Kentish Football 
Soccer Shorts: Protheroe u-turn as he wants Wings job
Friday 30th October 2009
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UPDATED AT 16:45
UPDATED AT 16:45
Heeroo has completed his one-match suspension following his dismissal at Barrow while Holmes, cup-tied for the visit to Bromley, should be in contention for a start in midfield.
On the injury front, news is also good with Dean Pooley having resumed full-time training, although Saturday's game may come too early for him to feature. Paul McCarthy (knee) and Jordan Collins (foot) are both making steady progress but still look to be a week or two away from full training, while there are no further injuries to report in the Fleet camp.
Due to the Fleet’s early demise in the FA Cup they have no match scheduled for the following week. The club is currently investigating a few options but it would appear that the option of a home match does not exist and in their current situation another tough away match - Kidderminster Harriers requested one - may not be what is required just now.
Vice chairman Roly Edwards reports that Daish is working hard behind the scenes to adjust his squad within the limits that are in place.
And while there are no guarantees of further squad improvement, a weekend without a game might in fact be a godsend and give him more time to make one or two further adjustments to the squad prior to their next scheduled away game on November 14.
Returning to Saturday's game, Wrexham have also been having problems finding the net and manager Dean Saunders looks set to give Wes Baynes a start. The 21-year-old forced himself into contention by scoring his side's added-time winner at Halifax last week and he followed that up with a goal against Blackburn in a reserve fixture.
"The players who are supposed to score goals for us must do better," said Saunders. "And everyone, in fact, has a responsibility to try and score their share of the goals. I think most of the players at Stevenage Borough have all been on the scoresheet at some stage this season and that’s what we need to do as well.”
Target man Gareth Taylor has contributed more than half the goals so far for Wrexham this season, but Wales under-21 international Marc Williams - who was scoring for fun last season - has yet to get off the mark after seven consecutive matches in tandem with the veteran striker.
And with summer signing Matt Wolfenden now fully recovered from injury, and ex-Senegal international Lamine Sakho waiting for his chance, Saunders has been running the rule over all his options.
Curtis Obeng is suspended for the visitors, which could mean a return for Trinidad & Tobago international Silvio Spann, himself just back from suspension, to the right-back spot.
Wrexham, on the back of a three-game unbeaten run, may also feature in their line-up former Chelsea and Leicester City defender Frank Sinclair.
In other news, the Fleet have been drawn at home to Ryman League Maidstone United in the Kent Senior Cup, the tie to be played by January 31.
Maidstone, the competition's most successful side with 12 county titles, feature ex-Fleet players Jay Saunders, James Pinnock, Jamie Turner and Peter Hawkins in their squad.
Meanwhile, two of the Fleet's young players have joined Blue Square South clubs on loan for an initial month.
Former Wycombe Wanderers midfielder, Scott Shulton, 19, joins Bishop's Stortford while ex-Millwall defender Charlie Read, also 19, moves to Bromley.
Shulton has played 10 games (eight starts) for the Fleet this season, while Read has yet to feature in the first team.
TOM WYNTER has joined Dover Athletic on a one-month loan deal, writes Justin Allen.
Highly-rated left-footed Gillingham defender Wynter, 19, was being chased by a number of clubs wanting to lend his services.
But Whites boss Andy Hessenthaler won the race.
And he said: "Tom gives us something that we're missing at the back - pace.
"He's very quick and, a bit like John Keister, he can get off the floor. He's not the tallest but very good in the air.
"I've watched the kid a few times playing for Gillingham reserves and he's impressed me.
"The lad is very powerful too and has a lot of talent."
Jon Wallis is currently suffering with a hamstring injury and Craig Cloke is still a way off from returning. Matt Fish got invaluable game time under his belt against Woking on Tuesday, while Jake Leberl is getting back to full fitness after suffering flu.
And Hessenthaler, speaking to www.doverathletic.com, admits: "We've got a few problems but players are beginning to get back fit again.
"Jon Wallis is still a concern with his hamstring injury.
"But, defensively, we needed to strengthen and Tom will give us some balance in that he is a left footer. He can play either centre-half or left-back."
Wynter goes straight into the squad for the trip to Dorchester tomorrow.
