corbett shot off the inside of the post from a central position 30 yards out in the ninth minute.
A Corbett free kick was headed just wide by Edge after 11 minutes following a foul by Hythe centre half Sam Marsh and Abel shot into the side netting five minutes later when he capitalised on a rare mistake by Walker after striking partner Leigh Bremner had put the ball past goalkeeper Ben Buckingham.
And a powerful header from Edge brought Invicta level in the 20th minute when one-time Gillingham team mate Corbett sent over a corner from the right following a spell on Invicta pressure.
At the other end, Smissen fired wide from just outside the penalty area after 24 minutes.
A Saunders shot was blocked in the Hythe penalty area a minute later when Corbett combined well with Abel and an Edge shot then sailed just wide of the far post across goal from the left hand side.
Invicta defender Liam Friend made a saving tackle on Smissen inside the box in the 29th minute when striking partner Neilson forced the ball across.
Goalkeeper Mann then had to race out two minutes later when a ball from left back Ian Ross played Smissen in down the right hand side.
Saunders shot wide for Invicta from the left hand side in the 32nd minute following a move involving new boys Edge and Bremner.
Corbett fired wide in the 37th minute when Abel took the ball off Marsh down the left hand side and Bremner headed wide six minutes later from a Corbett free kick when Marsh was adjudged to have fouled Abel down the right flank.
Skelton shot over from the edge of the penalty area for Hythe in the 47th minute, while at the other end Abel pulled the ball back just behind the in-coming Saunders from the right hand side of the penalty area six minutes later as the game opened up.
Tempers soon flared as referee Mr Phil Knight from Canterbury asked the respective benches to substitute the home side’s Roy Godden and the visitors’ goalscorer Edge after both players had raised their hands in the 57th minute.
Godden had only been on the field for two minutes having replaced Neilson.
The same fate soon befell Invicta striker Bremner after he reacted to a challenge by Walker two minutes later and Corbett also got heated on the hour.
Back to the football and there were chances at both ends in the 62nd minutes as Invicta’s David Piper cut in and shot at Buckingham from the right hand side and the ball ran away from Smissen when he latched onto a ball down the middle from Ross.
Smissen put Hythe ahead in the 74th minute when he fully capitalised on indecision in the Invicta defence to fire a low shot into the net.
Former Dover Athletic and Sittingbourne striker Smissen was a threat again two minutes later when he broke down the left hand side and played a low ball across.
A low Ellis Remy shot was pushed away by Hythe goalkeeper Buckingham following a James Everitt ball as Invicta chased a late equaliser in the 82nd minute.
But Smissen sealed Hythe’s victory with his second goal of the night in the 86th minute when his looping header beat substitute goalkeeper Luke Stonebridge following a Ross free kick from the left after a foul by former Hythe player Roy Guiver.
Substitute striker Aiden Pursglove then headed at Stonebridge following a deep Ross cross from the left hand side in the final minute.
Hythe Town: Buckingham, Walker, Ross, Marsh, Dunlop, Skelton, Brazier (Hayes 64) , Fisk, Smissen, Neilson (Godden 54, Pursglove 56, Winfield (Luckham 83). Subs: Russell, Walmsley, Sparks.
Folkestone Invicta: Mann (Stonebridge 45), Pamukov, Edge (Glyde 56), Piper, Friend (Chappell 64), Okikiolu (Guiver 64), Abel, Briggs, Saunders (M. Everitt 64), Bremner (Remy 58), Corbett (J. Everitt 64).
Attendance: 260
Whitstable Town 4 - 3 Faversham Town
There’s still ten days to go before the start of the new season but Faversham Town manager Paul Copley can hardly wait, and if this first half performance at Whitstable Town on Tuesday night, was anything to go by - who can blame him!, writes Tony Gray.
Making the short journey to the Belmont, Copley’s Lilywhites faced Ryman new boys Whitstable Town in this, their fourth pre-season fixture.
