We've got a point to prove, admits Shearer

LEE SHEARER vows to bounce back from last weekend’s disappointment in the FA Carlsberg Vase at Deal Town on Saturday, writes Stephen McCartney.

Last Saturday, the Faversham Town central defender, 31 next month, saw his first half penalty saved by goalkeeper Michel Czanner, as Tunbridge Wells came away from Salters Lane with a 1-0 win to earn a home tie in the first round proper of the FA Carlsberg Vase against Ash United.

Shearer, who signed for the Lilywhites from Ryman Premier League side Maidstone United in the summer, insists he will put his penalty miss behind him and help his team-mates seal victory at Deal.

Derek Hares’ Deal side have won just one game - and drawn two - from their first five Bulmers Cider Kent League games and with Faversham in seventh place, there is still plenty to play for.

“We’re out of most of the Cups now so we’ve got to concentrate on the league,” Shearer told www.kentishfootball.co.uk.

“We’ve won everything at home, we haven’t won away yet in the league, so perhaps we’ll go out and rectify that and go and beat Deal.”

The defeat to Tunbridge Wells ended Faversham's fine home form, and Shearer added: “It’s a bit of a shame because our record’s gone but it’s not in the league, so if we can go marching on and prove a point at Deal.”

Shearer believes Faversham Town can kick-start their campaign, despite going out of both the FA Cup and FA Vase at the first attempt.

“I’d like to think we’d finish in the top four,” he said. “I think we’re good enough, we’re strong enough, I think we’re organised enough.

“We’ve certainly got the players. Not so much myself, but we’ve got youth on our side as well. I think the average age of the team is 23.”

Player-manager Jimmy Strouts, who shares the management role with Justin Luchford, insists his side will go on and enjoy a good league campaign, despite their early disappointments in national Cup competitions.

“On paper we’ve got the players in who we feel can do a job for the club,” Strouts told www.kentishfootball.co.uk. 

“We feel they’ve done things for themselves, they’ve done well in their own career’s.

“We’ve got a couple of kids, who are up and coming and a lot of potential, who can move this club forward so that’s what we hope to bring here.”

Visit Deal Town’s website:  www.dealtownfc.co.uk

Visit Faversham Town’s website: www.favershamtownfc.co.uk

Deal Town v Faversham Town
Bulmers Cider Kent League
Saturday 27^th September 2008
Kick Off 3:00pm
At Charles Sports Ground, St Leonard’s Road, Deal, Kent