We need to continue the good work, says Herne Bay boss Sam Denly

HERNE BAY manager Sam Denly says he feels disappointed that his side have spent the festive period on the training ground.

The Bay’s Boxing Day home showdown against bitter rivals Whitstable Town was postponed on Christmas Eve due to a waterlogged pitch at Winch’s Field.

And their game away to Folkestone Invicta on Saturday was also postponed in advance because Shepway District Council were forced to close down Cheriton Road due to the parts of the main stand roof blowing off in the Christmas Eve storm.

“It’s disappointing as both games were cancelled over the Christmas period,” said Denly.

“It’s not ideal as we’ve been playing some good football and were looking forward to the Christmas games but we have been in training and working hard in preparing for our next two games.”

Herne Bay have slipped down to 12^th place in the Ryman League Division One South table with 31 points from 23 games because of their enforced break.

Denly takes his side to Faversham Town on New Year’s Day.

The Lilywhites, meanwhile, are in sixth-place in the table with 39 points from 25 games – one point behind fifth-placed Folkestone Invicta, with a game in hand.

Ray Turner’s side came away from Sittingbourne with a goal-less draw on Boxing Day, before fighting back from being 2-0 down at home to Ramsgate to win the game 5-2 just 48 hours later.

Faversham’s goals were scored by Darren Marsden, Aiden Sherlock, Luke Harvey (2) and Dave Botterill.

Denly is looking forward to getting back in action in the Kent derby.

He said: “New Year’s Day will be a good occasion with two decent teams up against each other and we go there looking to continue our recent form, which is sometimes hard when playing in local derbies but we have trained well and go there full of confidence.”

Herne Bay then welcome Worthing to Winch’s Field on Saturday.

The Rebels are in ninth-place in the table with 33 points from 25 games and have had a mixed Christmas with a disappointing 4-1 defeat at Burgess Hill Town on Boxing Day, before following that up with a 2-0 home win over Surrey-based Chipstead 48 hours later.

Denly added: “Much the same for Worthing. They’re a team in and around us and we need to continue the good work.

“If we do that then we can come away from these games with points on the board.”

Visit Herne Bay’s website: www.pitchero.com/clubs/hernebay

Faversham Town  v  Herne Bay
Ryman League Division One South
Wednesday 1^st January 2014
Kick Off 3:00pm
At Salters Lane, Faversham, Kent ME13 8YD