Soccer Shorts: Beckenham Town forced to postpone VCD clash due to burglary at Eden Park Avenue

Friday 26th November 2010

Click here for tonight’s Soccer Shorts’ articles.

I’m sure you’ll join me in wishing Dover Athletic all the very best in tomorrow’s historic FA Cup Second Round clash against League Two Aldershot Town.

There are NO tickets on sale but the club would welcome any supporters to assist with clearing the pitch covers at 8 o’clock on Saturday morning.

BROMLEY’S trip to Weston-super-Mare has now been re-scheduled from next Tuesday to Saturday 11 December (kick-off 3pm).

“The fixture change came about as a result of both teams being free of fixture commitments on 11 December, due to both club’s exiting the FA Trophy,” club secretary Colin Russell told www.bromleyfc.net.

As a result, Mark Goldberg’s side will next take to the field away at Lewes on Saturday 4 December (3pm).

CHATHAM TOWN have confirmed midfielder Lee Maskell has left the club by mutual consent in search of regular first team football.

Maskell’s appearances this season have been limited following an operation on his groin in the summer so he has decided to move on.

Manager Paul Foley told www.chathamtownfc.net: “'Lee has been on the edge of the team all season mainly because he was still feeling the effects of his groin at the start of the season following his op in the summer.

“He needs games to get back to full fitness and we both agreed he would need to get those elsewhere as we are not in a position where we can gradually rehabilitate him to full match fitness. He is fit now but just hasn't played enough minutes on the pitch.

“It's a shame as Mass is a quality footballer and the club hasn't seen the best of him this season. When he is on form there aren't many better midfielders around. I wish him well wherever he lands.”

CORINTHIAN manager Tony Sitford says he is “anticipating a good game, weather permitting,” when Jason Lillis brings his side to Gay Dawn Farm in the Safety Net Associates Kent League tomorrow.

Corinthian go into the game fifth from bottom, with 11 points from as many games, whilst Lordswood arrive in the bottom two, with three fewer points.

DARTFORD are now offering half price season tickets for the remainder of the season. Valid from 8 January 2011, this will entitle supporters entry to all home league games at Princes Park, including academy and youth team matches.

ERITH TOWN manager Tony Russell says he is looking forward to welcoming sixth-placed Hythe Town to Erith Sports Stadium tomorrow.

The Dockers were Dover Athletic’s first FA Cup opponents this season as Martin Hayes’ side came away with a comfortable 5-1 win.

Russell, who was Steve O’Boyle’s number two that warm September day, is looking forward to welcoming Scott Porter’s FA Cup heroes tomorrow.

Hythe became the first Kent League club to reach the FA Cup First Round for 53 years, but they were defeated 5-1 at Hereford United.

Russell told www.kentishfootballco.uk: “We have won the last three games so we are in good nick and it’s a chance for us to see where we are as a team.

“If you look at Hythe’s team it is full of big names and we are a team of players wanting to make a name for themselves.

“To me if you finish above Hythe in the league then you’re very close to winning it, so let’s see how we do tomorrow!”

GREENWICH BOROUGH manager Steve Firkins says he hands big striker Danny Hunt his second debut - having re-signed him from Faversham Town this week.

Firkins works his magic on the cash-strapped club and go into tomorrow’s away game at Erith & Belvedere sitting in sixth-place in the Safety Net Associates Kent League table.

Boro were knocked out of the Kent League Cup by VCD Athletic last weekend, despite a sterling second half performance in a 2-2 draw against Ricky Bennett’s young side.

Firkins told www.kentishfootball.co.uk: “We are back to league duty after our aggregate defeat to VCD in the League Cup.

“With the league being very close at the moment every game is becoming as important as the last and our game against Erith & Belvedere tomorrow is no different.

“They have a good squad down there with a mix of experience and youth and after a good win against Lordswood last week I’m sure they will want to put a run together.

“The last few seasons our games have been very tight affairs and I expect the same again.

“I’m just glad that I have a few back this week to pick from, although I’m still missing Harry Draper and Adam Wadmore, through suspension, and Danny Taylor, through injury, but I’m able to give Jamie Turner his debut, who looks like a very good signing.

“Danny Tipple will start, after we signed him two weeks ago from Erith & Belvedere, and we also re-signed our top scorer from last season, Danny Hunt, who will be involved in the squad tomorrow.”

LORDSWOOD were charged under League Cup Rule 4 ( c) following the first leg of the Kent League Cup game played against Hythe Town on Saturday 30 October.

A club statement published on www.lordswoodfc.co.uk said: “Rule 4 ( c) states that players must be registered with the club at least 7 days prior to the playing of the First Leg to be eligible.

“Fehmi Ali was registered by the club on 29th October and Michael Dodsworth was registered by on 27th October but played in the game on 30th October.

“This was an oversight not picked up by the Secretary, Steve Lewis who has accepted that this error

was down to him in failing to check this specific rule. The player concerned was registered with the club but just not in time in accordance with the rules.

“Steve apologises to players and supporters for this oversight which has led to Lordswood being removed from the competition.”

