Soccer Shorts: We'll enjoy top-spot because it won't last, admits Langton

Here are tonight’s Soccer Shorts articles, which includes some last minute team news for tomorrow’s FA Cup preliminary round ties.

HYTHE TOWN manager Paul Fisk has called upon a close friend for some inside knowledge ahead of his side's FA Cup Preliminary Round tie against Walton & Hersham tomorrow.

The Surrey side arrive at Reachfields Stadium with a 100% record and are top of the Ryman League Division One South table after four games - and are the only side to defeat Folkestone Invicta this season.

Fisk has been on the phone to his pal, Folkestone Invicta manager Neil Cugley, for some advice on how his side can cause a cup upset.

"We know it is going to be a very difficult game," Fisk told www.kentishfootball.co.uk today. "We had them watched at Folkestone Invicta and Neil has phoned me to give us a run down and all reports have said they are a good side.

"But we are at home and it's the FA Cup so we will be going for it and we hope to come out on top."

Fisk is without captain Gavin Ransley, who is attending a wedding and left-back Mark Bond, a new signing from their Bulmers Cider Kent League rivals Lordswood, looks likely to keep his place in the side, after impressing during his debut against Deal Town.

HERNE BAY manager Barry Morgan is missing some key players for their FA Cup Preliminary Round clash against Ryman League Division One South side Chipstead at Winch's Field tomorrow.

Morgan revealed that Will Graham and Luke Harvey and Neil Perkins are all out due to injuries and that a couple of players, including striker Stuart King, are on holiday.

"It's a big game for us, I'm hopeful the squad will cope," Morgan told www.kentishfootball.co.uk.

ERITH TOWN manager Steve O’Boyle could be without Adam Heaslewood and Ashley Douglas, due to injury, for their FA Cup Preliminary Round tie at Brentwood Town tomorrow.

But Ibraham Kallom, Marcus Cassius and Myri Allen are all expected to return to the squad for the trip to Essex.

And O’Boyle, speaking to www.kentishfootball.co.uk, said: “Brentwood are firm favourites for this tie, so we travel with no pressure on us.

“We will enjoy the day and try our best to get a result out of it, but for us to do that, we will have to play to the best of our ability and players one to 11 will have to perform, but maybe, with a little bit of luck, you never know what might happen!

“We will go there positive, work hard and hopefully put in a good performance.”

TUNBRIDGE WELLS' boss Mike Robbins says he’s fully prepared for tomorrow’s FA Cup Preliminary Round tie at Horsham YMCA.

“We’re near the top of our division, and they’re near the top of theirs,” Robbins told www.tunbridgewellsfc.co.uk.

“I don’t want to give too much away, but we’ve watched them twice, and believe we know enough about them to give them a good match at their place.

“It should be a great day out in Sussex, and perhaps ideal for some of our new-found supporters to bring some extra support on our travels. Either way, we’re looking forward to this game.”

Sam Phillips is close to fitness for the game. Robbins has signed goalkeeper Sam Moore from Ashford Town. Formerly on the books at Brentford, and has played for Bromley, Moore will make his debut in this game, coming in for Michel Czanner, who is cup-tied, having played for Redhill in their home defeat to Herne Bay in the Extra Preliminary Round.

Robbins has unveiled this week unveiled the signing of Kris Parker. Formerly a goal-getter for Faversham Town, Parker has been training with Tunbridge Wells in a bid to regain his fitness and has now opted to sign for the Culverden Stadium club.

Parker has played in defence and attack, and lists Ramsgate and Whitstable Town among his former clubs.

Meanwhile, three players have left Culverden this week. Danny White has been transferred to Slade Green, while attacking midfielder Ross Campbell opted to join Crowborough Athletic. Aaron Shade has been released by the club with immediate effect.

Mike Robbins revealed that Campbell “was in need of a new challenge, and will initially link up with Crowborough’s reserve team. We would like to wish Ross, Danny and Aaron good luck for the future.”

In other news, as expected, Phillips is back in the squad having recovered from the dead leg and thigh strain he picked up in the Courier Cup match at the start of August, while Danny Powell who signed from Tonbridge Angels during the summer and has been nursing a wrist injury is now gaining match fitness with the reserves. He played 30 minutes of Saturday’s game against Herne Bay.

SURPRISE package Holmesdale are currently leading the Bulmers Cider Kent League table with three wins and a draw from their opening four games.

For coach Hugo Langton, he says the Oakley Road club are enjoying their current position at the summit, but he doesn’t expect them to stay there.

“Against all odds we’re up there,” the former Rusthall manager told www.kentishfootball.co.uk.

"There’s a long way to go, only four games in. We’re not kidding anyone or kidding ourselves. There’s some very strong teams in there with a lot more money than what we’ve got, with bigger squads, but we’ll enjoy it while were there.

“But we’re not kidding anyone, we’ll just keep doing our own thing and see what happens.”

When asked if the Dalers can stay top-of-the-table, Langton replied: “Well, that’s the big question. If I’m honest with you and if you ask anyone at the club, it will take a massive, massive effort.