Both sides looked lively from the start but it was the visitors that took the lead on 15 minutes when Warren Phillips fired in a long ball towards Sean Hetterley, Kevin Fewell spilled the catch allowing Hetterley to turn and fire into an empty net.
Two minutes later and Faversham Town striker Ian Pulman’s well taken strike forced a fine save from Fewell.
Captain Mark Smith went close on 20 minutes hitting a screamer from 25 yards which had the keeper beaten but narrowly flew over the crossbar.
The Faversham side were, by now completely in control, a combination of slick passing and effortless running off the ball they were playing some of the best football the Salters Lane faithful have witnessed since the club’s rebirth in 2004.
The Whitstable defence looked fragile as Pulman and Hetterley dominated down both flanks.
Good got better on 25 minutes as Graham Taylor rose to meet a Steve Aslett cross which flew into the top corner of Fewell’s goal.
The Oyster boys narrowed the gap on 37 minutes when Whitstable striker Tom Parker’s run at goal went unchallenged, his resulting shot giving Faversham Town keeper Rob Lindley no chance.
Undeterred the Lilywhites hit back straight away when a through ball from the impressive Hetterley found Graham Taylor in space on the edge of the penalty area, the Faversham Town number 9 making no mistake with a well struck volley for his second of the night.
It was a different story after the break and following a multitude of changes the travelling Lilywhites failed to recapture the magic of the first half.
Julian Beal went close on 50 minutes after spotting the keeper off his line his Beckham like shot from the half way line narrowly missing the target.
The home side made it 3 – 2 on 55 minutes, Steve Marshall shrugging off several challenges before firing into the bottom right of Lindley’s goal.
Whitstable equalised five minutes later when a Micky Lane run down the right side allowed him to pick out an unmarked Jon Neal who cleanly fired the ball home.
The winning goal came on 70 minutes as Stuart King provided a reminder of why he was top scorer for the Oysters last season, a long ball in to the area saw King control the ball, beat the defender and shoot in one magical move.
The last ten minutes of the game provided chances for both sides – a well taken free-kick from Julian Beal was parried away by Fewell whilst some brave goalkeeping at the other end saw Lindley deny Stuart King.
Despite the final score-line Faversham Town manager Copley was full of praise for his team.
In an article, courtesy of www.favershamtownfc.co.uk, he said: “That was a really good run out tonight against another Rymans team. I thought in the first half we were by far the dominant side, although I have to say that this dominance was built on some very disciplined defending.
“The second half was always going to be challenging as we made seven changes and I don't believe they made any.
“Getting into the pace of the game from there is always difficult but again there were many positives to take.
“Wes Hammond had a successful 45 minutes after missing the last two games through injury and Ian Pulman completed 70 minutes after his recent injury problems.
“It would be harsh to single any player out for particular praise but I have to say I am delighted for Graham Taylor, I sat down with him at the beginning of pre-season and told him a few home truths and to be fair to the lad he agreed with them.
“He's now fitter and sharper than he has ever been in a Lilywhite shirt and that was more than evident this evening.”
Copley continued “The whole team was disappointed with Saturday's performance against Sittingbourne and I have to say that tonight was a marked improvement.
“We now can't wait for Canterbury on Saturday but most importantly we can't wait to get the season started!”
Faversham Town’s pre-season fixtures continue as they prepare to face Canterbury City at Salters Lane this Saturday with kick-off at 4pm.
Ashford Town 3-1 Rye United
Ashford Town followed up their convincing win at the weekend to triumph over
Rye United at the Homelands on Tuesday, writes Jack Wilson.
In a rough 90 minutes of play where tempers threatened to bubble over it was
Ashford who maintained their good start to pre-season to register their
third win of the campaign.
Although it wasn’t all plain sailing for Steve Nolan’s men.
Midway through the first half Rye striker Colin Johnson latched onto a
lofted through ball from the midfield and lifted it expertly over goalkeeper
Graham Hill in one flowing movement to open the scoring.