Hessenthaler is looking for his team to show character after the toughest week he has had at Crabble since joining the club in 2007.
Hessenthaler praises the performance of Woking, pre-season title favourites, whose full-time status told on Tuesday night.
The Cards won a tight match 2-0, benefiting from a fortunate first half penalty before showing their class and full-time fitness in the second half.
"It's been a poor week for us - the poorest week we've ever had at Dover," Hessenthaler told BBC Radio Kent.
"But these things happen and you have to deal with them."
He added: "I've been in this situation before where it's been tough for a few weeks, certainly at Gillingham and as a player at Watford I had some real rough times, so it's not new to me.
"It's where you've got to show your character as players, a manager and staff, but it's not the end of the world."
After two successive promotions, expectations have perhaps run away with themselves after a good start to this season. Whites' squad are still adjusting to the jump in standard and are no longer big fish in a smaller pond.
Hessenthaler said: "Hopefully it'll be a bit of a reality check for everybody at the club.
"We've just come out of the Ryman Premier League, Woking have just come out of the Conference. They're still full-time, their budget's double our budget and that showed on the night.
"This is the first time we've had back-to-back losses in the league for two and a bit years. That's a credit to the players really and what they've achieved to be able to do that.
"We've got to look at the bigger picture, we're still second in the league, we're having a little bit of a spell, and we've got quite a few injuries."
There was hope for Dover on the injury front this week with Matt Fish returning from a long term lay-off, following shoulder surgery in the summer. Frannie Collin, Dean Hill and Sammy Moore also returned to the squad. Their rustiness will hopefully be polished off with a game at Dorchester on Saturday, before the segregated top of the table clash against Newport County on November 7.
The Whites boss cannot see beyond the impressive Woking, however, who are starting to motor after a slow start to the season.
He said: "It's quite an open league but I think Woking are without the best side we've played this season. You can see they're a full-time outfit and for me, they'll win the league. If they can keep that up, it'll be very hard to beat them."
In other news, Whites have been drawn away to local rivals Folkestone Invicta in the Kent Senior Cup. The match is scheduled to be played before the end of January 2010.
WELLING UNITED caretaker boss Lee Protheroe has confirmed he has changed his mind about taking on the role permanently.
Two weeks ago Protheroe announced he did not want to be considered for the manager's job.
But ahead of Saturday's Blue Square South game against Lewes he told BBC Radio Kent he has changed his mind.
"I didn't realise I would enjoy it and I didn't realise I would have so much backing from the players and supporters," he said
"I talked myself out of it because I didn't want to put added pressure on myself or the team.
"I haven't applied but I have said if they want to sit down and talk to me I would put my thoughts across and willingly listen."
Protheroe has taken just one point from two hard away games against Chelmsford and Havant since Andy Ford's resignation.
Their opponents Lewes are just one place off the bottom and Protheroe is confident ahead of the match - being covered by BBC Radio Kent tomorrow.
"I'm not going to say there isn't much to worry about because you can never say, but I'm not worried about what they have got, it's what my players do and if we play as well as I know we can do then we should easily win," he said.
"We're in a false position in the league. We've got too much quality to be where we are and as soon as we win a couple of games we will become more confident and can push on."
NEW Margate manager Mark Butler is targeting promotion to the Blue Square South in 18 months time.
Butler resigned as boss of Ashford Town (Middlesex) to take over at Hartsdown Park following Terry Yorath's resignation in September.
Butler told BBC Radio Kent: "We want to move away from the bottom half, flirt with the play-offs and maybe next year have a right go."
Margate are currently 16th in the Ryman Premier League.
Butler added: "The board of directors convinced me they are ready to put behind their recent troubles.
"You have to have ambition, but I think at the moment Margate deserve to be in Conference South and then consolidate and try and get into Conference National but no I don't think it's beyond them.
"This year the Ryman Premier are going to lose Dartford (to promotion) but then I'd question anyone to say that Margate are not one of the biggest clubs in the division.
Margate have had much documented off-field problems which saw the club minutes from going out of business last season.
But Butler is satisfied with his playing budget.
"If you think it's unstable at Margate you should go to Ashford. It wasn't unstable, perhaps that's the wrong word, but it was shoestring wearing thin.
