The Kent Non-League Football Podcast

Kent Non-League Podcast - Episode 321

Another busy week in the county with more managerial changes and lots of action on the pitch. The manager heading for the exit is Danny Kedwell, who has left Ashford after just over eight months in charge. His final game was a loss at Sevenoaks, and we spoke to him after that game about that loss and the impressive performance of his teenage son Preston. We also hear from Sevenoaks boss Marcel Nimani after his side made it four wins in a row with a good attacking display - he discusses their progress on and off the pitch and their hopes of a push for the play-offs. Welling United suffered a third defeat on the spin and boss Rod Stringer discusses that loss and the need to improve his squad to move up the table. We discuss the rest of the news from across the county as Dover lose top spot, Sittingbourne hit eight, Margate leave it late and loads more besides, plus the usual chat and nonsense, including chaos in the Gerrard household, "autocorrect" fails and some truly disturbing TV viewing.

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Duration:: 1h 15m
Broadcast on:: 23 Jan 2025
Audio Format:: other

(upbeat music) - On this week's show, the final words of Danny Kedwell, the now former Ashford United manager, reflects on defeat to Sevenoaks before he left the club. - We had a lot of ball, especially second half, and I thought the first 20 minutes we started brightly. We had the ball a lot, we played some great football, but we didn't punish him, they punished us. - Moving in the right direction, Sevenoaks manager Marcel Neumani is feeling positive as his team make it four wins in a row. - We were patient with one another, and we had a lot of belief in each other, and now we're just reaping the rewards of that belief. - And frustrated and beaten again, welling in our team manager, Rod Stringer, plans to shake it up after their latest defeat. - We've been very unlucky in certain aspects with injuries and things like that, but nobody wants to hear that. It's me as a manager, it's my job, but I've got to try and correct it, so we're gonna have a busy week this week. (upbeat music) - Hello everyone, and welcome to this week's episode of the Kennerley podcast, sponsor of our Sandwich Town Youth FC, another busy week in the county. We've got three interviews for you to enjoy, including what proved to be the last one for one of the managers, as for the second season running, I've managed to see the back of one after speaking to them following a defeat. I am John Fitzgerald, an awful autocorrect mistake this week that could really, of course, some events. Another one now was the man who from the picture, I saw him at Welling on Saturday, may only just have thought out now. It's much out of course, are you, mate? - Not bad, yeah. Is it me or is it getting colder? I thought blowing water was easy. It's absolutely, it doesn't help in this past because we've always got the door open because the dog's constantly running out and he saves me getting up and down. But yeah, the last two weeks at football, I don't think I've ever been colder, and that's why I've been wearing the big orange beanie, mate, because I don't normally wear that, 'cause I haven't really got the head for hats, but yeah, it has been bloody freezing, absolutely crazy. So, I don't know what's going on. And it's my theme this weekend is it? How are we playing coming on something? - The strong winds this weekend, yeah, sorry, but I think we're supposed to avoid the worst of it, but up and down the country, I don't think it's gonna be the best. - No, yeah, I don't know what he's going on. I'm playing Donald Trump 'cause he doesn't believe in global warming disease. - No. - He doesn't believe in a lot of things, but that's a different story, different pod. - Absolutely. I've got pointless on in the background, Matt. Just-- - Is it a full question? - Quickly, no, but the pointless final question, the ASHIS2023, I mean, I'm getting the pointless answer on that. My only worry would ever be if they'd ever accepted us on to this program, is that I'd have got into-- - We did it a lot. - We did it, I know. If we'd got to the final and it had been like a sport thing, I would overthink it, do you know what I mean? I'd be like, "Oh, you know, someone might have said that." And thinking, "Oh, if someone's have gotten obscure memories, "me and I'd just actually then need to find out at the end." And giving three stupid answers and actually the basic ones are pointless. - They never came back to us on that, did they? - No. - What is the question? - They've chosen Roman numerals. - Oh, I'd fail with me at that. - Yeah. And the question is, number of trips into our two letter Roman numerals or three letter Roman numerals, awful. Do you want to know about my autocorrects error? - Yes, yes, go ahead, mate. - Well, so I was online on Monday and I came across the Kent online team of the week, as you do, you know, it's always popular. And I meant to take a screenshot of it and send to the manager of the week, well done on being manager of the week, but accidentally I said, "What a pick!" Because the picture of the manager, well, he has a beard which I've never seen and looks about my size and he's definitely not my weight. So I don't know how that happened. It was almost like I was trying to be nice and then got trying to take the (beep) to the thought. - Wow, wow. Maybe people are probably calling worse. I'm sure you'll join over the time. So there you go. - Well, he said, "Thank you as always "for your kind words appreciated." So I think we could get in the spirit that it was meant. - Well, dogs out from the Epsilon black now. So that means she won't go out. So I can close the door or the kids can close the door, which is good. - Perfect. - Yeah, but was there the beep? I just heard the dog doing something to the laptop. She sort of jumped up and then, no, I don't have to jump down again. So that's good. Come on, you're coming out? Come on, there you come. Come on, come on, come on. - There's the Kent only podcaster, podcaster, podcaster, podcaster, podcaster. - Come on, come on, come on. Jump, jump. Doesn't like the cable here, come on, here you come. All right. So yeah, this is, I thought that was probably the dog's screaming. Prescription, but she's done that. She's going to help up there. And from that, yeah, but apart from that, jump up and being very cold, I've been going to bed at eight o'clock every evening this week. Look, it's easier to watch. Telly in bed with the electric blanket, which again, you know, the age I am is pretty bad. But the wife is out tonight. So I've got two options. Do I go to bed or do I collect it from the train station? I did say to her, I might be in my bajamas when I collect it from the train station. - You know what the sensible option there is. You know what the only thing you can do there is. - It's not raining. 'Cause you said she'd walk. I said, no, I'll pick you up, but I might be in bed because I'm, but again, yeah, I can't let her wander out there. In the freezing cold, really walking out, can I? So, and I'm gonna set the dog out if you want us to go out because we've got what we've come to. The dog's quite clever. I love my dog. I talk to you much about the dog running, don't I? That she only likes us if we both go out. But if I take the, it's dark, take the throat with a bull, she thinks she's going to the beach, but we're not going to the beach 'cause it's pitch black so you can't go on the beach and she will walk. 'Cause otherwise, we'll get to the end of our drive and she'll just put the claws in and won't move. So, there you go. So, the dog knows if the bullshit goes, it could be the beach, but unfortunately, she's just gonna have a road walk. So, dogs are quite clever, I think, in that way. Can you hear that in the background as well? My daughter's singing in the shower, can you hear that? - I can't hear that, thankfully. - No, no, no, what is she singing? - Normally, it's, it's, it's, it's, it's, Sabrina Carpenter seems to be the big thing at the moment and she seems to swear a lot. So, Sabrina Carpenter seems to be the norm. She'll be there for hours. So, if you do hear, squealing in the background, I'm here, it will be my daughter, the youngest daughter, singing in the shower. - Excellent, that's a really, yeah. - Yeah, it's basically, it's organized chaos 'cause my wife is, you know, women are so much better than blokes. So, I've got to do so many jobs that my wife could do that by doing four other things, but I've got to compartmentalize each job as I come, otherwise it will turn into carnage. So, yeah. - It's a good job, Mr. Gerald doesn't listen, isn't it? - So, you just, she doesn't listen to the show, isn't it? - Yeah, exactly, yes. So, yeah, but yeah. If she knows, yeah, it's organized chaos. But the kids know, you know, stuff they wouldn't get away with their brother, they would get away with me. So, yeah. So, yeah, apart from that. So, but normally I'm very organized, not. (laughs) - Absolutely, it's our 321st episode this week. And I don't know if the lucky sod down in Papua New Guinea, who won 25,000 keener this weekend on a 321 scratch card down there. It's a lovely thing as well, 'cause in the news story that I read, they wanted to remain anonymous. So, they've just blurred his face out on the pick with the check and he's hoping to spend the money on his school fees and a new laptop because his newsworthy win of 25,000 K is actually worth less than 5,000 pounds. I also found 321 speak life. And this is right in your wheelhouse, Matt, 'cause 321 is a course that invites you to see life the way Jesus does. Inspired by Jesus' vision of reality, 321 is designed to help me think about God, the world, and yourself through immersive videos and thoughtful illustrations. Now, they also have a podcast. So, you know, if you wanna leave us and have a chat with a big fella, feel free. But to be honest, we've got some pretty good chat coming your way. But have you ever heard of 321 in a church setting, Matt? - No, I've got it. Dusty bin, mate. - Remember that Ted Rogers? - Yeah, I'm actually doing a course, yeah. - Exactly, that great program. I'm surprised that hasn't been brought back because that gets a bit of ribbing. - There was nonsense, like... - Exactly, exactly. Alan Carr, or... Who else is the greatest Roman Gennathan? Surely, they must have come back with 321. ITV Prime on Friday. - I've watched some old reruns of this program. And like, the questions are just unfathomable. Like, they make absolutely zero cents to anything. So, I think it was unpopular in the end because people were just like, "Is it impossible to win this?" 