However by this point the aggressive nature of the game had already taken
its toll on Ashford Town’s plans, as they hauled Rob Gillman and Joby Thorogood off to prevent the risk of the pair picking up injuries.
Rob Denness though was determined to alleviate fears that an upset may be on
the cards, levelling on 35 minutes.
The ex-Chatham Town frontman fired in a powerful low shot from inside the area that the otherwise impressive Rye keeper let through his gasp to even things up at the break.
Again wholesale changes were made at the interval, and it was Ashford’s fresher legs that made them look like the only team at the races in the second half.
Anthony Allman fluffed a penalty after Sodje was hauled down only for Gardner to spare the ex-Margate mans blushes by tucking home the rebound, and then Sodje himself extended the lead with a deft chip over the helpless visiting keeper.
Nolan rotated his men despite sticking with the 5-3-2 wing back formation, and the 128 spectators were treated to a spell of keep ball from their side as Ashford maintained possession for incredibly long spells.
Lee Spiller nearly made it 4-1 when he retrieved the ball after a surging run up the left flank, but for his shot to roll tamely wide.
Ashford now face Tilbury on Saturday as they look to build on a promising pre-season campaign.
Ashford Town: Graham Hill, Tony Browne (Leroy John, Manny Bains), Nick Humphrey, Andy Arnott (Nick Fenwick), Rob Gillman (Tom Adlington), Dan Brathwaite (Paul O’Brien), Kevin Lott (Gary Clarke), Danny Lye (Joe Hitchings), Lee Spiller (Anthony Allman), Rob Denness (Barry Gardner), Joby Thorogood (Steve Sodje).
Ashford Town (Middlesex) 0-4 Ashford Town
And last Saturday, it was the Kent side who won the battle of the Ashford’s, as they were in fine form to overcome their Middelsex namesakes 4-0, writes Jack Wilson.
With Clive Walker away on holiday, assistant Steve Nolan took charge of the
reigns, buoyed by the fact that he could include highly-rated defender Andy
Arnott in the starting eleven.
Although number one keeper Jake Whincup missed out through an ankle injury,
with Graham Hill being brought in to start his first game in Ashford colours
And it took Ashford Town little over 20 minutes to take the lead against their Ryman Premier opponents.
Summer signing Rob Denness, from Kent rivals Chatham, was the first to get
on the scoresheet midway through the first half. After Joby Thorogood’s
right-footed effort rebounded off the post, Denness was on hand to tuck away
from close range to give the Nuts and Bolts the lead.
Although the home side could have levelled soon after. Goalkeeper Graham
Hill hauled down the hosts flying forward inside the area, but the
Tangerines couldn’t take advantage as the spot kick cannoned off the
woodwork.
Danny Lye, an early substitute to replace the injured Anthony Allman, then
doubled the visitors lead. Thorogood again showed great endeavour to get on
the end of a deep Tony Browne cross, as he flicked the ball into the penalty
area where Lye comfortably finished.
Once again Ashford made wholesale changes at half time, with squad players
Adlington, Fenwick, O’Brien, Lott, Clarke, Sodje and Gardner all coming on
to stake claims for a first team place.
But despite being forced to start on the back foot, what looks to be Ashford Town’s second string began to grow in confidence.
Danny Lye marked an excellent game by tucking away his second from 35-yards
when the home side’s goalkeeper was found horribly out of position, and then
tenacious midfielder Kevin Lott completed the rout with a superb right
footed strike from outside the area to cap off a terrific performance.
Ashford Town: Graham Hill, Tony Browne (Leroy John 76), Nick Humphrey (Tom
Adlington 46), Andy Arnott (Nick Humphrey 70), Rob Gillman, (Nick Fenwick
46), Dan Brathwaite (Paul O’Brien 46), Joe Hitchings (Kevin Lott 46),
Anthony Allman (Danny Lye 25), Lee Spiller (Gary Clarke 46), Rob Denness
(Steve Sodje 46), Joby Thorogood (Barry Gardner 46).
Red Dragon I.T. Ltd