LEAD HIS TEAM TO A FINAL

Ben Smith says guiding Canterbury City to a cup final is top of his wish list in 2017.

Two quarter-finals in 11 days highlight a busy January for the club.

They ‘host’ landlords Ashford United in the Macron Southern Counties East League Cup on Tuesday, January 10, before meeting Division 1 title-contenders Glebe in the Kent Reliance sponsored Senior Trophy on Saturday, January 21.

Both matches are at Homelands and Smith said: “It would be great if we could do it (reach a final) and there is no reason why we can’t.

“It is certainly something I would like to achieve.

“We have run Ashford close in recent games but haven’t come out on the right side in terms of results.”

Smith also wants to be in charge when the club finally get the long awaited go-ahead to return to the city.

A lot still has to happen before that momentous occasion in the club’s chequered history, either side of re-formation but Smith said: “It was one of the reasons why I came back in the first place.”

City go into the new year boosted by their first win over Hollands & Blair on Boxing Day.

The 3-1 victory – which left City in 12th – pleased Smith for several reasons.

He said: “We were up for it and the only side who should have won the game – taking our chances was the difference.

“Blair have bullied us in the past but we toughened up this time. There were some meaty challenges in the game but we matched them for that and outplayed them.

“They are flying in the league. It was only the second time they have lost in 20 league games this season, which is a record I find staggering because they only play one way – fighting and scrapping for 90 minutes.

“The one thing they do have though is quality strikers like James Mcdonald who got their goal early in the second half.”

Smith is looking to start 2017

‘It would be great if we could do it and there is no reason why we can’t’

well when they host his former club Whitstable Town at Ashford on Monday (3pm) with supporters of both clubs still viewing it as a derby, despite the match being played 15 miles away from Canterbury.

City will be looking to complete a double having won 4-1 at the Belmont in August.

Dan Wisker missed out on his return against Blair, pulling out late with a nerve problem in his back, while Gibraltar international Mikey Yome is unavailable for the Whitstable game.