'Cause you're not psychic. Like, the questions were just insane. - I think, yeah. But it's Prime ITV eight o'clock. Something like that, isn't it? Bring back 321. They must have thought, if they bring him back fully, bring back Dusty bin. And without these surprises, it was at a speedboat as well. You would have Dusty bin. - I think so. It was similar, wasn't it? - Yeah, yeah. - Ted Rogers. - So, now, that's 321. If you just said 321, I remember 541, the Chocolate Bar. I mean, that part, yeah. - They were great as well, yeah. - Yeah, yeah, really. Chocolate bars these days are dreadful, absolutely dreadful. That can be another podcast as well. So, they're no good. No good from that. But 321, Ted Rogers. Yeah, ITV must be bringing that back. But, I'm predicting 2025. Alan Carr, Romes Ranganathan, by Christmas, will be doing it one-off special 321. And play your cards, right? That's gonna come back as well. 'Cause I just really have to say about crap, don't they? - That is true, yeah, I'm sure. I'm like you, I'm surprised I haven't done it. But, wasn't the miracle of 321? It was a little bit for my time, but how are you always used to do the 321 very quickly without sticking his fingers up at people? - Yeah, I couldn't do that now. It's a bit like that thing with Star Trek, were you supposed to do that? Other thing, but I can't do that either. That's whatever sign that is. Were you supposed to do something like that? You're not a trackier, are you? - No, thankfully. - No, I'm fine. - No, I'm fine, good. Let's start this week's show then with Ashford United. It went down to a 3-1 defeat at Seven Oaks on Saturday afternoon. What I thought was a pretty enjoyable game, but let's have 48 hours. It was announced that Manjid Danny Kebwell had party braids with the club after just over eight months at the helm. Club Corinor Lloyd Hume is to take over for the rest of the season assisted by Darren here. And we'll discuss that later on. But first, after the game on Saturday, I spoke to Danny, who gave his thoughts on the match and the performance of his teenage son Preston. So we're still gonna play the interview through. So here is the now former Ashford United boss, Danny Kebwell. - Yeah, very, very, very frustrating. After the week we had a lot of meetings, 'cause we've been leaking a lot of goals. We seem to always, listen, we're in the top three for goals scored this year, but we need a bottom on goals conceded. So we know where the problem is. We try and address it, try to stick with the players that we've got 'cause I've given the time and I bought them in here and I trusted 'em. But after today, I can't accept that anymore. 'Cause it's not fair on... And listen, I can come away with players being out. We've got six, seven players, very good players out. Obviously missing Barry today from Spension and Joey. And we just don't seem to ever have a set side. It's always something that's going on. And then you've got Westie coming off of hamstring today. It's just constantly fighting the battles all the time, but we've got to stick together. There will be some movements 'cause we've got to. And, but boys will be here, we'll stick together and we'll fight it and we will come out the end of our end when all the players are back and stuff like that. It's really frustrating to me 'cause I'd love to see where we are. We had a full squad every week with the squad. We've got the players, we've bought in the quality. We've got these results wouldn't be happening. - I suppose the first two goals in the first half, that's the sort of thing you're talking about, frustrating disappointing goals to concede. - Yeah, and listen, I went with... Hold back four, really. Hold back, not even right back, all that. So, I mean, Sam, he can play wing obviously, Sam, Sam, if he can play center half. So, I went with a back four just to shore us up a bit. We've done a sitting in there and then corner comes in, great save and no reaction at all from any of our players. We had a couple of them. We had one in the first half. It scrambles around and none of our players are there. Do you know what I mean? That's the difference. You've got to be ruthless in both boxes. - You want that desire, don't you? - As a good old fashioned center forward yourself. It must be, obviously, I'll just say put it in your hair out, but you just told me. - Yeah, yeah, yeah. And that's the things. I don't know how you coach that anymore 'cause we go through things every single week, what we're gonna do and what they're capable of, how they play. We do everything we can to give 'em everything and then we just can see early goals every single week. It just seems like that. And I can't get my finger on why that's happening. And then we've just been in there for a long time. Obviously, we've just come out and they ain't got the answers either. So, if they ain't got the answers, then obviously it's got to change 'cause I wanted them to come back at me and they didn't. So, obviously, they know who's to blame it. It's not, it's not no one. Listen, I'm not blaming anyone individually. I mean, it's a group, it's a group. It's a team game. But something's not right at the back there. It's simple and obviously, look, listen, I've got tating from Jillingham. Changed it there, so there'd be some more 'cause we gotta get that right. And it's not acceptable that I'm more than fuming with the goals we have. Because we've called, just conceded 12 goals in four games. That's not right. That's perfect. And in any game of football, as a manager, you know what you've got to do and I've got to do it now. And one off the line at one, Neil, if that goes in, it might have all been different. Yeah, exactly. One off the line and it's a blatant penalty on Preston. He's pushed him straight in the back with both hands. Them things ain't going for us. Gary in the second half, another penalty. He's got, he can't even get round him. He's just pushed him onto the floor. But these are big decisions that are going, everything's going against them. But I keep saying all these things going against them with injuries and referees not making the right decisions. I felt sorry for him a couple of weeks ago. I don't feel sorry for him now. Because we're still good enough to put performance instances. And we had similar to sitting ballroom, probably the best team in a league that we, they're consistent, they're hard to play against. That's why they're where they are. And we had half a team out and it was probably one of the best performances, which we get a draw. Do you know what I mean? So they can't, they can't keep saying whether these players are out and stuff like that. The team's good enough to put a performance in. And to be fair, I think with the ball, sometimes we had a lot of ball, especially second up. And I thought the first 20 minutes we started brightly. We had the ball a lot. We played some great football. But we didn't punish and they punished us. - And assist for Preston. I want you to be Danny the dad now. You're nice and really proud of your boy. - Yeah, yeah, I'm very proud of him. It's good because obviously I don't give him the praise and stuffy now that I won't be in that change room. Like when boys have a good games, I tell them that they play well, where he's your son and I feel like you can't. 'Cause he's saying I'm actually the son or whatever. But today I will say that even when he give the ballway, he worked and that's all I ask for. He's a few players out there today. They give the ballway and don't react. You've got to react and for a 16 year old to show what a reaction is like when you lose the ball. He lost it towards the end a minute to go and he's making a tackle in there in our box. So that's the reaction you've got to have. And you've got to have 11 of them on the pitch to win games. And like I say, he got in the city, could have had a couple of more assists to be fair, he could have scored as well. But yeah, he's doing well. He's learning, he's probably playing as more than what I would be expecting because obviously the short numbers we got, we're very short on numbers. So he's playing a lot. He's playing more than what you probably expected as well. And he's, listen, he's learning the trade as well. He's learning the men's game and obviously being in the chain with men and stuff, getting shattered out of things. And that's what I want and that's what he needs. So if he keeps going that way and obviously when he grows a bit, I think he will. Once he grows, he's going to be a special talent. I suppose with the way that your career panned out as well, you're the right man to sort of guide him. But both I suppose as a manager for now, but also as a sort of mentor, is there, you know, this is how you can do it? - Yeah, yeah it is. And it does remind me of when I was his age playing. In these games, I was just watching him in there when we was talking and you could see the frustrating and the anger and he's got it hurting when we lose. And I see that when I get home and it does hurt him. So that's a good thing. And that's what I was like. You wouldn't, my missus has hate me for the whole weekend and we lost. So, and he's the same. But he's, yeah, he's, like I say, he's playing. He's playing a lot of minutes that we weren't expecting him to. But at the end of the day, it's a good thing with him because he's playing more minutes, so. And if he keeps putting performances in like that, he won't be coming out the team. 'Cause that's, I want 11 of them players that want to run for 90 minutes and put everything in their heart and soul in it. And that's what we needed a minute to get back on track. And just as a myself, you're in a clutch of teams just outside that playoff place. I know you're frustrated today, you're disappointed. But if you can put a run together, there's definitely a massive chance in getting to the playoffs this season. Yeah, oh, 100%. And I would say that if I had everyone back, a million percent. But listen, you can never say nothing. And I can't, I can't listen. I'm very frustrated at the minute. I'll go home and I'll probably watch the game back. And I'll calm down by Monday. But it's hard for them in there. It's very hard in there. 'Cause like I say, we're not getting a set outside any time soon, do you know what I mean? It's just constantly trying to get players in, to filling gaps and- And you don't want to do that? You want to actually have an 11 and sit with it? I just want an 11 to stick with it. I want a 16 that I can just turn around and I've got a bench. 