First Team
To say it’s good to get back to football again is an understatement. After the recent months of lockdown and worrying times for everyone it has been a huge relief to get back to some form of normality, even with the safety measures that are, of course, still in place.
Pre-season training was a great success. Players from all three senior sides initially training together in order for us to establish the squads for the forthcoming season. A big thanks goes to the coaches, managers and other helpers that provided quality training sessions in order to improve player fitness and technique and to all the players for the fantastic levels of attendance and effort. It was clear that everyone was raring to get back and put in every ounce of effort after the enforced break.
The First Team pre-season friendlies went well, with us winning three out of four of our games and allowing all of my players to get important match minutes prior to the season starting. The squad this season sees the inclusion of a number of young players that have progressed through the club, including Tom Rowe who at only 18 has already shown he will be a real asset to the squad and Leon Hasani who represented the First Team for the first time last season and continues to improve. We have only made one new signing, but one that I’m very happy to have made, so welcome to Ryan Perkin ‘Polly’. He is a fantastic asset for us and has already shown his quality. Finally, just to say how good our pitch is looking again this year – thanks to our groundsman Joe, to Steve Rose and the others that have helped especially during the long period of dry weather we had in the Summer.
K Sports Reserves 1-2 Fleetdown Utd
Our first League match of the season was a trip to K Sports Reserves, where it emerged that they have almost a completely new team compared to last season. K Sports started the game brightly and if it was not for a superb save by keeper Dan Smithers at full stretch and tipping a shot onto the post, we would have found ourselves chasing the game from an early stage. We did however quickly fight our way back into the game and get the upper hand, creating three very good chances before half time but unfortunately unable to convert on each occasion. HT 0 – 0. Continuing to apply pressure in the second half, we eventually made the breakthrough on 65 minutes. After a great run by Harry O’Brien down the left, he crossed low and hard for Kier McGiffen to cleverly slot home from close range. But our lead didn’t last long, a breakaway saw K Sports score with a good shot from the edge of the penalty box almost immediately to level the score. All credit to our players as we continued to press and look for the winning goal, and it came when a corner by Alfie Clark was met by Ryan Perkin at the far post rising above their defence to head home. This secured all three points in our first League match of the season away from home, of course a very good start, but we also know we can improve on the overall performance in the coming weeks.
Jimmy Martin – First team manager
Reserves
Fleetdown Utd Res 1-1 Parkwood Rangers
We faced a tough opening fixture against Parkwood Rangers, physical & well organised team that have proved difficult to match on previous occasions. But Saturdays performance we can be proud of.
We started with a good rhythm we moved the ball well and created plenty of chances early on and was rewarded with a goal through Dylan Skinner. A superb through ball and a composed finish. We led 1-0 at the break and were certainly controlling the game.
The visitors went for even more of the route one style to try and force their way into the game but for a long period we held on. Looking strong defensively and able to deal with the barrage of high and long balls we started to play again, after both teams hitting the bar and a few more close chances for Fleetdown at 1-0 it wasn’t looking safe. 80 minutes gone and a corner to Parkwood – GOAL. All square with 10 minutes to go. The boys came under some more direct pressure for 5 minutes and looked for the first time in the game vulnerable but the last 5 minutes saw Fleetdown have another big push and created another 2 big chances to change what ended a point a piece.
Extremely proud of the boys and the squad for what we have achieved in such a short space of time with almost a new squad entirely.
James Burn – Reserves Team Manager
A Team
Ightham 2-1 Fleetdown United FC A
Our first game of the new season started with us playing Ightham away. From kick-off we set our stall out, outplaying them for the first half. We continued 70 mins at 1-0 up.
We then conceded a sloppy goal 10 mins later before we had recovered they scored a worldie out of nothing from 25 yards out into the top corner.
This is what happens when u don’t take your chances as should have been 3 or 4 up by half time.
There has been a lot of positives to take from our pre-season particularly the introduction of previous senior players from the First and Reserves Teams who have now joined the Vets team. It’s great to be able to retain these players and extend their team playing at the club.
Spencer Wright – A Team Manager
Vets
Fleetdown United Vets 4-0 Hayden Vets
Our first friendly was against Hayden who will be competing in the same league as us this year. We started the game at a high tempo and were dominating them from the start. We capitalised on our early pressure with two first-half goals that settled us down and let us relax at half time. We were 4-0 up in the second half and the game was put to bed. Great to get a good result and all the players had a great work out.
Goals from Dan Thomas 2, Melih 1 & Lee Barret 2
Paul Lakin – Vets Manager