We must keep our feet on the ground, says Thurgood

HOLMESDALE co-manager Ken Thurgood has vowed to keep everybody’s feet firmly on the ground, despite beating leading lights Beckenham Town last night, writes Stephen McCartney.

A 26 minute first half hat-trick from unpredictable striker Joel Hughes ensured the Dalers’ gave Beckenham Town an electric shock underneath the new floodlights at Oakley Road, winning 3-2.

Beckenham had finished last season’s campaign in third place, underneath promoted side Thamesmead Town and VCD Athletic, although their neighbours finished third from bottom.

But it was Hughes who impressed and he joins Herne Bay’s record signing Stuart King as the Bulmers Cider Kent League top scorer on three goals after one game.

Thurgood takes his side to Greenwich Borough on Saturday, a young side that impressed during their 2-1 win over Erith Town at Bayliss Avenue on Monday night.

“They’ve got off to a good start against my old mate Steve O’Boyle, who left us on the fly,” Thurgood said in his first ever interview with www.kentishfootball.co.uk last night.

“By all accounts they’re a young side that are willing to play football, what you expect basically. They’ve been coached and brought up the right way.

“We feel there’s a lot of things we need to improve on. It’s difficult to go and analyse that tonight but there’s a lot of things (including after) 75 minutes we were a little bit ragged (and) we’ll be working on that Thursday.

“It’s something that we’re looking forward to. We did well down there last year but that was after their FA Vase run. Their Vase defeat (to Hungerford Town) lost them a little bit of momentum for a little while.

“They’re nice friendly people down there and got themselves a bunch of nice lads who can obviously play a bit.”

Holmesdale sent coach Hugo Langton to Bayliss Avenue on Monday night to watch a Boro’ side impress, especially the front pairing of Louis Bajeux and Danny Hunt.

The Dalers won only six Kent League games last season and Thurgood admitted “one swallow don’t make a summer” following last night’s shock result - the third during the first week of the new season.

“As co-manager Tony (Beckingham) said at the start of the week, we feel it’s a stepping stone process,” explained Thurgood.

“It’s a great result for us. We’ll take nothing away from it but you know football, it’s got a nice way of coming back and biting you in your proverbial posterior.

“We’ve got a very big habit down here of doing a fantastic performance one week and the next week we go back to mediocrity and that’s something Tony and myself are trying to (avoid).

“It’s got all the ingredients that will make a one-off scenario so we’ve got to guard against that in there (the changing room).

“Anyone who deems it fit to start going round without both feet off the ground will be brought down to earth very quickly.

“We’ve beaten one of the favourites on an one-off game under lights and we’ve got them again in October so it’s not a situation where you can lord it, they’re a good footballing side.”

Visit Holmesdale’s website:  www.holmesdalefc.co.uk

Visit Greenwich Borough’s website: www.greenwichboroughfc.co.uk

Greenwich Borough v Holmesdale
Bulmers Cider Kent League
Saturday 16^th August 2008
Kick Off 3:00pm
At Harrow Meadow, Eltham Green Road. Eltham, London SE9 6BA