We've got to beat teams like Sevenoaks, insists Cordice

Terry Cordice looked ahead to Saturday's first home game of the season against Sevenoaks Town and insisted: These are the games we must win, writes James Brown.

 

The Faversham Town boss was bitterly disappointed to see last week's opener at home to VCD Athletic fall victim to the torrential rain that hit east Kent on Saturday.

But he quickly switched his focus to Sevenoaks Town who made an encouraging start to the season with a 1-1 draw against Greenwich Borough on Saturday.

Sevenoaks finished rock-bottom of the Kent League last season with just 14 points and Cordice sees no reason why his rookies cannot secure victory.

Cordice, speaking before tonight's trip to Herne Bay, insisted: "I mean no disrespect at all to Sevenoaks when I say that this is a game where I feel we can take all three points.

"I've mentioned before the teams I feel will be up there come the end of the season with Thamesmead, Erith and Belvedere, Herne Bay and Whitstable all in with a shout but I wouldn't put Sevenoaks in the same bracket.

"The way I see it is that we should be looking to pick up wins against teams like Sevenoaks while hoping to snatch a few points against the big boys.

"Having said all that, we will show them every respect. We're all looking forward to a great game."

Referee Richard Joss had little option but to call off Saturday's game with the pitch under water in places.

Cordice said: "I have to agree that it was the right decision. I suppose he could have given it another half hour because it was playable then but there you go. These decisions have to be taken.

"I am just sorry for the fans. I hope we can treat them to some good football against Sevenoaks this weekend."

Chairman Bob Mason revealed that the visiting officials from VCD Athletic had presented the club with an engraved commemorative salver to mark the re-born club's first Kent League game.

He said: "It was a fabulous gesture and the salver will have pride of place in the clubhouse.
"It was very disappointing to have the game called off but if Saturday is anything to go by, we are going to enjoy making a lot of new friends in the Kent League."

Cordice, meanwhile, has named James Holder as Faversham Town's new first-team skipper.

Centre-half Holder, 20, replaces midfielder Julian Beal and is believed to be one of the youngest captains in the club's 104-year history.

Cordice broke the news to Beal before Saturday's opening day clash of the season against VCD Athletic which fell victim to the torrential rain that hit east Kent on Saturday afternoon.

Bromley lad Holder capped a good first season at Salters Lane by being named Cordice's joint player of the year and is widely recognised as the club's most improved player.

The big defender, who is 6ft 5ins, is the son of Faversham Town's assistant
manager Peter Holder but Cordice was at pains to stress that this had not been a factor.

He said: "This was my decision and my decision alone although I did speak to Pete and our coach Paul Copley about it.

"James Holder is my choice as our new captain. He just keeps getting better and better on the pitch and I think he has matured alot too.

"He has the respect of the other players and I am happy with my choice although it was close between him and Kris Parker.

"I know he is only 20 and still developing as a player but I don't believe this will be a burden for him. James really wanted the job and it is well deserved."

Cordice is hoping the switch will enable out-of-sorts Beal to return to the sort of form that saw him dominate midfield at times last season.

He said: "I spoke to Julian before the game on Saturday and told him that I thought he would benefit from being free of the responsibilities that go with being captain.

"He told me that he had been thinking along the same lines. Julian is a very important player for me but I think the captaincy had started to hinder his game and that's why I made the decision.

"Julian knows I want him to get back on his game, to work hard and concentrate on reaching the heights of last season."

Holder will make his bow as captain in Faversham Town's first game of the season away to Herne Bay tonight.

But his home debut with the armband will be on Saturday when his side welcome Sevenoaks to Salters Lane (kick-off 3pm).

Article courtesy of www.favershamtownfc.co.uk