Preview Part 2:
Following on from yesterday’s opening gambit in the prediction stakes comes part two. And we begin with the soap opera that is Carshalton Athletic.
Carshalton Athletic
Manager: Paul Dipre
Last Season: 13th
Hendon Results 10/11: Home W 1-0, Away L 2-1
I suspect life as a Robins fan is anything but dull. Goings on at Colston Avenue both on and off the pitch have been something of a rollercoaster ever since Paul Dipre became owner of the club with play off finals, battles against relegation, change of club badge, change of club colours and internal wranglings this summer which has resulted in a number of fans being banned from Colston Avenue. I have my own views on this, which I will explore further down the line, suffice to say that Carshalton fans are amongst those that I think Hendon have a good rapport with and always impress me on visits North of the river. There has been a lot of rumour around the internet about the amount of money invested by owner / manager Dipre this summer on new faces in his pursuit of a place in the Conference South. It remains to be seen whether he has managed to get the blend right, but the likes of former Hendon loanee Kieran Murphy, Craig Tanner, David Ray, Francis Quarm, Dean Lodge, Joel Ledgister, Paul Vines, Dean McDonald and Laurent Hamici ought to be enough to give most managers at this level nightmares. With so many new faces, the side will need to gel quickly if they are to live up to their tags as many people’s favourites. If Dipre has got the mix right then it’ll take a very good side to stop the title moving a couple of miles down the road from Gander Green Lane. A poor start though, and it’ll be interesting to see whether his notoriously itchy finger will point some of these players towards the door and test the patience of those loyal fans who are still able to watch the side at home.
Verdict: Play Offs
Concord Rangers
Mangers: Danny Cowley, Danny Scopes
Last Season: 8th
Hendon Results 10/11: Home W 4-1, Away L 2-3
The generally accepted view of Concord following Hendon’s first home match of last season when Belal Aite-ouakrim overwhelmed the visitors with a four goal blitz was that 4-1 was an extremely harsh score-line and that they shouldn’t have too many problems staying up. We were right, Concord had no problems staying up. In actual fact, they completed an extremely impressive debut season in the Ryman Premier Division in 8th place, just two points off of the play offs. The two Dannys Cowley and Scopes have constructed a very talented squad full of Premier Division quality and I fully expect them to go well again this time around. Sam Holloway and Sam Collins (one of my favourite Hendon players of the last 5 years or so) have both joined the club along with Michael Noone, the experienced Richard Halle, Tom Bruno, Tom Hollingsworth, Loren Maxwell and Michael Begg. When added to the likes of the Elmes brothers, Dale Brightley, Ashley Miller and co, they will provide the Greens with very stiff opposition in the season’s curtain raiser on Saturday. Former West Ham youngster Tony Stokes is probably the stand out name in the Beachboys’ squad, as he came close to a move to Hartlepool in the summer, and the Rangers faithful will be hoping that he shakes off the knock which is likely to keep him out of tonight’s friendly with Southend in time for Saturday afternoon. Relegation won’t be a concern again for the side from Canvey Island, but I think they may just fall short again of the play offs.
Verdict: Upper Mid Table Security.
Cray Wanderers
Manager: Ian Jenkins
Last Season: 9th
Hendon Results 10/11: Home D 2-2, Away L 1-3
Fellow groundsharers Cray are another side who have enjoyed a pretty meteoric rise from County League football to the heady heights of the Ryman Premier Division where they are now firmly established and indeed, finished last season in the gaggle of clubs within spitting distance of the play offs. Top scorer Laurent Hamici has swapped Hayes Lane for Carshalton and leaves a big hole to be filled, but Tommy Whitnell has been in prolific form for the Ambers in pre-season and Ian Jenkins will be hoping that he can take this into the new season. Former Hendon custodian Dave King is another to move on, Andy Walker moves across from Maidstone in what looks to be an astute addition. Dan Young is another new face having been with Margate and Carshalton, and Luke Coleman was expected to sign having enjoyed time with Ebbsfleet United amongst others in the past. Once again, Cray will prove to be tough opponents and I certainly cannot see them struggling. However, I also think another play off tilt will be slightly beyond them and will have to end up settling for mid table obscurity this time around.
