Home form real concern for manager

Canterbury City

Ben Smith says trying to find a solution to Canterbury City’s poor home form is his biggest challenge since taking charge. Missed chances again proved their downfall in the 2-0 Southern Counties East League, Premier Division home defeat against Rochester on Saturday. It was their third in a row and the City boss is worried. Smith said: “I am scratching my head, trying to work out what to do. It’s becoming a real dilemma and all a bit of a hard luck story for us at the moment. We have to make our own luck.” He added: “We came off the pitch on Saturday and the chairman and secretary both said we were clearly the better side. “I do believe we are not far off being a really good team but our lack of goals is the missing piece in the jigsaw “It’s not good enough. We should be expecting to beat teams like Rochester. “Ashford were great last

‘Our lack of goals, is the missing piece in the jigsaw ’

week – unreal for 20 minutes – but one of our supporters reckoned we should have been 5-4 up 20 minutes into the second half. “The game before that against Whitstable we dominated. They have one chance and score, while we were unable to get the ball over the line.” Reiss Crimmen – who is registered with City but has been playing for Chatham and County League team Borden Village – was due to be in the squad at home to Deal last night (Wednesday). However, Laurence Harvey was unavailable and Gary Clarke ruled out with a groin injury. City host Division 1 side Glebe in the quarter-finals of the Kent Senior Trophy on Saturday. The Chislehurst-based club are firm promotion favourites, second in the table, a point behind leaders Rusthall, following a 3-0 win at FC Elmstead on Tuesday night. Smith said: “They are ambitious and will be a tough team.”