'Cause I've not had that. I've run it one game all season. That's more inertia in the FA trophy. So obviously there was flying at the time in the league above. And that was the only time I've looked around on my bench and I've gone, I can change things. Do you know what I mean? Since then, I've not, I've not had that. I've not had a consistent squad where it's a headache. It's never, I've never had a headache. I'm picking a team. It's crazy, like I kind of manage to go through this time of the year in middle of January and turn around and go. I've never had a headache of picking a squad who should be playing, who shouldn't? Because I have to patch it up every single week. And I'm not making that as an excuse. Because like I said, we're good enough still to put performances in and still wing games. With the 11 we've got out there, I still believe that we have that quality to wing games. But we're going for a tough time. We're going for a very tough time in that situation, in them situations of players and suspensions and injuries and stuff like that. But we've got to, we've got to have more. We've got to have more to givenness of rolling your sleeves up and just giving it a go. Because at one point it will turn and I know these players and when it will turn it will go for the bell. What he said he was going to make some changes, Matt, but sadly for him he's not going to get the chance to make those changes. I actually thought he spoke really, really well there and I'm sure he's very frustrated that 48 hours after that conversation he was out of work. Yeah, it was an interesting one there. I felt passionate, didn't he, about it? So he was the man to turn it around. That's for the course of being on the, they've been in this league for a long while I don't say. And when Danny Kebwell come in, I thought it was a good appointment. He could still play. You look at some of his players coming in, you were either basically 21 or 41. So he went down, there was no real mix of in between. Clearly some of that again, he was quite critical of the players in that context, but again, seven points off the player. I said they'd beaten seven oaks. It looks a totally different case, you know, situation. And I know they've given him a chance to bring him players in over the last week. So I feel a bit for him here. I know he's doing a decent job, absolutely it's academy, but where does he go from here now? Good career, knows the non-league game. I just feel that sometimes manneques aren't giving it a lot of time, really, are they? I think it's up because I was there on Saturday and I didn't think they were amazing. Asher, I didn't think they played particularly well. I thought seven oaks played very well, actually. But it's fine margins because one of the line, I think the score was one nil at the time. The second seven oaks goal, Asher would be very disappointed by it because a defender had the ball pretty much from the edge of the box and he's been robbed by a war on my fool who he's danced through and scored. And I think that's frustrating. And second half, they had a lot of pressure, a lot of ball in and around the penalty area. Gary Lockyer took his goal very well. I bet nothing else really fell for them. And it's one of those things, Matt, which is strange to say. But they could have got out of that with a point on Saturday, if things had gone their way, you know, if that hadn't been cleared off the line or, you know, they hadn't been caught in possession and something else had dropped for them late on. They could have come out of that game with a point. He said there they thought they had a penalty as well. If I come out of that game with a point, there's no way we're sitting here talking about Danny Kedwell being the former Asher genetic manager. It's fine margins, you know? And I didn't think they were, I didn't think they were awful. And as you say, look at the league table. As I said to both managers, you'll hear with myself as well. There's a little clutch of teams just outside that playoff place. If you've got Beckham who aren't in the best form, there is a playoff place up for grabs here. And that's what United are as well placed as anyone to be right in the mix for that. And I'm surprised that having given him the chance to build his own squad, they've not given him until the end of the season, at least to see it through. You know, if they'd got to, like the middle of March and had plummeted down the table, they had no chance of making the playoffs, then I could understand maybe making the decision. But it's January, they've still got a chance of getting the playoffs. And they've actually been on a decent run of fun because they were down towards the bottom of the table and then they picked up a bit, lost a couple of games in a row. And now they've made the change and I get it. I can hear his disappointment, I could see his disappointment on Saturday, the way that they played, especially the way they defended. But that just shows how fine the margins are in this sport because easily there's a chance they could have come out of that game with a point. And if that had happened, then I don't think they make the decision that they've made. And I feel for Danny Kedwell, because that interview, when I stopped recording on that, and I was chatting to him, but I was walking back to the car, because I thought that was a really good interview and I text you and I text you and I said, "Oh, really good chat from Kedwell." And then the next thing, you know, is out of work. And I feel sorry for him because eight months is just not the time, enough time to get it, is it? - It's his third job and he's probably hasn't gone past eight months in any of them. So, and I think he knows the non-league scene, clearly he knows a lot of players to the players. He's got honor and respect he has with it. So, when you text me, I was pretty shocked. I thought they'd give him time. They're giving him the budget, giving him players. It hasn't worked out. What are the expectations for Ashford United? Do they still think they can? Is the business plan? You know, Lloyd Hugh knows the game as well, clearly. We interest him, 'cause we always said that Ashford, well, the amount of people there, I know the grounds are the middle of nowhere, but, you know, you work on that. They have to get really good crowds if you work with it. And I think Danny Keverle was doing a half decent job. Did we expect them to be at the top of the table? Feli thought, if he didn't have injuries, they could rise on some of the top sides. So, he'd be among the injuries, which, you know, every team probably gets, but, you know, we don't want to see him manage his gone, but I'm surprised by the decision. You'd have thought he was giving him to the end of the season to see if he can turn it around. And we could be saying, Lloyd Hugh's going to turn it around and give him fire on the spin. They're going to be in the playoffs. So, it's a wonderful decision. And we've been critical of managerial departments before, and it's blown up in our face a bit, John, but I'll just feel a little bit sorry for Pedro over there. - Yeah, I'll do too. And of course, Lloyd Hugh is a name. He's been around the game for a long time. He's obviously decided that he thinks he can sort that team out and get them into a better position and where they have been under Danny Kedwell. It's an interesting appointment, and Darren Hare coming in, who you know very well now. What did you make of that news when I texted it to you yesterday? - Well, I was checking somebody in the game, and I said, "Oh, who's going to get it?" The names that came up, and then I thought, "Oh, maybe I did say to him. Maybe Lloyd Hugh will do it himself. Lloyd Hugh did a good job. Alan Walker's still there. Darren Hare clearly knows about it. So, as it managed him a long while, Lloyd Hugh, but he does know the lonely scene, bit of a character. And maybe he'll get his eyes on it, Darren Hare, a good coach, again, knows his level levels above. And maybe it's a, you know, a little bit of a cost cutting, so the owner can do it, saves a bit of money on Danny Kedwell wages. I presume sadly, Preston Kedwell's likely not to play again now, and it frees it up for them to do it and go from there. But I'll be interested to see A, how they get on and B, what their side is like over the next few weeks to see if some of those players who, pretty loyal to Danny Kedwell, who maybe have come for him, are no longer going to be there. Oh, I thought maybe, never said Barry Fuller, I know he's on line to the end of the season. I don't know if he'll be involved before, because we've heard, you know, previously Barry Fuller might maybe he'll be involved, but, yeah, I just feel a bit foreign, but, yeah. It came from a player, for a transfer point of view, he did bring a lot of experienced players in, and maybe a lot of youngsters, maybe it didn't work out as well as he thought it would do. Yeah, and just fine, actually, you did mention him there, but young Preston set up the goal for Gary Lock here, and I thought he was a threat, a real handful, and certainly didn't look out of place given his very tender years. Has he ever had his own? He is not a chip off the old block, shall we say. No, that's beautiful. But I thought Danny spoke very well about that as well, you know, easy to get clouded when it's your son, but actually he was, you know, he was very open and honest about it and where he sees his future. And I think, you know, the lad's got a definite future in the game, and I hope that what's happened to Ashford, which may lead to him moving on, I hope that doesn't have too much of an impact on his hopes of forging Korea and learning the experience and doing it the right way, you know, because it's tough at 16 to be playing men's football, but he didn't stand out as a weak link in any way. No, it'd be interesting to see where his career goes now, to be honest, or maybe I should all keep him, but we'll have to see from there. But yeah, disappointed for him. But again, I'll just, I will be interested to see the Ashford squad, how it evolves over the next few weeks if players are going to come and go and some of those players that he brought in from the Ashford, Gary Lockyer. He's missed the Ashford, I suppose, so he'll still be there and he banged in another goal. - Yeah, it took it well, actually. It was a low cross from Kedwell, Jr. And he back healed it in through a sort of crowd of bodies. Yeah, he played well. And yeah, like you say, he epitomizes what they are, and I think he was as frustrated as everybody else on Saturday, 'cause it just wasn't their day, do you know what I mean? - Yeah, again, interesting, yeah, so interesting, yeah. I'll just feel a bit Danny Kedwell, you know, the third time we've interviewed him, he's had three different clubs in a few years. So, and he always talks well and wants to do well, and I'm sure, and I've read a bit of an interview but kept online that you could see his frustration about it as well. So, I just hope it doesn't lose the love for the game for this, but I suppose he's been