We have to dust ourselves off and have that belief again, says Herne Bay boss Simon Halsey

HERNE BAY boss Simon Halsey says his side will dust themselves down ready for their trip to Leatherhead on Tuesday night.



Herne Bay slipped down to eleventh-place in the Ryman League Division One South table following their 2-0 defeat to ten-men Maidstone United at the weekend.

It was just not going to be their day at The Gallagher Stadium after winger Rhys Lawson’s deflected effort deflected off Stones defender Nick Humphrey and onto the bar and then later on in the game substitute Jordan Agbajae headed against the bar and James Campbell’s header was acrobatically cleared off the line by Gavin Greenfield.

Former Herne Bay striker, Stuart King, 25, who joined the Stones from their league rivals Folkestone Invicta, on an undisclosed transfer fee, set up both goals for left-sided players Alex Flisher and Tom Mills.

Leatherhead are managed by former Sittingbourne boss Richard Brady and presently the Surrey side occupy ninth-place, with seven wins and a draw from fourteen league games.

Halsey said: “It will be tough again, Tuesday night up there. It’s going to be cold, it’s going to be wet, so I keep saying we have to dust ourselves off and have that belief again and just express ourselves.

“There were 1700 at Maidstone on Saturday and I wanted people to go away from there and go Herne Bay have lost but they put a good account ourselves and I don’t think we put a good enough account of ourselves – that’s my disappointment.”

Halsey’s side face nine league games, including Kent derbies against Faversham Town, Whitstable Town, Sittingbourne and Ramsgate between now and 5 January.

“Massive. That’s why we’ve come here. I’m looking forward to every game. I’m disappointed of losing Saturday’s game and we’ll dust ourselves off and we’ll be back at it.”

Halsey revealed on Saturday that he is targeting a top-ten place in their inaugural campaign at this level.

He said: “I’m pleased as punch, honest! I’m still over the moon how they’ve adapted themselves and got us where we are.  We could have really had a sticky start and be way, way, way down near the bottom but we’ve done ourselves well to start our season off as it is and get where we are.”

Visit Herne Bay’s website: www.hernebayfc.net

Leatherhead  v  Herne Bay
Ryman League Division One South
Tuesday 4^th December 2012
Kick Off 7:45pm
At Fetcham Grove, Guildford Road, Leatherhead, Surrey KT22 9AS