“We haven’t got the budget, we haven’t got the depth in squad, compared to the other sides. If you look, a few sides like Herne Bay or VCD, their set up stronger, I think they’ve got a fairly sizeable budget.”

With Beckenham Town currently fourth from bottom in the table, Langton believes Jason Huntley’s men will come good.

He said: “Don’t write Beckenham off either. I know they’ve had a shocking start to the season, but you can’t write them off.”

Langton knows more about Norton Sports than most, as his Rusthall side played them last season in the Vandanel Kent County League.

“I know Norton pretty well, obviously I was at Rusthall last season, they won our league,” said Langton, looking ahead to the Oakley Road clash.

“Their manager, Ben Taylor is a good guy, he’ll have them right up for this. They’re very well organised and work hard and they’ll give anybody in this division a game.

“They’ll win games of football as well. Technically, they’re not going to be the whipping boys. It’s going to be tough, we know what we’ve got to do, going to do and what we’re expecting tomorrow and it’s a question of the lads going over the white line and getting on with it.”

A realistic Langton added: “We’re up against it, we’ve got a lot of work to do. If we’re still up there at the end of the season, fantastic, but we have to be realistic about it.”

FAVERSHAM TOWN have, after what has been a hectic pre-season and start to the domestic season, a weekend off as they have no match tomorrow, due to their early exit from the FA Cup.

However, that does not mean inactivity at Salters Lane as the club have been working on strenghtening the squad. There have also been some departures as well. The first two signing are Dutchman Josh Maasbach on loan from Dover and also Steve O'Brien.

Both are young and eager to further their careers in football, and hopefully on their way they will add value and quality to our already talented squad. The reasons for the signings are two fold. Firstly to obviously strengthen the squad but scondly, player departures have forced action from the Faversham Town management.

Aaron O'Leary has had to take time out for work and studying and Simon Brown has left the club. Joint Manager Justin Luchford, speaking to www.favershamtownfc.co.uk, said of the signings: "We needed to strengthen in the middle and have more options going forward and we have now addressed that."

Last Saturday saw Faversham Town on their travels for the first time this year on the domestic scene with a trip to play Erith and Belvedere. In a closely fought contest, Faversham Town losing out by the odd goal in three.

"I think we were a little unlucky" Luchford said of the result. "They got a penalty with half hour to go, which in my opinion was more than a little harsh. I don’t believe any of their players actually appealed for it. It was a very poor decision from a very weak referee.

"I was asked to leave the touchline by the referee, and for that I would like to explain. With 20 minutes to go they were clearly timewasting and so I shouted to the referee asking him if he was keeping the watch going. (at no point did I swear or insult him).

“He stopped the game and came over to me and said if I said anymore I would be asked to leave the dugout. I said "OK" and walked away. I turned back to the referee and said to him, "Can I ask you a question?" and he came over to me and said that's enough go to the stand. All I did was ask him if I could ask him a question and I got asked to leave the dugout.

"Sometimes in the past I have been sent off due to bad language and insults, which have been deserved. However, after Saturday I now am not sure where we stand as players and management teams. I have spoken to our secretary and he has informed me that it costs £100 to appeal. I am prepared to pay for that myself out of my own money and appeal, as otherwise I am admitting that I was out of line.

“I am very upset with the decision, and it paints a bad picture of me and the standards we set at the club. I was disappointed with the result but at the same time it was a tough fixture, but we must remember to play for 90 minutes and not just 60."

This weekend Faversham Town have a free Saturday. The players will be given a day off but will train on Thursday and then again twice next week ready for Tunbridge Wells away the following Saturday.

Ever the planner, Luchford said: "I will probably go to Horsham on Saturday to watch Tunbridge Wells play, ahead of our game on the 6th and then the FA Vase game against them on the 20th September."

Bank Holiday Monday saw Lordswood come to Salters Lane for what was a thoroughly entertaining match, Faversham Town winning that encounter by five goals to one.

"The display against Lordswood was better" said Luchford. "Goals, but unfortunately another conceded penalty. It's disappointing but we will learn from it.

"The front lads did well, but the last two games have really shown that we are starting to get to grips with the midfield. Shane and Josh are really starting to get an understanding which is paying dividends. Josh has two goals in two matches and appears to be enjoying himself.

“First half we were excellent today and the squad we have is very strong. Dane is injured from Saturday but should be back soon. We are starting to get a good squad to choose from.

"Six points out of nine, one short of the target we set, is not a bad start. We move into September with a new target and we are all working towards reaching those targets.

"The support is excellent and we are getting there, September is a tough month, but the players and I can't wait."

EBBSFLEET UNITED, who welcome Oxford United to Stonebridge Road in the Blue Square Premier tomorrow, have received an offer from a Football League club to purchase striker John Akinde.

This request to buy John Akinde follows a number of offers, from several different clubs over the last few months. Thus far, none of the previous offers – in the view Liam Daish, the CEO and Chairman – were in the best interests of the football club.