in football long enough, he knows how it works. - Yeah, absolutely. Well, the nuts and bolts were beaten by seven outside on Saturday. And for me, Matt, they've come on leaps and bounds since I last saw them. The points came courtesy of T first, I've goals from the aforementioned Moore and Mafula for a fine third early in the second half from Rodney Irritour. I spoke to their manager Marcel Nemani after the game. - Yeah, yeah, it's a good performance today, I felt. To be fair, it's a very difficult side, so you have to show respect in terms of, you have to accept that there'll be moments in the game where they'll build momentum, and I felt that when they did build momentum, we dealt with it well, albeit at the beginning, I think we've rode our luck in a couple of occasions, but in the first half, to where we've rode our luck at the back, I felt that compensate for that, we were very good in front of their goals. So, it really does help when you're under the cost to have someone like Warren with full up there, because he gets you out of those troubles. - Yeah, it took the first goal very well, didn't he? And then the second one, he kind of made it himself, I went in the ball and then goes through and scores. - Yeah, I mean, the second goal is a typical Warren goal, but Warren, in a position where he has to battle against a defender, and it doesn't really matter who the defender is. Warren's will always come out as a winner. - He took him off on two goals, so was he happy with that? - No, Warren's, it's not happy. I mean, he's never happy with the blessing, but Warren sometimes needs to accept his age, and he needs to accept that I need him for the rest of the season, rather than just one game. And, you know, he's struggling a little bit with his growing, so I got what I need to have him today, and I need him fresh for Saturday. - You said about obviously actually having spells and momentum, they did have that spell, and a massive moment when it was clear off the line. - Yeah, that was a massive one. For our perspective, it's because we were just building momentum then, we were in a really good phase of momentum, and then they kind of counterfeit us, and yeah, we wrote our luck there. You could say luck, but you could also say that the defenders were sharp, were in the right position, and they were alert to go and clear the ball, so it's a skill, you know, that's what defensive skill is all about, to be alert, to react before the strikers, and to be there, and that's what our defenders did in that moment. - I think when I was here before, you said about you wanted to defend better and keep more clean sheets, and Ryan saw a man with a match down, and I thought Richie deserved, he seemed to win every header. - Yeah, Ryan, when I spoke to him originally in a summer, he was a bit wary of how he's gonna fit in our system in our team, but I did say to him, just put your faith in us, I think you'd enjoy with us, and he did. He's kept, he's a very low profile type of player, low maintenance, and he's just earned his starting position with us, and he's been an outstanding addition to our team. - And the third goal was very special as well. - Yep, it was a very special, a fantastic, brilliant goal, which Rodney's been doing for us for quite some time now, and when you have the sort of players, and you give them the right platform, that's what, you know, the special players do, they just need the platform, and at the moment, Rodney is embracing the platform he's got here. - And that they pushed on towards the end, but I didn't really ever feel it, it looked like they were gonna get that second goal and really put the pressure on. - Yeah, so we purposely set in a second half to deal with that rotation in midfield, that we felt that by sitting in and encountering attacking them is the best way to deal with it, and if I'm honest with you, I think that proved to be the case. They had a lot of momentum, 'cause we allowed them, they kept the boy in the air as well, we allowed them, but if you actually look at a chance for chance, we missed three or four, one more on left, we missed three or four, one on one chances, you know, so we were clinical in the first half, and we created lessons scored one second half, I mean, the chances were missed in the second half. - Four wins in a row though, you've got to be delighted with that, you're really building some momentum at the moment. - Yeah, you could say that, yeah, yeah, I mean, yeah, it's just another league win, isn't it? There's nothing to, it's a league win from my perspective. - But generally speaking, you know, you look at the league table, you're one of a clutch of clubs just outside the playoffs, waiting for someone to drop out of the top five and try and hopefully take advantage, and, you know, against the side who I think started the day just above you in the table, that does make a difference, doesn't it? - It is a great compliment, I think Ashford United are in a good place, you know, they've invested a lot in the team as well as in a club, so to be ahead of them at this point in the stage of the season, it's a compliment to us. I did say to the boys, consistency does this for you, I've enjoyed a lot of defeat with this team we've gotten here, you know, we lost here five near, we lost here four near, we've lost three near, and it's like seven or eight of these boys were part of that starting in 11, so we were patient among another, and we had a lot of belief in each other, now we're just reaping the rewards of that belief. - I'm supposed to, as I say, you are all looking in, and everyone just wants to finish as high as they can, but there is an opportunity there for teams to try and get those player places. - Absolutely, we're a very ambitious group, you know, we're very, individually, we're very ambitious, collectively as a group, we're very ambitious, and we will look to make the very most that we can and how the opportunity of the club's given us, so we want to take the club to the next level, whether we do it this year or next, or the next three years as our project is, you know, remains to be seen, but for now, we're in a good place. - A decent crowd in today, and you just told me you're doing some initiatives around to try and boost that crowd even further. - Absolutely, in the last, you know, we were just talking with Paul to the chairman, Chairman, I've been working quite a lot with the local community, and we've increased the crowds, but by double, you know, in the last, this is our fourth game now, so it just goes to show the potential in the town, and the potential that the club has within the outreach of the community is great. I just wanted to say a huge thank you, and welcome to all the new supporters that we had today, because it makes a huge difference, and that's the reason why these performances have been so, so high at home, because of this new crowd that we're getting in. - And when you play a team like Ashford, you bring a fair few supporters as well, that does make a difference? - Absolutely, I mean, Ashford have always been a supported club. I remember, you know, I'm an Ashford lad, I grew up in Ashford myself, so I know what the football club means to the community, and Ashford is a big club, and they bring good crowds, and it's very lively atmosphere today. - You pay deal next weekend, and they're newly promoted, and they're another one of those teams, in that clutch of spaces outside the play place, it's a tough game. - If I'm honest with you, I've reached the situation in this league now, but it does not really matter who you're playing, every single team in this team can beat everyone. So if you give people spaces and time on the ball, then you're gonna get punished, so for my perspective, it doesn't really matter, we play the preparation exactly the same. I'm always going into that game, you give them an inch, the team will take a mile, so for our perspective is we need to be alert, ready, because they are brilliant side. - The league seems to be getting stronger and stronger, does that mean you've got two teams at the top who are absolutely exceptional, and everyone else is kind of keeping on their coattails? - Absolutely, it's a real compliment, not just to the league itself, but the Southeast region, the football in Southeast, must be one of the strongest, in terms of non-league, one of the strongest across the country, the teams, the facilities, the investment, the money, the quality of the players, and the crowds that we get in Southeast, it's just, I can't remember Southeast being in a healthier position these now, so it's a real credit to the entire non-league community. - I think you're right, 'cause we've just been saying, three teams have gone through it in the FA Vars today, to the last 16, we've got City War and Fire in the FAG in the FA trophy, so, you know, it's a tight area, and I suppose for you, as a club, it's hard to compete 'cause there's a lot of players around all trying to go for it, and you've got to try and stand out and bring people in, and you've got a very good squad here, and it's not just about adding to that one you can, isn't it? - Absolutely, the competition. To be successful at this level, we really take some doing, so you just have to be patient, but yeah, and if any little success is a gigantic success in this region of the country, because it's very competitive here, you know, you have to be creative, how you recruit, you have to be creative, how you use your resources, we've had to be very creative at how we're managing the resources this year, we don't have the biggest budget in terms of bringing, but we're bringing in the right players, the fits our style, and we've stuck with, I believe, so we just have to be very creative and very resilient when things are not going well, you know, how do you manage that? And so far, we've managed our downfalls pretty well. - Well, as you just said about, Ashford tight in the battle for those playoff spots, Matt, and even though they've lost Jefferson and Banjee this week, the Wingers move to join Wamsgate, there's no reason why Seven O's can't be right in the mix, especially if they carry on winning games like they are at the moment, four in the spin. - Yeah, we said about this division as well, if you can get a bit of a roll with it, the likes of Beck and I'm having a little bit of a blip, the top four look like they're gone, no, a lot of sides could still think they're with the chance of this, so yeah, Seven O's again, another club that adds some change, Harry Hudson, who's clearly doing very well at Wickham Park, they're managerial, care tech and managerial stuff, went on, Marcel's come in, again, knows the level. It's a good club, Seven O's. Well, organised, good facilities, good 3G surface, again, a club that's