Good afternoon Ladies and Gentlemen, boys and girls and welcome once again to krbs Priestfield Stadium, the real home of Kent football. I hope that you all enjoyed your day yesterday and that Santa remembered to bring the right presents for all the youngsters in the Stadium. Boxing Day is always one of the most anticipated fixtures of the football season and the early kick-off time gives us all the chance to get home to our loved ones and continue the festivities with our families.

The fixture compilers have been mercifully considerate this season, not only granting us a home tie but also ensuring that our visitors from West London have a short journey to endure. With both sides securing promotion from League Two last season, I think it's fair to say that our fixtures with Brentford were both keenly contested encounters last year, neither side able to claim bragging rights as both matches ended in hugely entertaining 1-1 draws. Hopefully Simeon Jackson can continue his record of scoring against the Bees having found the net in both fixtures last year.

The thousands of you that braved the elements for our last home fixture against Stockport County will doubtless of enjoyed witnessing a 3-1 win and some sensational football from the boys, albeit with some highly dubious goal celebrations. For a side residing at the foot of the table, I thought Stockport showed an admirable commitment to attack but were undone by a first half in which we displayed some of the best football I have seen at Priestfield all season, if we can replicate this form on a regular basis it certainly bodes well for the second half of the season.

Of course we would not be talking about events last weekend were it not for the outstanding efforts of those volunteers who laboured against the clock to remove 100 tons of snow from the surface, to ensure that the game could proceed as planned. Those who witnessed the scene within the ground at 10.00am would doubtless have predicted an instant postponement but through sheer grit and determination Head Groundsman John Plummer, his volunteers, backroom staff and stewards somehow cleared the covers in time for kick-off. It was a sensational illustration of the quality and commitment of our supporters that we were able to meet the deadline against all odds and all those involved in the team effort are a tremendous credit to this club.

Last weekend's result ensures that, regardless of today's outcome we will definitely reach the half way stage of the season with at least 25 points. If asked in August, I suspect many of us would happily have taken that tally at the midway point of the campaign and when you consider that the team have had to contend with long term injuries to Simon King, Stuart Lewis, Danny Jackman and now Simon Royce, those achievements are all the more impressive. Extending our excellent home unbeaten record today would enhance our prospects further still so shake off your festive excess, find your voice and let's get Priestfield rocking today.

A very happy and prosperous New year to you all.