The latest bid made on Wednesday 27 August is in excess of £140,000. Ebbsfleet United could also receive further payments depending on performance plus a significant percentage of any sell-on should the player be transferred to another club.

Fuller details of the deal - and the reasons why Liam Daish, the CEO and the Chairman believe that this offer is in the best interests of the football club as well as the player - will be disclosed if the transfer proceeds. (This is to protect Ebbsfleet United’s future negotiating position should the deal falter.)

Daish, the CEO and Chairman are seeking the opinion of the club’s owners, the MyFootballClub members, and any decision will be made public immediately.

Meanwhile, while football clubs around the country have been setting a sartorial tone with new kits for the new season, Ebbsfleet United are giving the elbow to "the men in suits" that populate boardrooms.

Ebbsfleet Chief Executive David Davis has implemented a "smart casual" approach to boardroom attire as fans representatives are now being welcomed into the club's inner sanctum on match days.

"We want to get away from the idea that football club boardrooms are a leftover from the days of gentlemen's clubs," Davis told www.ebbsfleetunited.co.uk.

"We've given our boardroom a facelift in the close season and we want it to be a welcoming environment for our guests.

"Whilst male guests are welcome to wear business suits we are equally happy for our boardroom visitors to be in smart casual attire. I think we would draw the line at jeans, trainers or shorts though!"

The move comes as the club welcomed its first fans’ representatives into the boardroom on match days. Keith and Lorraine Handley were chosen to represent the My Football Club membership at the Fleet's home game with Stevenage and fan representation will be a regular feature at all Fleet games this season.

"Fan representation runs right through this club now," says Davis. "And it was important that our supporters are present in the boardroom on a match day to see how the club interacts with others in our football community.

Keith and Lorraine got a good insight to what goes on behind the scenes when they were our guests and we look forward to entertaining more supporters who are chosen through the MyFC website to join us in representing the club."

PAUL SMITH wants Margate to bounce back from their derby day defeat at Dover Athletic last Monday to defeat Heybridge Swifts at Hartsdown Park to get their Ryman Premier League campaign back on track.

The Swifts suffered with the loss of manager Brian Statham last week, due to reported financial constraints at the Scraley Road club, as well as his coach Barry Lakin, the former Erith & Belvedere manager, and director of football Steve Pitt.

“I think with teams like Heybridge, we’ve got to make sure we don’t get into that complacency zone,” player-coach Smith told www.margate-fc.com.

“We’re going to make sure we turn up and we’re going to perform like that (against Dover Athletic) and if we do, I’m sure we’re going to get something out of the game.”

On the injury front, Smith, himself still has an ankle problem, Roberto Corbishley and Michael Power are both doubtful after picking up knocks during their 1-0 defeat at Dover Athletic and Jack Parkinson misses another game, with a groin problem.

“Two weeks into the season and we’re short on bodies,” said Smith. “But we’ve got to deal with it.

“If it means we have to get a few in on loan, we will.”

MAIDSTONE UNITED joint-manager Alan Walker hopes he won’t be suffering any headaches for the visit of Hendon tomorrow.

The Stones bounced back from their 2-1 home defeat to Harlow Town with an impressive 4-0 win down at Hastings United, a game where wingers Elliot Bradbrook and Nathan Paul were outstanding.

And Walker, speaking to www.maidstoneunited.co.uk, has challenged his side to end their woeful form at Bourne Park.

“The last time we won at home was against tomorrow’s opponents,” said Walker. “Our home form is not good enough and I don’t really know why that is.

“We spoke to the players before the season started about the importance of turning Bourne Park into a fortress but so far that hasn’t happened.

“For some reason, the players seem to freeze a little bit at home. We can’t blame the surface at Bourne Park as this year it is much improved and is in a lot better condition than in previous seasons. I am sure though, if we believe in ourselves then we will turn our home fortunes around.”

Bradbrook has received plenty of praise from Walker this week, for his performances so far this season.

“He gives balance to the side and allows us to play 4-4-2,” said Walker. “Not only is he great going forwards but he is also strong defensively.

“It is excellent for us to be able to field not only Elliot but Roland Edge down the left-hand side as they are both naturally left footed.

“Roland now has had some medication which will hopefully prevent a reoccurrence of the migraines he suffered against Canvey and Harlow.

“He was wary of heading the ball on Monday in case it set off another migraine but he was fine and he was okay in training last night as well.

“Roland played all of last season for Folkestone and did not suffer with one migraine so we are hoping it is under control now.”

Andy Martin is unavailable against Hendon tomorrow so Keelan Mooney comes back into the squad. James Peacock will play for the reserves and it will be the last time that Aaron Lacy will be available for 35-days as he will be serving a ban for getting sent off in a tournament over the summer.

Visit club websites:

www.hythetownfc.co.uk

www.hernebayfc.net

www.erithtownfc.co.uk

www.tunbridgewellsfc.co.uk

www.holmesdalefc.co.uk

www.favershamtownfc.co.uk

www.ebbsfleetunited.co.uk

www.margate-fc.com

www.maidstoneunited.co.uk