never probably been higher than this, so there's a chance for them to get in those blasts and maybe cause a few problems with sides and something like one, a fool or I've seen play at high levels coming back down, you're always going to get goals out of him if you feed him, he won't score and he's a good player at that level. - Yeah, I enjoyed that when I said to Marcel, took him off, he was on two goals, he kind of been happy when he's never happy, which I did find funny, but yeah, - How old is he? Like, only 30, check him? - He's got to be in mid 30s, I think, but yeah, I thought he was a real threat, actually, and took his two goals very well and, you know, he's an experienced player and doing well at this level of football, which I think everybody thought he would. With 35, Warren Mafoula, born in January 1990, still going strong though, and do you know what? What I really liked about Seven O's was they were attacking with the two goal scorers, you had a bangie on the left-hand side, if James Jeffrey was in there as well, you know, they've got goals in that team and they weren't afraid to, you know, really get on the front foot. And the third goal right at the start of the second, I've just killed the game off Stone Dead. As Marcel said, they kind of set back a little bit after that, because they were like, well, do you know what, we're in a good, we're in a good position with that because of how things are going, so we can afford to sort of take the foot off the gas and, you know, rest Warren and get him ready. You know, and I thought there was a lot to like about Seven O's. One of the match was the defender, Ryan Sawyer as well, we thought he had a really good game. - Is he engaged? - Well, he ran the house, Ryan Sawyer, is that the one? - He's, so he's Paul Sawyer's lad. He was at Corinthian for a couple of years, he's been around a few clubs since then, but seems to have found a home at Seven Oakes and there was a lot to like about Seven Oakes, I thought on Saturday, I thought they were, I thought they looked like a decent side and, you know, as I say, there was well played as anybody to break into those playoffs. And I think in his first season in charge, that would be an absolutely fantastic achievement for Marcel and as well, the crowds, you know, did mention it there, I think 280 was the attendance on Saturday. Nice place to watch a game of football, as I always say, when I go there. And I remember when I used to be at the, at the courier, et cetera, the Seven Oakes Chronicle, and I remember in the conversation with my boss Glenn, and he was like, there's 30 people going to Seven Oakes on a Saturday. And they, you know, they've timed that by seven in 10 years. And I think, you know, that shows the progress that they're making and the work that they're doing away from the football, you know, to get local people involved and everything like that. And I had another nice afternoon there. So it was, it was, it was good to see and a club on the up, definitely. I suppose, okay, the nature of the beast is a Vangie's gone to Ramsgate, probably a seven-day approach. You were impressed with him. I know the Margate fans were impressed with him a couple of weeks ago and they, when the Seven Oakes have that great result against Margate, do you think he'll be a Miss John? I think he'll be a Miss for them. Yeah, I think he will probably be an impact sub, I would say, more down at Ramsgate. Oh, I've seen him play a lot. He was obviously, it was at Sheppy and Fabulousness, done really well to come back from that horrible injury that he got on Fabulousness from last year. And I was chatting to a few people. I was chatting to Andrew Giddley at the game and I said, you know, what's the, what's the feelings on him? I didn't know at this time that he was going to be on his way. But he said, you know, well, he's got 17 goals or 17 goal involvements this season. And I said, I'll say, because the thing I've always thought about Jefferson is he's such a menace on the ball, but I just feel sometimes that his end product can be lacking and he sometimes makes the wrong decision. And I kind of said that to Andrew and he said, well, I know what you mean. He said, but he's delivered a lot this season, but maybe he could have delivered more. And I think for him to come in for Ramsgate is a good signing for them because it's someone who knows this level, who is a threat, you know, teams in this division, like you say, Margate fans were impressed by him. I think they don't like playing him. And if you've got that to go with the attacking, which is they've already got. I think that's a really, really promising sign for Ramsgate to have brought him in. And, you know, I wish him well. And of course, everyone well for the rest of the season. But yeah, it is an interesting one. But I still think that there's plenty of scope for seven oaks to impress because they've still got goals in that team. And that's the key thing. - Yeah, again, quite, you know, defense, they can work on defense as well. You know, keeping it, I haven't kept many clean sheets, but the last two results, beating a good Margate side and beating Ashford as well, does show they're in good spirits at the moment. And Marcel, good manager, knows his level. It's a good club to work at, I think. So no, Harry had some, no, he wouldn't have left if he didn't get the opportunity to go to Brentford and then onto Wickham. So I think it's a good foundation for a manager to work with. - Yeah, and I think for Marcel as well, obviously, he was heavily involved in Sheppie when they had their successes, and then moved on and was at Whitstable, wasn't he? And it didn't quite work out for him there. And then he was a briefie at Brown's gate at the start of the season. And then the seven oaks opportunity came up and a few people went for that job and he got it. And actually, I think it's a really good opportunity for him to spend some time and, you know, and really mold the sort of manager he wants to become because he's still a fairly inexperienced manager. And I did think that his side looked better on Saturday than whenever it was when it was chucking it down and we did the pod in the rain at Greatness Park when they were playing sitting ball. So, you know, the steps are there. Obviously, he'll be disappointed to have seen Jefferson go. And that does kind of, that will be a blow for them. And it does kind of show where they are, I suppose. But that might free up some money in the body to get someone else in and give people a chance. And they play on the front foot. And again, Andrew Giddley, I said to him for joy this. And he said, you know, most of our games this season, when I'm asked the non-league paper to give it a ranking, I give it four out of five. And that's what people want. They want to see entertaining football. And at the moment, they're getting it there. - Yeah, yeah. Andrew Giddley used seeing more games of football than I've had in my lifetime. We will know that as well. So, heavily involved, good man, Andrew Giddley. And if he's saying it's entertaining at seven oaks, try and hopefully get some more fun. More punters through the door and one could be in for an exciting start. End of the season, if you could start with those games and move near those playoffs. - Absolutely, a goals galore elsewhere in the East Wing, East and South East, and Saturday, with leaders Ramsgate thumping back and on five-0, a second-place sitting ball, when even better with an eight-one win over Lansing, with defender Jack Stevenson scoring four of the goals. Margaret scored twice in stop of time to be high three-two. But either town also hit the goal trial as they won five-one at Stenning Town. Another five goals for Little Sheppy two, where Idal Gueth scored a 95th minute winner to see of Braw-Braw-Braw-Chief. But elsewhere, Manchester's her and Badry, one-one with Merstham, Phoenix Sports, lost three-0 home to Burgess Hill and deal with beating two-one at three bridges. Sheppy scored late again on Tuesday night, Gil Carvalio netting in the 98th minute to secure a point against Burgess Hill, and on the other side of the Sheppy crossing, Citymont closed back to within two points of Ramsgate with a three-0 win over East Grinstead. As you can, Citymont go to FC Croydon, and it's Ashford against Merstham, back and on against her and Badry, deal take on seven oaks. Sheppy and Artie visit Eastbourne Town, Irrit Town take on the leaders. Ramsgate, Hyde go to Littlehamton, Margate, who's Phoenix Sports, now choosing like Beckenham against three bridges, her and Badry go to Burgess Hill, deal take on Stemming Town, Hyde go to East Grinstead, Ramsgate on the road to Merstham, and it's Phoenix Sports against Irrit Town. - Hyde against Littleham. - Hyde against Littleham, did a big game, isn't it? - Hyde, did you start winning? - Oh, I felt for Hyde on Saturday, 'cause they were leading in Margate one day, and then two late, late goals as well, and got back in front as well. Really frustrating for Hyde, and it's been a frustrating season for them, isn't it? And they've picked up a couple of wins here and there, but they've never gone on a good, consistent run, and that's part of the problem for them, isn't it? And you would hope the things can turn around, because four relegation places there, and they're still in it, and that would have been a real sucker punch on Saturday to have been so close to firstly a win against Margate, and then a draw, and to come away with absolutely nothing. Those are the very worst, aren't they? - Yeah, absolutely, from a Margate point, if you galvanise you after that defeat, they had the previous weekend as well, so it gives them a little bit of, you know, I don't think they're gonna catch the top two, but can, you know, show the meta of that, but you've got to feel for Hyde and Nick Davis there. Then again, we're talking about levels today, aren't we? Like, when was the last time Hyde were probably in New Kentucky a long, long time ago? So, big few games at both ends of the table. It's gonna be interesting, John. - Certainly is. Dover lost top spot in the Isman League Premier division, as they were beating a hashtag on Saturday, but they do have a gaming hand on the new leaders, Bill O'Ricky, at Craig Valley Level on points with the whites, after a four-wheel win over Bogner Regis. Well, Dalfour can continue their winning one with the two-one win-game fincially. Craig Wonder had also continued their good form with the two-one victory, Hastings. Rather, you should have grabbed a hat-trick as folks didn't beat Canby Island for two. Four wins out of five on Saturday on Sunday. Chatham also lost. They were beating one in a lot of potter's bar. Pick of the games on Saturday this weekend is at Prince's Park with fourth place, Dalfour