MAIDSTONE UNITED boss Andy Ford says his side put in a good training session last night - ahead of their trip to Lowestoft Town tomorrow - and the former Welling United boss has bolstered his squad as he looks to climb out of the Ryman Premier League drop zone.

Ford told www.maidstoneunited.co.uk: “We had quite a good turnout at training last night and we put on a general session focussing on stamina and fitness with a bit of fun thrown in. Our training facilities make it difficult to do everything that we want and so this is something I would like to rectify if possible.

“Alex Flisher and James Peacock both managed twenty minutes last night. Ideally I would like to put them both into the squad for tomorrow but I don’t want them then to be out for a further period of time. Alex is slightly ahead of James in his recovery from injury but they both need to be managed carefully.”

Ford added: “I have signed Tony Boot who is a striker and he should be on the bench tomorrow. Tony has been out of the game for a while due to injury but he has a good goal scoring record.

“Some further positive news is that Nick Davis trained last night. Nick is going to play for Crockenhill to get some games under his belt and it will probably be about another month before he is ready to play for us.

“With regards to tomorrow, Joe Vines returns but Danny Lye will be missing due to a commitment which he had made prior to joining the club.

“Finally, we are still looking for players and we might have some more news on that front next week.”

MARGATE have reduced admission prices to boost the attendance for the visit of Tooting & Mitcham United at Hartsdown Park tomorrow.

Since beating league leaders Sutton United, form has taken a nose dive recently and Iain O’Connell’s side have suffered defeats to struggling Croydon Athletic and Folkestone Invicta.

“We are going through a bit of a sticky patch, but as I say, we can play excellent football as well and that’s what we’re going to work at,” O’Connell told www.margate-fc.com.

“We’ve got to turn it around and make we do it Saturday.”

Admission prices have been reduced to £6 (adults), £3 (concessions), £1 (under 16s), although under 16s can watch the football for FREE if accompanied by a paying adult.

SEVENOAKS TOWN boss Keith Levett is expecting a physical battle away to Deal Town tomorrow.

The Greatness Park outfit are in seventh place in the Safety Net Associates Kent League table and Levett told www.kentishfootball.co.uk that he is looking forward to the game against Darren Hares side.

“We feel in terms of performance we have been starting to get some consistency but we need to turn that into results,” he said.

“We’ve played Deal already early in the season so we know what to expect. If we are up for the game and prepare for what will be a tough physical challenge I am confident we will get the right result.

“We must match them and compete but also stick to our game and hope that we get a little bit of luck as we certainly feel we are due some.

THAMESMEAD TOWN assistant manager Hugo Langton doesn’t relish trips to Crickelwood Stadium and the Kent club make their second visit to the bleak ground tomorrow to play Ilford in Ryman League Division One North.

“We played Waltham Forest up at Ilford’s ground a few weeks back and the pitch is a real leveller regardless of form and where we both are in the league,” the former Ashford Town assistant told www.kentishfootball.co.uk.

“Same as last Saturday at Waltham Abbey, where it’s the worst I possibly seen us play on what was a Sunday morning pub pitch.

“We bounced back with a great win and performance on Tuesday and tomorrow we need to compete with real fire in our bellies as it’s the sort of place you need to win ugly, get in, get the job done and get out!”

VCD ATHLETIC manager Ricky Bennett takes a trip down memory Lane tomorrow and is looking forward to their trip to Eden Park Avenue.

Bennett has guided his side to second place in the Safety Net Associates Kent League - just a point behind Herne Bay - but Jason Huntley’s Beckenham are in third place.

“Hopefully the weather doesn’t get worse and the game goes ahead as we are looking forward to going to, what is the best playing surface in the league,” Bennett told www.kentishfootball.co.uk.

“It’s certainly a totally different pitch to the one that I used to play on when I played for the Becks many years ago!

“Last week against Greenwich Borough we got the reaction we wanted after our defeat against Hythe in the FA Vase.

“Although we are short of a few players, due to a virus going round the squad, I felt we put on a good display in what was a great cup tie and got the result that mattered.

“We wanted to bounce back from a defeat like we have done in the past after losing and that is credit to the squad that they don’t get affected by losing and have got the character and attitude to put it behind them and move on.

“We expect a very tough game as Beckenham are a very good side and are rightly one of the favourites to win the league this season.”

This game has been postponed due to a burglary at Eden Park Avenue on Friday night. The police need to carry out various forensic tests at the ground, which prevents the game going ahead.

WELLING UNITED supporters are voicing their concern over the lack of news ahead of next week’s Court visit.

But player-manager Jamie Day deserves a medal for keeping the club in the promotion hunt despite a transfer embargo.

Day takes his troops to Farnborough in Blue Square Bet South tomorrow and the flair player told www.kentishfootball.co.uk : “It is a difficult game, they are on a good run of games in the league.

“We need to get back to winning ways so we will be looking to get three points and give u a little distance in the table.

“We will need to be positive against a good outfit. Hopefully it will be a good game and we come out on top.”

Meanwhile, I am always willing to hold my hand up when I make a mistake for anything that I write - so I would like to apologise to Tommy Warrilow and sincerely hope that when I next cover a Tonbridge Angels game that I can interview you afterwards either on the phone or face-to-face. Sorry Tom! I didn’t mean to offend you!