After suffering heartbreak in the play-offs for the past two seasons, Fleet Town fans will be hoping that it will be third time lucky in the Ryman Division One South this time around.

Last season, in the Southern League Division One South & West, Fleet pushed local rivals Farnborough all the way for the title, only to lose in the play-off semi-final against Uxbridge, to a last-gasp penalty.

Boss Andy Sinton admitted after that defeat that his players had missed a fantastic chance of promotion, but with the new season kicking off tomorrow, with a home clash against Corinthian-Casuals, expectations of another strong season are mounting.

Expectations that Sinton is keen to play down, after a tough pre-season which has seen Fleet struck down by injuries and the departure of key players.

Left-back Jack Smith joined Ryman Premier side Sutton United while talented young striker Ben Wright left Calthorpe Park two weeks ago, for Blue Square South side Hampton & Richmond. Simeon Howell has also moved on, joining Didcot Town.

The blow created by the duo’s departures has hardly been helped by long term injuries to Mark Paterson, Phil John and Phil Cousins, as well as influential midfielder Michael Douglas still missing, on duty with the Army.

Sinton told the News he was expecting a tough start to the campaign, but insisted that the long term aim — promotion — remains the same.

“The realistic aim has to be being competitive in the league,” he said. “But if we play to our potential, then we can make the play-offs again.

“We have had some financial restrictions imposed on us over the summer. The budget has been cut and I haven’t been able to replace some quality players that have left.

“The fans’ expectations will be high after the last few years, but they have to accept that with the budget cut, players out injured and missing, the first few months are going to tough for us.

“I know people are working very hard behind the scenes to bring in some investment, and hopefully in a few months we will have more funds to strengthen the side and have players returning to the squad as well. Then we can really look at challenging at the top.

“We are down on last year and I think about eight players short, so I’m under no illusions that it is going to be a testing few months, but I’m looking forward to the challenge. I know our capabilities and they are good players.

“The long-term aim is still the same and we want to win promotion, but in the short term, it will be tough and we have to give it our best shot.”

Despite all the problems over the summer however, pre-season results were good, with plenty of goals and victories over higher league opposition, showing Sinton’s men can still mix it with the big boys.

Even with the financial restrictions on him, the former England winger has added to his squad, with the capture of Tom Bird from Basingstoke Town as a replacement for Smith an excellent signing,  and on Monday Sinton secured the services of full-back Matt Ruby, who was released by Blue Square Premier side Woking last month.

Perhaps even better news is that last season’s player of the season, 30-goal midfielder James Field, and inspirational skipper Steve Noakes have both committed to the Calthorpe cause, much to Sinton’s delight.

“James is a key player for us, and it is a real boost that he decided to stay, because he did have the chance to move on,” he said. “He has great ability and I know he enjoys his football at Fleet.

“Last year he was fantastic for us, and at times he won games on his own. It was huge for us to hold onto him and I hope he can continue to progress this season.

“I was desperate to keep James and the same goes for Noakes as well, who I had a lot of interest in. He was happy to stay here, working with me, and he’s a great leader.”

He added: “The new guys that we have brought in are good players and have settled in well. Jamie McClurg was a good player at this level last year with Bracknell. Ben White was very influential for us a couple of years ago and it’s good that he is back with us.

“I’m delighted that Matt Ruby has signed up. I kept in touch since his loan spell with Fleet two seasons ago and it’s great news he’s back with us.

“Tom Bird has come in from Basingstoke and he is a quality player with something to prove after dropping down. So we have added some quality to the squad, even if we are lacking a few bodies.”

The Ryman leagues are traditionally a little tougher than the Southern leagues, and with the likes of Kingstonian travelling to Fleet this season, that is a view that Sinton certainly agrees with.

The Kingsmeadow club are probably the biggest side in the league, but the Fleet boss said there were plenty of strong sides in what is an extremely competitive division.

“I do think there is slightly more quality in this league than what we faced last year,” he said. “There are a lot of big sides in there this time round.

“Kingstonian, Folkestone and the Met Police are always strong, and Cray have been spending a lot of money over the summer as well.

“But it’s always nice when a little team pushes the big boys. That is what we did last year, and I’m convinced that once we get going, get everyone fit and back in the side, we can do that again this year.”

Tomorrow’s visitors are not one of the fancied sides, and Corinthians are a team that have struggled at this level.

Last season they finished 20th, just avoiding relegation, so Fleet fans will expect to pick up three points, but they go into the game with problems at the back. Noakes and Steve Hemmings are suspended, Paterson is injured and Damien Smith is unavailble, leaving Sinton without a recognised centre-back.

The Fleet boss warned that the last thing he expected was comfortable afternoon against one of the league’s minnows.

“I have had someone watch them so I know a little bit about them,” he said. “They are a young, hungry side so it will be a test for us, even though they have finished around the bottom for a few years now.

“That doesn’t really count for anything, and they will come with nothing to lose. It will be a tough opener, particularly as most people will expect us to win the game. The result is the only thing I’m worried about, and getting off to a good start will give us a boost before we go to Kingstonian on Monday.”

Kick off at Calthorpe Park is at 3pm.