had hosted the leaders, Bill O'Ricky, or Dover head to Bogner Regis. Craig Valley at home to Canby Island, folks didn't welcome in-form Horsham. Chatham at home to Hastings. Craig Wonder has travelled to Whitehawk. Then on Tuesday night, Dover at home to Lewis, while Craig Wonder has head to win-game fincially. I won't repeat the text that you sent me on Saturday, Matt, but disappointing to lose that one hashtag on Saturday. You know, to be fair, hashtag one of the better sides, I've seen a crabbler season. I didn't fancy as the way we were going at the moment. We're not playing particularly well, and I've watched the highlights on hashtag TV with a very excitable commentator. So, we had chances. Yeah, it's just not going our way at the moment. Two big games, Bogner. We've got to beat Bogner away. You know, Bogner struggling at the Bogner table, getting tung to every week. Sure, if everybody's fit, we've got enough to go there. Then Lewis in midweek, his way form is not good. So, again, he's still in Dover's hands. Dover went all their games to the end of the season, and they probably will win the league because the gold image is so good. So, yeah, it's going to be plenty of twists and turns. But then I think after Saturday, Dover got four out of the next five at home, and we'll know that. Dover, you know, they've played 12 at home, and you lost five, which could point, that could be the thing. But a pivotal week again, you know, Dave will win Billy Rickey in Dartford draw. Dave will be a little bit happier than that, but still can't sprout discount crack value either, can you say, and awesome. So, fantastic title race, which we maybe didn't see about a month ago, but definitely seeing it now. Yeah, good old Dover, making things interesting, hey. Up to National League South now, we're welling with Grace with the presence of Matt Gerard and his fetching orange hats on Saturday. They couldn't spark a return to winning ways to get as they lost for the third game in a row, running at home to someone rather than name escapes me. After the last Matt spoke to the welling boss Rod Stringer. Yeah, they are all good side, and I just said, they're in a previous interview, we've played some good sides in the last week. We've played talk here way, we've played Amsterdam to the Richmond era, and we've played ballroom wood today. We know they're a good side, and so they should be, because, you know, only one of the biggest, if not the biggest, spenders in the league. But I'm so disappointed, because, as I just said, they're too ollie. We've had a tough week, we've had a three games in a week, played Ampton on Tuesday, and they had a three-setterly, because they played ballroom wood, and then our next opponents was ballroom wood, who had a three-setterly as well. So, we've had to really push ourselves and dig deep in a lot of ways today. Still getting a team out, we've literally only sort of won outside the squad available. And I can't knock my boys for that, it's just that I just wish they could smell that little bit more aggression. Get behind teams more, have more attempts on goal. In all the hard work, we've done here to the effort, we've very disciplined in our first-hour performance, I thought we knew what they would be, they'd be very good with a ball. And I thought they'd come here with a slightly different game plan to the effort, that was a little bit more direct on us as well, than what we were expected. But credit goes to us as well, the way we were shutting off the lanes and keeping it nice and tight. - You said it half-time, 'cause, you know, they're playing possession, but you've two backs of four, you've got organised, good structure. - Yeah, we was. That's what we said, me and Kev said, let's just make sure that we're good in certain aspects of the game. And that was, you know, we know that if you try and go man for man, it gets boring, they're gonna be better than us. So we had our game plan, we stuck to it and it's so disappointing that the goal that they scored from was probably just a mistake on our behalf. It wasn't a good play, it wasn't a, I'd like to watch it back, but I didn't think it was a fantastic goal, it was a very poor goal from us to concede. But as I just said there, you know, we've had to play three games in a week. I thought our work rate, I thought our desire, and I thought the way we wanted to try and get up to the ball was very good. But in the main, did we affect their goal enough? No, did we get round the backs of them? No, could we have got round them more? Yes. - I think it was a tactic to sort of keep it at bay, then hit them on the counter. You had a couple of tries, but the decision making as well in the final third must be frustrating for you. - That is the biggest point. That's what I'm trying to say there. A bit of aggression, 'cause I thought there was a lot of times we never come out with, you know, what we call 50-50s or 60-40s. And that being the manager, the title manager I am, I like to see us, you know, come out there, I think genie it, the best tackle of the game in there, and it broke for us. But yeah, we were trying to sort of say, sit in, be patient, and then when we do get out, let's be good with it. But we've got to certain areas of the pitch, and I just thought then, then we looked a little bit clueless. We never really affected their goal enough. And I don't think we've asked the question, their goal-keeper all game. But other than that, between the two boxes, I thought we'd been a match for anyone. - How difficult has this, you know, been the club a year now? You did a really good job at the end of the last season, getting out of it. You just, you haven't really kicked on, you know, nine points above the relegation zone. But it's still, you know, a lot of it would have left to play. - Yeah. - Yeah. Well, obviously, you know, we've beat Weymouth the other week, and, you know, and then three points looked like at the moment, a lifesaver's for us, because, you know, the team is below us, don't look like they're winning games. So I think it's there for everybody to be fair. Anybody can get out of it. But you are right. We come in last season, and I thought, you know, the reaction we got, and the way we got out of it was fantastic. We've probably only kept five from last year, maybe six. And it's a total new process again, and we've been very unlucky in certain aspects with injuries and things like that. But nobody wants to hear that. It's me as a manager. It's my job that I've got to try and correct it. So we're going to have a busy week this week. And that's what I've got to do. I think we do need a little bit more experience out there. I think we look very young in areas, and we make young-- - Does experience come cross money, though? That's the problem, is it? - It does. It does, because nobody ever plays with football for nothing these days. Did I? Let's get it right. So, yes, of course it does. But I think we've got so many players under the age of 24, and they're very good technical players, and they're very honest players. But sometimes you just need that little bit more aggression in the right areas. You certainly need a goal score, you can put the ball in the back of it, especially against the runner player at times, that you can like today if we could have took something and went one day up, 'cause we did have a few chances to get out in the first half. So, yeah, we're going to have to move things about, but it's my job to do that. And as I said to the club, and I'm not one of these to shout from the rooftop, but I'm still confident that me and Kev will get them out of this, and we know we're in it. I mean, this is only the other week. I like to get rid of about five or six players to get the budget back into where it needs to be. So, fortunately, the injuries aren't too sad now. So, obviously, there's no excuses on that side of things. But, yeah, listen, I wouldn't say we'd be fine, and it's going to be easy. But I'd be one that's saying, you know, we're up for a fight, and we're going to have to make it a fight. And we're going to have to find these points from somewhere from now to the end of the season. - You managed for a long time. Is this one of the most difficult seasons you've had? As in, trying to get the players to do what you want, that extra bit of quality that you know, if you can get, can fire up the league? - Yeah, probably, in aspects of when I come in last year, it wasn't easy, because at a point deficit that we had to try and make good of it, and we got out of it quite comfortable in the end, probably about eight points clear, which at one time you never ever dreamt. That could be the case. The way that we work here, I've got more younger players. We want to help these younger players. We want to help these players try and sort of get their careers back on the road. And in the meantime, we need to try and help this club try and have a sensible season. And you know, when I look around, we are quite young. And as I said, they're all great lads. Majority of them live at home with their mum and dads. They're not here because it's a monetary thing. We're trying mornings, we're trying two mornings a week, so we try to give them something that they're used to, because pretty much all of these players have been in the pro game and fallen out of it. So we have got a certain type of player at the minute, but just looking in this relegation, which obviously we have to say that we're still in that, we might need a little bit of something different to go forward with. Now, you know, Howard has always said, look, if push comes to the shove and we need to try and do something to make the difference, that's what we need to do. And I just said to the boys there, unfortunately it won't be nice, but for some of you, you know, it may be the case. I've got to sort of look to twist, rather than stick. And if- - A nice challenge, but a difficult challenge as far as it. - Is there any nice challenges in ways of having a sort of see what we can do to make us stronger? Because I want to give it the opportunity to these players here, but in the same respect, I've always liked a challenge, and most of my challenges, fortunately, have been trying to get in the playoffs and try and get promotion, but since I've been a welling, you know, it's been trying to fight to keep us in the league. And that's where we are, our faithful, the season just over our way now. We've got to fight to stay in this division, and I'm confident we do it. I am confident we do it. Listen, we just played Maystone away. We played Torquix, sorry, Maystone away. Torquix away, Ballroom with at home, in our last three or four games. And there's not been a lot in it at all. I mean, even Torquix last week looks out of three one. It was never a three