Kentish Express Ashford & District
Lye’s task to trim his squad
Danny Lye admits he faces some difficult decisions in the build-up to the new Southern Counties East League season next month.
The Ashford United player-boss is working with more than 20 players in pre-season but is aiming to work with a squad of around 17.
He said: “We have got about 22 at the moment. I can’t keep all of them and I don’t want to because players won’t be happy if they are not getting games.”
One surprise inclusion in the games against Folkestone Invicta on Saturday and Faversham on Tuesday night was Darren Marsden.
The midfielder was at United last season before heading off to Hythe, then moving to Sheppey United, winning the man-of-the-match award in the Kent Senior Trophy final penalty shoot-out win over the Nuts and Bolts at Maidstone in April.
Lye said: “Darren texted me last week, saying he was without a club. I told him I couldn’t afford him but he told me it wasn’t about the money, he just wanted to play.”
Youngsters Tom Fagg and Charlie Dickens are back at the club, having been training at Ryman League Premier Division club Harlow and Josh Woolley, who seemed set to try and find another club, was also involved against Faversham.”
Lye was pleased with youth team striker Luke Eldridge who scored twice in the 5-4 win against Folkestone, adding: “It was the first time we had seen him in a game and he done well.”
Another youngster Brandon Williams featured on Tuesday, while Maidstone under-21 keeper Nathan Parsons played in both games,
United have been drawn at home to SCEL Premier Division rivals Corinthian in the FA extra preliminary round draw. The tie takes place on Saturday, August 6, with the winners at home to Southern Combination League Three Bridges a fortnight later.
United have switched their friendly against Ramsgate on Saturday (11am) to Homelands as the Thanet club’s pitch is not ready. They are at home to Maidstone on Tuesday (7.45pm).