Unbeaten Chats' expect Stones reaction - EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEWS

Sunday 27th August 2006

Chatham Town boss Phil Miles is delighted that his side are currently unbeaten in their opening three Ryman League Division One South games – but he’s expecting a reaction from visitors Maidstone United tomorrow, writes Stephen McCartney.The Stones suffered their first defeat of the season yesterday, going down 3-2 to ten-man Whyteleafe at Bourne Park.

But Chatham, who are expecting a crowd of at least 500 to flock through the turnstiles tomorrow, came away from newcomers Godalming Town with a point.

In an EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW with www.kentishfootball.co.uk today, he said: “I am pleased obviously being unbeaten, but I was disappointed yesterday because I felt Godalming are a team we could have beaten.

”But reflecting back now, a clean sheet away from home, in this league is a good result.”

But the Medway club are relishing their lucrative fixture against their local rivals.

“Once the fixtures came out and we saw we had them on Bank Holiday Monday, it was a game we’ve all been looking forward to,” Miles said.

“It doesn’t come any bigger, they’ve got a big support, which they will bring up, and I’m sure they want to bring yesterday’s defeat out of their system.

“We’ve got a lot of young inexperienced players, mixed in with a few experienced but I’m looking at the Maidstone side, they’ve got experience all over the park, financially they’re stronger than us – our budget’s is nowhere near there’s - but we’ll give it our best.”

Miles revealed two youngsters from their reserve side will be drafted in as substitutes tomorrow.

Striker Adam Whitnall and defender Bradley King will be given an opportunity to impress Miles if he chooses to bring them on.

“Since I’ve been there we’ve always had a nice crop of youngsters through to the first team,” said Miles.

“Steve Binks last year gave some reserve team players a chance. The ones I’ve used, Luke Mortimore, Adam Whitnall, Dave Bottrill and Bradley King, 16, have been given 20 minutes here and there, introducing them to the standard they’ll be playing in the next few seasons.

“Because of our budget its important to bring these youngsters through. We’ve got to play local players, if you look at our 22-23 man squad, 18 are all Medway boys.”

Maidstone United joint-boss Lloyd Hume, meanwhile will drop the players he feels let him and Alan Walker down yesterday.

“The manner which we lost was very poor,” he bemoaned. “They went down to ten men after 35 minutes, we took the lead in the first half, scored early in the second half and were in control.

“From the point we conceded a very sloppy first goal, we were absolutely dire from that point and you could see we could get a defeat being 2-1 up playing against ten men.

“I let them know how disappointed I was, and also told them we’ve only got two days to put the wrongs right.

“It gives us an opportunity to go and get three points. It’s a missed opportunity as anything else, because all the top teams lost as well.”

Midfielder Nick Barnes, whose signed from local rivals Tonbridge Angels, got on the scoresheet and Hume admitted he was the only player who comes out of yesterday’s defeat with any credit.

“I was delighted for him, with his performance and was the only player who came out of the game with any credit,” he said.

Hume, who saw striker Mo Takaloo give his side the lead from the penalty spot late in the first half, revealed there will be changes for their short trip to Chatham, but didn’t reveal who they’ll be because he hasn’t told the players yet, but midfielder Sam Tydeman (dead leg) is rated 50/50.

Visit Chatham Town's website: www.chathamtownfc.net

Visit Maidstone United's website: www.maidstoneunited.co.uk

Chatham Town v Maidstone United
Ryman League Division One South
Bank Holiday Monday, 28^th August 2006
Kick Off 3:00pm
At Maidstone Road, Chatham