one. I mean, that was a one one. But today here, you know, although Ballroom would be better than us, if we didn't snooze for the goal, we're standing here saying what a great point brought against Ballroom would. So it just shows me not miles off of it, but we are still off of it because we ain't picked no points up in the last three games. - Well, the rebuild has started, Matt, with two loan signings from Eastbourne arriving today. And from the brief message you sent me on Saturday, they need to get better, I assume. - Yeah, it was interesting. Ballroom would clearly are a good side. Quizia Payah, former Margate Man, had a decent career, he's decent up top. It seemed that Welling didn't, were quite happy just to sit back and hit Ballroom would on the counter attack. And which is, I think, was very on Rod Stringer like, because I'm sure Rod Stringer, when I've seen him before, he's a on the front foot manager, getting sides, getting other teams' faces and a player attacking football. But it was totally opposite at the weekend where, you know, they didn't lay a club on Ballroom would to be honest. And some of the Welling fans I was speaking afterwards, they thought it was a good result, they only lost by one because the way they didn't show any attacking threat, they didn't never shot on goal throughout the game. And Rod Stringer, again, I think he's realised that some of the players are up to it. He's brought three in, James Alabi's also coming in, John. But yeah, well, Stringer tied to me. They've got to get on the front foot. Their eight points peer with a drop zone. St. Albans who turned a little bit of form, a seven, eight points in front of them. So they've got a little bit concerned, but yeah, they would not, you know, the first of all, I've seen them and I saw them quite a bit at the back end of last season. And they're not, they're not a shadow at that side, which is strange, really, because Rod Stringer, you know, if you're not, Rod Stringer, you thought we could motivate players, but that squad had nothing, John, to be honest. - Yeah, and that's the frustrating thing, isn't it? Because, like you say, when he took over a year ago, he came in and had that bounce and everything went really well for them initially. But it just hasn't played out that way for them lately, has it? And, like you said, there, you know, that win they got away is crucial now because it's given them a buffer. But as far as I'm concerned, they shouldn't need that buffer. And it feels to me, Matt, and I don't know how you feel about this, having watched them on Saturday, but I think most of our teams in that division, I mean, we've only got three granted, most of our teams in the top three, four tiers have got an identity. They've got something about them. You know, they've got players that I recognize straight away as being, you know, well involved with that club. But I just feel at the moment, welling don't have that. I feel like there's been too much chopping and changing. For several years, really, if you think when we've been doing this podcast, we had the Steve King era, you've had the Bradley Quinton era, you've had Warren Feeney, you know, there's been so many managers come and gone through welling. And I don't think there's many players that have stuck around and, you know, really sort of made welling their home. And I feel like they're kind of struggling from that point of view, in terms of there's no one that you're thinking, "Oh, that's Mr. Welling." You know, that means a lot, it means a lot to him to be at his club. And when I look back and when I was, when we first did this show, and I did a Boxing Day game for Radio Kent between Dartmouth and Welling at Part View Road. And, you know, Brad Book was there and, you know, Jamie Coles, there was just a lot to like about them then. But I feel like they've lost their identity somewhere along the line. Does that make sense? - Yeah, yeah. I think it is as well. You know, there's nothing there at the club. I know they've had the problems when they're going to move as well. And maybe that went away again, that went away when the form picked up and everybody was looking forward to this season. But it just hasn't really worked out. I don't really know. I don't get any of it. I think the constant change in the players can't help. There's like three coming in. I presume three are going out of the door, John as well, which is, it's not right. And Rod Stringer was a frustrated figure, I would say, throughout the afternoon. And again, I think he will be under a little bit of pressure as well, which I don't think will help well in his cause. Like, look at the games that come in up as well. They're big games for them. They've got to, Western's a tough game away from home. Then they've got him all the way home, way with the way, and said, all the way to them field. So then you've got really big games at where they're going to be. Clearly he's been offered new players. The budget's been increased a little bit. But yeah, get back on the front foot, Rod. If you can, because, yeah, it didn't lie, if you love on board, and from the off, and that's what surprised me about Welling, because it was nothing to get you excited about if you have supported that afternoon. Yeah, I don't think that's the thing. And I'm sure you had a good chat with Nigel as well. And I guess he feels the same. Yeah, I think he's a little bit frustrated. Again, they played, he said they played well against Torquay. You know, when they went on the front foot, they looked a better side against Torquay. And when it gets Hampton when they went on the front foot, then they went back in the show, it just didn't work out. So they got some good players, a good stand of players at that level. Gold scoring is a problem, maybe a larvae. You know, he's had a lot of clubs, and doesn't really score for much recently. Yeah, it could be the answer. But yeah, Rod's string has got a tough job there, and they will be looking over their shoulder for a while until they can get some results. So yeah, just play on the front foot and they'll be fine, but playing in the show, isn't that a Rod string a team? No, well, it's something for them to work on. So they've got some big games coming up against teams around them and below them in the table, so they do need to pick up a pretty sharp issue. A mainstone elsewhere suffered their first defeat in, well, ages, as they were beating Tuna at Chesham on Saturday, but they bounced back when choosing the one who went at Weymouth with the home side, missing a second half penalty. Thomas Jane was also out Tuna at Hampton, Richmond on Saturday. They host Slough this weekend, and there's a big old game at the Galligan and Wurthing visit and Welling go to Western's Superman. Maystone then head to Chelmsford on Monday for Angels go to St. Albans and Welling host Hemor Hempstead on Tuesday. - I'm not my stone on Saturday, John. - Your mainstone. - I wondered if it could be at Maystone or Dartford. - No, I'm Maystone on Saturday. Again, if we think the title race is exciting and it needs to be in Premiere, how exciting is this one as well? - Absolutely. - Looking at all the fixtures, I think Maystone have got everybody to play at home. So you look at it, could be in their own hands. I don't know, their waveform has been better, but good to bounce back. It was a shock to lose the Chezm, but a good one, they'll win against Weymouth in, yeah. But having seen Bournemouth and the players that they've got and the quality that they've got, I would probably say they will be favourites, but that'd be a big game when Maystone play in a couple of weeks. - It's also a worry, isn't it, when you've been on a long beat and run light made stone, how do you bounce back off your defeat? So to go down to Weymouth, even though they were at the bottom of the table on a Tuesday night, a bit of the cold Tuesday night, no less, that must have been a pretty tricky one for them. So actually massive credit to Maystone to come away from there, regarded to wear Weymouth on the league. That's a solid result down there. They've got away with it with the missing the penalty, but I think the fact they bounce back with a win straight away, I think that's very important for them. - That big week for them, you look at it, we're working at home, didn't rely on their playing sheet, Jamson on Tuesday, then talk it at home. So big game, big games for them, yeah. Absolutely 19.03 games, I'm beating off their 1-1 draw at Woking at the weekend and this coming one, they face Braintree at home, one of the teams sort of almost in shouting distance of them, but the 19th place iron are still 15 points in front of Josh Wright's side. So there you go. Three teams in FA Vars action on Saturday. Three teams all made it through, absolutely fantastic. VCD will one-nil winners at home to Epsom and Yule. The other two needed penalties, wits of all three two winners on penalties after their one will draw at Walsh from Le Willows and Irith and Belvedere went over the bridge and came back with a four, two win on penalties against White Ensign. I was watching that penalty shootout via X at seven oaks while I was waiting to talk to Marcel and I did mention it to him earlier about how Kent football was in such a good shape. It was great achievement for all three of those teams to get through, they're all at home in the next round as well, which is a play the week on Saturday. So we'll do some preview for you on that next week, but next Saturday Irith and Belvedere are home to Davenporty Town, VCD will take on Harpery University, Witsville Town will take on Fleet Town, Fleet who've already knocked out Rochester and they beat Tambridge Wells as a conqueror's coring down Gatwick at the weekend. So that will be... - So the quarter of five of which you want? - No, it's the last, there's only four fixtures on the football web page. I know we're both on the same page. There's only four fixtures on there. It's the last 16 now. So it's not every team at Step Five is on there. So that's why. - Fleet Town, which we're against Fleet, used to be a bit of metal, don't I? - Yeah, so that'll be a big test for them, but we should see how it goes. - Yeah, I couldn't believe that, John. I thought I would get two three, but all three brilliant and good at penalties which is great to see as well. - Well, I think that's at least the third win on Penalties, Irith and Belvedere, if not their fourth, in this competition already. So, you know, and I did text their joint manager, Billy Hamlin just said, "Penalties again, A." And he said, "Of course." So, you know, that's the way it is for them. But, you know, you've got to have that metal in there to do it. (indistinct) - In the Skefel, Michael Golding celebrated 10 years in charge of Corinthian