Kentish Gazette Canterbury & District
Build a head of steam
Manager Dan Lawrence wants his new-look Canterbury City side to quickly gather momentum after starting their latest era with a point.
Lawrence had mixed emotions after Monday’s Southern Counties East League Premier Division goalless draw against Lordswood at Woodstock. He felt his bottom-of-the-table team had done enough to win but was pleased with a clean sheet as young goalkeeper Harry Mckie impressed. “We brought some new lads in,” Lawrence said. “We signed six or seven over the week and three or four of them came straight in.
“It was a new team so, for 15 or 20 minutes, Lordswood probably had the better chances. “But young Harry who has signed on dual registration from Bowers - James Collins has done me a bit of a favour there - he performed really well and made a couple of saves early on. “But, from there, we were on top, really.
“We controlled the game, had the better chances, missed a couple of one-on-ones and their keeper pulled off some really good saves so the feeling in the dressing room afterwards was definitely more disappointment at two points dropped rather than one point gained. “But it’s just about trying to shift the mentality a little bit.
“They’re down the bottom and have been beaten heavily at times so it’s just about getting them enjoying it again and trying to build some momentum.”
Other new faces in City’s line-up were a mix of experienced heads - including Dan’s brother Rob who has
rejoined from Bearsted - and some young prospects. Lawrence said: “I know Mike Turner from playing with him at Herne Bay and he’s certainly a personality you want in the dressing room.
“When you’re down the bottom, he’s someone who buys into the battle, with the grit and determination you need to get out of it. That was a no-brainer for him to come in.
“Rob is another experienced head. He’s a good lad in the dressing room and will pop up with goals - although he probably should have had two on Monday.
“With the way we want to play, he really helps link the play. That was a nice, easy one! “They’re two not coming in for money, they’re coming in for the right reasons. Then we have targeted some youngsters. “We had Leo Dodds, who plays for my under-18s at Herne Bay, on the bench. He has come in on dual-registration, as has Monty Saunders.
“Kevin [Watson, Herne Bay’s boss] has allowed him to come in. Even though he’s been on the bench a few times for the firstteam, Monty needs experience. He started and did well. “Young Harry Maher was at
Glebe at the beginning of the season but was struggling with injuries and stopped enjoying it so he hasn’t been playing. But he’s ex-gills and only a young lad.
“Luke Illsey was at Herne Bay a couple of years ago with me. He’s come in to help us out, hopefully, for a few games. “It’s just a case of calling in some favours and targeting some players that we know are young and just need a chance.” Canterbury, four points behind second-bottom Bearsted, visit Holmesdale on Saturday (2pm). Lawrence said: “In all the years I’ve played them, it’s never been
an easy place to go to. That’ll be tough. But coming into it on the back of a clean sheet, if we can build on that, taking some of the chances we created, we’ll be going there for three points and, hopefully, we can get them. “I think they all are looking at the fixtures. I don’t think there’s any easy games. If you look at Monday’s results - Welling Town beating Deal - it shows they are all tough ones. But I think we have just got to concentrate on ourselves.
“If we perform at the levels we want to get to, we’ll be okay. It’s just a confidence thing at the minute.”