"I'm happy with the budget I have got [at Margate] but travelling is an issue with players.
"A player who lives in London would play for one club for half the money he would to get to Margate three times a week."
Because Ryman League clubs have cup commitments Butler will not take charge of the team until 7 November when he takes his side to high-flying Hastings United.
ERITH TOWN boss Steve O’Boyle says he has injury concerns for their trip to Greenwich Borough tomorrow.
The Dockers travel to Oakley Road with a 2-1 lead, following their home victory last weekend, but fitness tests will need to be given to influential players, following a hard-fought 1-0 defeat at Erith & Belvedere at Park View Road in midweek.
Lee Morgan, Richard Dimmock, Sam Prett and Drew Watkins (back) all picked up knocks during the Erith derby and Ted Hart, who has been nursing a broken foot all season, is getting closer to a return.
“Ted Hart is a major miss for us,” O‘Boyle told www.kentishfootball.co.uk. “He was our player-of-the-year last year, he’s been out all season. He’s getting closer and closer to fitness, which will be a major boost for us. It will be like a new signing.”
Looking ahead to the Greenwich game, O’Boyle added, “Tough game Saturday, we’ve got a few walking wounded, a few with knocks, we’ll review the situation (before the game).”
The Dockers welcome Ryman League Division One North side Leyton to Erith Stadium next Monday night in the second round of the London Senior Cup.
But O’Boyle wants to concentrate on booking his place in the next round of the Kent League Cup first.
“I’ve not even though about the game to be fair,” he added. “The Greenwich game, which will obviously be a tough one. It was a good game (in the first leg), we’ve got a 2-1 lead, playing a decent side and I haven’t though about Leyton yet. We’ll deal with that after the weekend.”
FRESH from winning the Erith derby, courtesy of Jon Neal’s first goal since his move from Sittingbourne, Paul Gorman expects another tough game when he takes his side to struggling Corinthian tomorrow.
Erith & Belvedere leapfrogged over Herne Bay into second place in the Bulmers Cider Kent League table with a 1-0 win over Erith Town in midweek, but attentions now turn to a trip to Gay Dawn Farm in the first leg of the Kent League Cup.
“Every game’s a banana skin, you’ve seen the result against Sporting Bengal, we’ve got beat 3-2 by Sporting,” Gorman told www.kentishfootball.co.uk.
“I think some of the players took them lightly and we got punished for it.
“But there’s a lot of rivalry between Corinthians and Erith & Belvedere, because half of their team were our reserve players down here last year, so it’s going to be a good day out for both of us.”
JAMIE KEMPSTER, who now plays for Kent League side Erith Town, has explained why he is growing some facial hair.
“I am growing a moustache this year for Movember,” the 35-year-old said. “I have decided to put down my razor for one month (November) and help raise awareness and funds for men's health - specifically prostate cancer.
“What many people don't appreciate is that one man dies every hour of prostate cancer in the UK, more than 35,000 men will be diagnosed this year and that prostate cancer is the most common cancer in men in the UK.
“Facts like these have convinced me I should get involved and I am hoping that you will support me.”
To donate to my Mo, you can either:
* Click this link http://uk.movember.com/mospace/20687/ and donate online using your credit card, debit card or PayPal account
* Write a cheque payable to The Prostate Cancer Charity - Movember, referencing my Registration Number 20687 and mailing it to: Movember - The Prostate Cancer Charity, First Floor, Cambridge House, Cambridge Grove, London, W6 0LE.
Movember is now in its third year here in the UK and, to date, has achieved some pretty amazing results by working alongside The Prostate Cancer Charity. Check out further details at: http://uk.movemberfoundation.com/research-and-programs.
The Kent football legend added, "If you are interested in following the progress of my Mo, click here http://uk.movember.com/mospace/20687/.
Also, http://uk.movember.com has heaps of useful information."
TUNBRIDGE WELLS boss Martin Larkin says he is concentrating on the league, starting with tomorrow’s game against Deal Town, having been knocked out of the Kent League Cup by Hythe Town over two legs.