with the three and a win over Littown on Saturday. And this weekend is his 450th game as well. So he tells me, and he was manager of the week as well with a wonderful picture, as I've said. Fabulous from town, four and a winners at Hollands and Blair. It was Kennington, Neil Fisher, Neil Punjab, one, Sutton Athletic, one. And Tumbred as well as Beat Lordswood, two, one. It was the first home game in the league in 84 days, that one. Tuesday night, it was Ira Thavelbodir, one, Lord'swood, one. And Punjab United, one of the winners at Lottfield and New Hyde, moving them level on points with them, but still tight at those playoff places because Lottfield and Newhire, 38 points in 25 games, Punjab United, 38 points in 23 games. And then right outside the playoff places, you've got both Corinthian and Glee, 33 points from 21 games. So four games in hand for both of those are Lottfield and Newhives. So there's absolutely a chance that they could reel those in and keep going towards the end of the season. This weekend, this Ira Thavelbodir against Kennington, Fisher against Corinthian, Glee against Stan Sveld, Holmes' Dialogans, Lid Town, Lottfield and Newhives take on Lord'swood, it's Punjab United against Snovlin Town, Rustlemeat Beaasted, Tumbred as well as her home to Hollands and Blair. VCD Athletic take on Favisham, and it's Witsville and Sutton. Obviously, the standout tie there, Matt, VCD against Favisham. There are Favisham are eight points down in front of VCD. VCD do have a game in hand. They've got the vase. You would think for Favisham, they'll be looking at that, thinking if we can get a result there, that's going to be massive for them in this title race. Yeah, that's the big game. VCD good at home, I've lost the home. Favisham, I haven't lost the weight. Yeah, that's the medal. I'm sure VCD may have won on the couple of weeks away, won on the vase. I'm sure Tommy Warlow will be saying to his Favisham boys, right, here we go. We win this, gives us a really good position with a 10-15 games to go. So, yeah, a big game, probably the biggest game so far, maybe in these, get for this year, this season. Absolutely, a Sutton athletic take on Homestale on Wednesday in midweek in that division. Finally, the Southern Count's East League first division. The game between Lewis and Byron Hall's athletic was abandoned on Saturday. It was Ross, United, 3D, Vavisham, and Stratford's Neil. SC Tim's made two, Meridian VP2. That's the second point of the season for Meridian VP. They've turned the corner, Matt. It's Solta Hamlet's one, Sheppy Sports one, Wellington, Neil Canterbury City 3. And then this weekend, on Saturday, it's Blind and Mexican's Greenways, captain commuting against Hall's athletic, Favisham Strike Force against Solta Hamlet's. What was that? I've been moving the chair. Nice. Blimey, a captain commuting against Hall's athletic, Favisham Strike Force against Solta Hamlet's, FCM's sitting against Watchard United. Firestore parking into Canterbury City, it's Sheppy Sports against Croydon, Stapleton's Marks against Tuesday, teaching back, and Wellington take on Lewisham Barra. That's it, that's that team, isn't it? Is that the Sunday team? No, that's Forest Hill Park. Forest Hill, I keep getting them mixed up. So, can you be still doing well? Teams, I've got games in hand on them as well, but yeah. Well, nearly at that stage, Matt, have would you rather have the games in hand or the points on the point? Yeah, yeah. It won't be long until we manage that question. Yeah, yeah, that's a good point. They've got some players, don't they? Forest Hill Park and players he'd been round the houses. Really good players as well. Suck hands are still banging them in. Ryan Johnson, yeah. But no, Favisham, good result, Favisham Strike Force against them, I have to say, but they're doing well as well. But it won't be great if Canterbury can get promoted. You know, all the problems they've had doing really well this season have got some good players again. So, but you've got to probably fancy Forest Hill Park with superstars have done lead claim for them. Yeah, well, we shall see how that all plays out over the coming... Yeah, we came and played each other, of course. Yes, of course, yes. All the fun of the fair there, Matt. That's it for the football chart. I don't think we've missed anything, have we? We've been through it all, we've done the vase, we've done it. Yeah, we've done it all. Perfect, wonderful. You've got any TV recommendations for us? No, I'm back on watching Walking Dead. Darryl Dix, have you ever watched Walking Dead? No. No, it's good. So, we're watching that, apart from that. No, I've watched it again. No, 'cause I've been getting a bit out, John. So, there you go. But it really me book, wrapped up warm, haven't really watched too much telling. So, roll on the spring a little bit, no. So, there is stuff that's coming back on soon, but no, I haven't really watched too much, yourself. No, not too much. Nearly finished missing you, we've enjoyed it. We've got about, I think we've got about 15 minutes of that to go. We were watching it late at night, so we were quite knackered, so we just had to pause it. I have to tell, I have to say this thing, and I can't say too much about it, because young ears may hear this podcast, but we were just looking for something, just throw away to have on in the background of an evening while we're eating our dinner and stuff like that. And during lockdown, kind of got into this program called 90 Day Fiancé before the 90 Day Fiancé. And basically, it's about Americans who go around the world to meet people who they hope to marry. They've met them online, they've never met them before, and we see their first meetings. I think the series I watched was series four, and there were some iconic moments in it anyway. So, I started watching this latest series, and I will tell you this off-air map, but we're watching, I think it's the most recent series, and there was a guy whose name is Lauren, who lives in Las Vegas, and he was in the very first episode of this series, and the things he said were disturbing, and they have stayed with me, and I find it hard to articulate while I think about what he said, and I will tell you off when we're done. If anybody wants to know what horrified me, so feel free to look it up. Feel free to find it. The program's called 90 Day Fiancé before the 90 Days. His name is Lauren, he lives in Las Vegas, and he's, well, you'll find out if you want to. I really would recommend. My life was better before I heard what he had to say. - Oh, we're not interested in that. - No, no, no, honestly. Would I tell you in a minute, you're gonna beat me so much, it's unbelievable. But yeah, that was pretty much it, and say that's stayed with me. In other news, today is the launch of the most hyped alcoholic beverage of 2025, as the putty has been released by my favourite brewery verdant, down in Falmouth in Cornwall. They're very popular January beer, went on sale at 10.30 this morning. I had mine bought at 10.32. They're on the way in the post, and I'll probably try and get out to have some as well. If you're a fan of craft beer, this is Manner from Heaven. This is one of the ones, it's an incredible beer. I think I've had it every year since 2019, maybe. Always managed to get some or try some somewhere, and I'm very much looking forward to my six cans of beer arriving tomorrow. I'm a lad, yeah, forget what I just said about 90 day fiance, yeah, yeah, I'm a lad. I bought beer, craft beer, seven pound of can. But I bought beer, and I'm a lad, and I've been watching all stars. They mentioned Ashford United, I didn't say that. And Parry Run event's still in Love Island. I've not been watching it. - My daughter's got bored. I did ask her, are you watching it now? She's got bored with it, so. - There was one episode last week where they kept saying, well, Ashford, you know, I actually didn't think of that when they lost six, they're like, oh, okay, good day. And I was like, probably didn't play then, but obviously they just found that and thought it was humorous. But yeah, there was-- - Do you have to watch it then? - Maybe. - Is he a bit of a player? Has he, well, he's good footballer? Is he, well, he likes it? - He's a little bit of a player. And it was very funny the other day. This did make me laugh because they were, he had, my, my man points are on the floor. I'm not here. But he, he'd kissed one girl and then went and kissed another one like five minutes later. And the first girl, Louis, was coupled up with, got very upset about this. And she then got really annoyed at herself for being upset by saying, "God, it's won't even, it kisses like a washing machine." Which I thought, you know, it was quite funny. Like, do you know what? I don't know if that's a criticism or not. I've got no idea, you know. Maybe that's quite a nice experience if you're kissed by a washing machine. I don't know. - I don't know. - But I'll tell you what, I wish there was Lauren. - I remember there was a girl back in the day, John, and I was 18 and she had a packet of Doritos and that I would never eat such Doritos again after that. - Oh, dear. - Yeah, yeah, yeah. There you go. That's useless information about Doritos. - Well, I was going to say if Lauren from Las Vegas or non-Stevial and so was attracted to washing machines, I'd find out more palatable than what he has actually attracted to. Anyway, let's move on. Let's wrap up this week's show. Thank you everybody for listening. You can find us on social media. We are still, for the time being on X, we don't know how much longer that's going to last, for what we're in. And we're still on there at Kent and L podcast. We've got 2,000 followers. Don't we give that up too easily. Okay, so I find us on Facebook search for Kent Nonly podcast and the group Kent Nonly football chat. You can also find us on threads on Instagram, we're at Kent Nonly podcast. I'm at John clips 81. Matt is at Mattly underscore Gerard. Thank you everyone who's in this week's show. Thank you to all of our guests again. Commiserations to Danny Kedwell 'cause I thought he spoke brilliantly after that game and the shame that he didn't get the chance to see it through. And see how things go. We'll keep a close eye on how Ash would get on. Good luck to them for the rest of the season. And the rest of our team. Good luck to everybody this weekend. I hope you have a fantastic week. Button down the hatches, stay out of the wind. Look after yourselves. Get some party if you can. Have a lovely week. We'll speak for next week on the Kent Nonly podcast. - I'm going to try now to get organised before my wife gets in because it's absolutely carnage here and she's only been gone as I.

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