Fisk challenges his players: Prove to me we've turned the corner

Hythe Town manager Paul Fisk has admitted he’s pleased with recent performances, but has warned they’ll have to maintain them before he says they’ve “turned the corner,” writes Stephen McCartney.

A goal-less draw at Beckenham Town was followed by a 2-1 home defeat to Maidstone United in the first leg of the Kentish Observer League Cup semi-finals last Tuesday.

But Fisk admits his side are still in the competition and are relishing their second leg trip to Bourne Park, Sittingbourne on Wednesday, 29^th March, with their eyes set on turning around their deficit to reach the final at Folkestone Invicta’s Buzzlines Stadium on Saturday, 29^th April, against VCD Athletic.

”I was very pleased with our performances in our last two games,” Fisk told www.hythetownfc.co.uk

“At Beckenham we obviously defended well, broke well, and had a good chance at the end of the game.

"On the Beckenham website there was a suggestion that we put ten men behind the ball and came only for a draw.

”But they're a good side and we merely kept our shape. We could have torn around the pitch and lost 5-0 and Beckenham Town would have been happy!

"Perhaps we rode our luck at times but who could deny that we have had more than our fair share of bad luck this season and we actually came away at the end thinking it was bad luck that we hadn’t won.”

Reflecting on their defeat to Maidstone United, Fisk added: “The lads are really pulling together of late and this was again the case against Maidstone.

"They are all working really hard and this is reflected in the fact that when we asked whether they wanted to train on Thursday after that match on Tuesday, they all wanted to.

”I was particularly happy with our second half display. I think we spent a bit too long sizing them up in the first half but in the second half they switched to 4-4-2 and this suited us.

”The players came off at the end really disappointed to have lost but they gave absolutely everything and, if we had drawn, I don’t think Maidstone would have argued too much.

”We are still in it for the next game. I won’t say we have turned the corner yet because I have said that before and been proved wrong. We have to ensure that we keep up that sort of tempo for all matches.”