McKimm sees tougher task
K SPORTS: READY TO HIT THE ROAD Tonbridge
writes Luke Cawdell. K Sports’ home game against Bridon Ropes tomorrow (Saturday) will be their last for months. They’ll play the next 12 next Southern Counties East Division 1 matches away while their Cobdown ground is redeveloped, a 3G pitch among the improvements. Manager Kris Browning said: “That’s probably our promotion chances gone!” K Sports – formerly APM Contrast – are unbeaten after two games of the new season. Nick Nowotny scored their second-half winner in a 1- 0 victory over Eltham Palace last Saturday. Sam Butterworth and Rob Norman gave them a 2-1 lead at Gravesham Borough on Tuesday but they conceded an equaliser in injury time. Browning said: “We dominated both games. We’re just lacking a goalscorer.” Tuesday but those options to make changes are shortening.
Edinburgh hopes to be able to make some more signings before the transfer window closes on August 31
He said: “We made changes and those boys who didn’t make Saturday were close. With the quality we have in the squad, we don’t think we are weakening it.
“We are going to need one or two more before the window closes – defence and in midfield maybe – but we think we have great competition and that is paying dividends at the moment.” Despite the injuries, Gillingham managed to back up their 3-1 league victory at Southend with the same score in the League Cup three days later.
He said: “It’s been (the injuries) quite horrendous but it is a testament to the squad. It is being tested but it has enough quality to be able to deal with it.” have been rewarded for their cup win with a trip to Premier League Watford in the second round. Most of the ties will take place on Tuesday, August 23, and a confirmed date will be announced shortly. entertain Southend at Priestfield on Tuesday night. Tonbridge manager Steve McKimm thinks the Ryman League Premier Division will be even tougher this year. Angels are out to build on last season’s run to the play-offs but face stiff competition. They start against Wingate & Finchley tomorrow (Saturday, 3pm) and visit Burgess Hill on Tuesday (7.45pm). McKimm said: “You’re in football to be successful, not to make up the numbers and if we don’t improve on last season it won’t be for the want of trying. “There’s no point hoping for the best, you’ve got to set targets if you want to be successful. . “We’ll have our work cut out because there’s 10-12 decent teams who will be giving it a good go. “It’s going to be a stronger league this year, with a lot more teams who can compete for it. “You look at Enfield, who put a run together last season, Bognor are always there or thereabouts, Dulwich are one of the favourites, Hendon have recruited well and Havant have come down into our league. We’ve got to be on it in every single game.” Angels have made four summer signings – wingers Bradley FortnamTomlinson and Damian Scannell, centre-half George Beaven and striker Andre McCollin. McKimm said: “There were four players I wanted and, luckily enough, I got all of them. “We needed a centre-half with Laurence Ball leaving, a wide player or two and a striker to provide competition for Nathan Elder, Luke Blewden and Tommy Whitnell. “All I did was put forward what we were trying to do, that they’d have to buy into that, I made them offers and they all agreed.” There’s more good news for Angels, with midfielder Tom Phipp making his comeback from a long-term knee injury, playing 15 minutes in a 3-2 friendly win over East Grinstead last weekend. McKimm said: “He’s been out 10 months but looked like he’d never been away. We need to nurse him back. “It’ll be a case of monitoring him game by game but if he carries on the way he is, I don’t think it’ll be too long before he gets through 90 minutes.”