And so the last “Friday” preview of the year and
only half the number of “normal” games…
The fun in the snow, ice, rain and wind starts
tonight (FRIDAY) as Gravesend & Northfleet welcome Crawley Town to
Stonebridge Road for their final Conference game of the year.
Indeed one of the reasons that we’re a little late posting this
week’s preview was because I was trying to talk to the Fleet secretary
to see what the conditions were like at Stonebridge Road.
He’s told me that the groundsman has done a fantastic job and
there are no plans to hold any inspections.
So Liam Daish will be looking for his side to finish
the year on a high and return to their pre Christmas form of four
unbeaten. Boxing Day’s 1-3
reverse against Dagenham was disappointing and the manager has been quoted
as saying he wished that he hadn’t been so full of Festive spirit that
he allowed the players Christmas Day off!
The manager will be hoping for a response from his players tonight –
three points and the Fleet could rise to within a couple of positions of
the Play Off places.
Team news sees Daish able to call on Ross Smith (ankle) and Graham Porter
(groin) who have both recovered from injuries.
There are doubts surrounding Jay Saunders (back) and Andrew Drury
(knee), but the club have secured the services of both Omari Coleman and
Bradley Johnson for a further months loan from Lincoln and Northampton
respectively.
Not sure about the coverage tonight on the radio, but you will be able to get Liam’s reaction on Saturday Sport tomorrow afternoon on BBC Radio Kent’s Saturday Sport (this week with the “Wee Man” Jamie Reid in the chair) between 1:00pm and 5:00pm – please note the early start…
Tomorrow for Saturday Sport (weather permitting)
I’ll be at Park View Road to see Welling United's Conference South clash
with Sutton United, as Adrian Pennock’s side bid to consolidate their
fantastic early season.
Pennock though will have been far from happy on Boxing Day as the
Wings dropped two points and a place in the table when they “allowed”
Thurrock to equalise late on.
The Wings need all three points tomorrow against a Sutton side who despite
being next to bottom of the form table are in contention for the Play
Offs. With the return against
Thurrock to come on Tuesday night, Pennock knows that three points are so
important for Welling. To
keep right up to date with all the action that (hopefully) takes place,
join for live commentary from Park View Road – don’t forget the early
kick off 2:00pm for all the action as it happens.
When the whistle goes to start at Park View Road,
Chatham’s game at Wivenhoe in Division One East of the Southern League
will be at half time. Its
another important game as following their Bourne Park jinx striking again
on Tuesday afternoon (I wish I could have struck something on Tuesday –
good heavens it was cold!) the Chats need points to keep in touch with the
Play Off place.
Their 1-2 defeat has left Steve Binks side in eighth place in the table
– albeit just three points off the top six with a game in hand.
But Binks was “totally devastated” to lose on Tuesday, and will
be grateful to welcome back the Larkin brothers tomorrow.
Having to play skipper Steve Best in the back four left the
midfield a little short at Sittingbourne and against a Wivenhoe side that
have been beaten just twice at home, the Chats need to be at their
“Best”!!!
Moving on swiftly to Sittingbourne themselves and Steve Lovell’s men face Waltham Forest tomorrow – PLEASE NOTE THAT THE KICK OFF TIME HAS BEEN MOVED TO 2:00PM! Lovell’s side could do Chatham a favour tomorrow as Forest are a place higher than Steve Binks’ side in seventh, and three more points for the Bourne will could take them into the heart of the table. Lovell hopes that his son Mark will be fit to return soon, but otherwise it will probably be a largely unchanged side that the Welshman names tomorrow.
The Counties top club in the division now is Dartford, and following their 3-1 win at Aveley on Tuesday, Tony Burman’s side proudly stands 5th! Tomorrow they travel around the M25 to Uxbridge for a 3:00 kick off, and Burman will be looking for his charges to record their sixth away win of the season, against the side who have lost more home fixtures than any other team in the League. That said they did “only” lose by the odd goal in five to leaders Boreham Wood on Tuesday, so the Darts be warned!
No Ryman League or Kent League tomorrow – why I just don’t know! Indeed I spoke to Clive Walker at Bourne Park on Tuesday and asked him why there were no games in the Ryman this weekend. Let’s just say his answer was “colourful”!
Providing I don’t sleep in too long on January 1st, I’ll be back on Sunday with a special preview of all of Monday’s games…
So until then, Happy New Year to you all…
Mike Green