Verdict: Mid Table Anonymity
East Thurrock United
Manager: John Coventry
Last Season: 1st (Ryman Div 1 North)
Hendon Results 10/11: n/a
The Rocks finally made their way back into the Premier Division last season after a 3 year absence where a single point deduction condemned them to relegation to Division 1 North. In the ensuing three seasons, they have come close to gaining promotion through the play offs but last season made sure there was no doubt by winning the title handsomely from runners up Needham Market. John Coventry has done a superb job and will be looking for his charges to make an immediate impact at a higher level. Sam Higgins, who has proven himself to be a prolific goalscorer at Chelmsford City in the Blue Square South and who scored in the Clarets’ 3-2 1st Round FA Cup win against Hendon last season before returning to the club where he made his name shortly afterwards, will be key to their survival hopes although there is plenty of experience and quality in the likes of Joe Keith, Greg Cohen, Simon Peddie and Jamie Riley for Coventry to count on. They will be something of an unknown quantity and if they can achieve a strong start to the season, I think the Rocks should have enough to keep their heads above water. It could be a long winter, but they have every chance of survival.
Verdict: Survival
Harrow Borough
Manager: Dave Anderson
Last Season: 5th
Hendon Results 10/11: Home L 0-3, Away W 3-2
Going to Earlsmead and not seeing David Howell in the home dugout will be a strange experience next season. It will be even more bizarre given that the man in the hot seat will be so familiar to Greens fans, Dave Anderson. The Ulsterman accepted the challenge of taking over after Howell’s departure to St. Albans City despite not actually applying for the position.. Early signs are that he will need to rebuild the squad with a number of last season’s squad moving on, many following Howell to leafy Hertfordshire. Assisting him during pre-season has been former Ashford Town, Margate and Carshalton boss Mark Butler and if he can be persuaded to stay on board for the season proper, then that could end up being Harrow’s most astute signing of the summer. Anderson has already been busy using his contacts and the loan market to bolster his squad with former Bury Town goalkeeper Nick Pope joining from Charlton, and Lee Wootton and former Hendon man J-J Bates signing on loan from Dagenham and Redbridge. Scott Orphanou will be hoping that he can make the step up from Northwood and provide the goals along with another ex-Green for a brief time David Lawrence and Kurt Morlese. Given Anderson’s experience at this level then I don’t expect Harrow to struggle, however I think a repeat of last season’s magnificent efforts is pretty unlikely as well. Solid mid table.
Verdict: Lower Mid Table Safety
Hastings United
Manager: Jason Hopkinson
Last Season: 18th
Hendon Results 10/11: Home D 0-0, Away D 1-1
This time last year I would have been tipping Hastings for a run at the play offs. They had come close in 2009/10 under Tony Dolby and looked a good side early on last season when they drew 0-0 at Vale Farm. Fast Forward 3 months and the wheels had well and truly come off. An early cup exit and lower crowds than expected led to sizeable budget cuts. Players like Jamie Cade, Anthony Storey and the Orolunda brothers left, along with Dolby and in came Jason Hopkinson to try and turn things around. The size of his task can be seen with Hastings’ run of results after beating Harrow Borough 2-0 on the 2nd October. The next time they experienced victory came on 12th February, beating Tooting 3-2. In that four and a half month period they picked up just 5 points. Although they picked up just 4 wins following that victory, it was enough to keep them in the Premier Division by the skin of their teeth. With a full pre-season behind him to prepare, Hopkinson will hope to keep a more settled squad this time around and to start the season strongly. Sean Ray, Josh Jirbandy, Lee Carey and Kenny Pogue are all seasoned at this level and they will be looking to bring the younger members of the squad on. If United don’t get off to a good start then I suspect they may struggle, time will tell though and I’m sure their faithful will be more than happy to see me proven thoroughly wrong.
Verdict: A Season of Struggle
Tomorrow in part 3 I will be looking at Hendon, Horsham, Kingstonian, Leatherhead, Lewes and Lowestoft.
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