Last weekend’s 2-1 defeat at Hythe ensured the League Cup is over for another year, giving The Wells a good run of league games - and a chance to put a run of form together where it really matters.
“We are looking forward to the run of league games we have now,” acknowledged first team manager Martin Larkin in his latest chat with www.tunbridgewellsfc.co.uk. “We don’t have to worry about Cup games again until December 12th.
“We have always said ‘judge us on our league position after 10, 20, and then 30 games’, so we are all looking forward to attacking these games and picking up the points that we need to move back up the table.”
Deal Town visit Culverden tomorrow, followed by a visit a week later by Kent League new-boys, Fisher. That, of course, will be followed by the visit of Lordswood on November 14th - so what exactly is Larkin hoping for from these games?
“Nine points would be nice! We naturally should be looking to win our home games against the teams that are there around us. There will be no need to motivate the boys, as they know how important these three games are.”
Of course, it is hoped the side raises their goal-scoring average, which, after a prolific start to the campaign has dipped to average around 0.9 goals per game over the past eight matches, and accounts for why the side currently is drawing so many games.
“The striking department is positive as always,” Larkin promises. “Benji Agana is just getting back to full fitness and Mike Lord obviously relies on the service that is provided to him, which we need to improve.
“Jon Pilbeam is itching to get back into the starting 11 as well, so I’m confident that we will score goals. But at the same time there is no rule saying only the forwards can score, so we need to make sure the midfield and the back four are chipping in too.”
A win over Deal would leave The Wells nicely poised to launch into the upper reaches of mid-table, so everybody chipping in on Saturday will be essential - particularly if Larkin’s expectation for the game prove accurate:
“It’s going to be a tough one! Deal will be the same as always: strong and competitive with a lot of talent up front. Mo Takaloo is obviously someone we will need to keep an eye on, and our midfield will need to control the game for us.
“So many games are won by the team whose midfield performs the best on the day and we have a lot of talent in there, if not a lot of experience, so we need them to really perform on the day.”
Freak injuries hit again last weekend - Tommy Fuller shutting his finger in his car door necessitating a trip to hospital, and Steve Ashmore limping off during the encounter with Hythe.
“Tommy has had his finger strapped, and Steve has been training lightly this week - we will have to assess him at training,” Larkin reveals. “Perry Spackman rejoins us after his injury which is positive.”
Unfortunately, though, two key members of Larkin’s squad will not be available for selection, having taken the chance of stepping up to play Ryman League football.
“Dean Chamberlain has returned to Worthing,” said Larkin. “He was getting frustrated with his performances and wanted to test himself again in the Ryman League - so we have agreed to part company with him for the near future.
"Perhaps more disappointing, though, is that we have lost James Russell to Chipstead. We agreed to allow James to play for them on Tuesday night and unfortunately (for us), he performed well and they have asked him to stay with them, which is disappointing - especially so close to the Deal game and all that rides on that.
"We won't stand in anyone's way who wants to progress though, so he goes with our best wishes."
SEVENOAKS TOWN manager Simon Jones says new signing Euon Brown remembers very little about his debut for the club as a subsititute in the League Cup defeat by Norton Sports a fortnight ago.
The Grenadian international replaced Danny Ward after an hour, only to come off worse in a challenge. He reported for the game at Fisher, but complained about feeling sick and light-headed in the warm-up, and consulted his doctor. He was told he was suffering from concussion, and missed last week's game against Erith & Belvedere.
Reflecting on the 1-0 home defeat by Deres, who won again in midweek over local rivals Erith Town, Jones added: "I thought we edged the first half, and were clear winners in the second, and were beaten by a wonder goal. He skipped through challenge after challenge, and credit their lad for scoring what was a very good goal.
"I thought the performance against Erith & Belvedere was stronger than in the game we won at Fisher. We played some nice sharp football, but didn't take our chances."
New signing, midfielder Jamie Johnson made his first appearance as a late substitute. Spotted playing in the London & Kent Border League, Jones said: "He is a big strong boy, who gets up and down the pitch well. He is a very combative sort of player, with a very long throw. We have taken him on a two-week trial."
Anthony Pace was another new name featuring in the squad.
Sevenoaks, meanwhile, have streamlined their reserve team squad, releasing about 15 players.
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