HYTHE HEROES: We'll be bang up for it and ready to cause another FA Cup shock, warns Scott Porter

Monday 11th October 2010

SCOTT PORTER says guiding Hythe Town to the final qualifying round of the FA Cup for only the second time in the club’s history is his best achievement so far, writes Stephen McCartney.

Skipper Dave Cook lead by example and stepped up to the plate as his goal inflicted defeat for Ryman Premier League side Concord Rangers at the weekend.

The Safety Net Associates Kent League club’s reward is a home tie against Bury Town (Ryman Premier League) or Staines Town (Blue Square Bet South) on 23 October.

The club have already banked £17,250 in Football Association prize money, having already beaten Bookham (4-0), Deal Town (4-2), Epsom & Ewell (2-0) and Erith & Belvedere (4-1), before their heroics in Canvey Island to knock Concord out.

“It was a great day and we certainly did enjoy it,” Porter told www.kentishfootball.co.uk, admitting he was nursing a bit of a hangover.

“Like I say, it’s back down to earth now and focus on concentrating on the week ahead. It was a great day on Saturday and a well deserved win.”

Reflecting on the game, Porter said: “We showed them a bit too much respect, to be honest, first half and they were a bit more physical than us, but second half we created chance after chance and we hit the post and to be honest with you Kieran (Mann) only made one save and that was our mistake in the first half and apart from that he wasn’t troubled.

“We could have won two or three-nil and that was the reflection on the game. Luckily it was one and we will take that all day long.

“All credit to my lads, we worked hard all week in training and our fitness and quality showed in the end.

“It was a great day for the football club and it wouldn’t have happened without the lads, with the way they played on Saturday.

“Was it my best achievement as Hythe Town’s manager? Yes, I would have thought so, definitely. Getting to the fourth round qualifying is a massive statement for the club and for myself.

“But it’s not down to me, it’s all down to the twenty-odd people involved in the dressing room and the coaching staff and we couldn’t have done it without the players.”

Staines Town and Bury Town face each other again at Wheatsheaf Park on Tuesday night and the winners will not fancy their trip to Reachfields Stadium, playing against a Hythe side that are unbeaten in their last five games and only Deal Town have come away from there with victory.

“We wanted a big draw like Luton or someone like that but we didn’t get it - but we’ve got a home tie and you can’t argue about that and it’s another winnable game,” said Porter.

“If it’s Bury it’s Ryman Premier and we beat a Ryman Premier side Saturday so there’s no reason why we can’t do that again and we matched Woking last year in the Blue Square South.”

Porter’s side held a full-time Woking side to a draw in the Second Qualifying Round last season but Graham Baker’s side put in a professional display on home soil with a 5-1 replay victory.

“It’s the FA Cup and stranger things have happened and I’m sure we’ll be bang up for it and ready to hopefully cause another shock,” added Porter.

If Hythe win their sixth FA Cup tie of the season, the club can expect the national media spotlight to descend on Reachfields Stadium for being one of the lowest ranked sides left in the competition, and Porter’s heroes could lock horns with the likes of former Premier League clubs Bradford City, Charlton Athletic, Sheffield Wednesday, Southampton, Swindon Town - or local sides Gillingham or Brighton too.

“You make history at the end of the day (with a win),” said Porter. “Like I said to the lads on Saturday we’ve got to enjoy this moment as these things don’t come round often.

“I said in the changing room after go out and enjoy it, I certainly will and we did have a great journey on the way home and these days bring the club together and definitely brought the players and the club together on Saturday and long may it continue.

“It’s only 90 minutes away from the first round proper and that will be an unbelievable achievement.”

Before their second giant-killing act, Hythe welcome their Kent League rivals Corinthian to Reachfields Stadium on Saturday for a place in the Second Round of the Kent Senior Trophy up for grabs.

Hythe are presently in fourth place in the Kent League table with four wins and a draw from their seven league games, while Tony Sitford’s outfit are in the bottom six with two wins and a draw from their seven league outings.

“We’ve got quite a big squad and the squad will be getting a turnaround with a few players being rested and I will look at some fringe players that I’ve got,” revealed Porter.

“It is bread and butter and that’s what we’ve got to do. We’ll bring them back down to earth tomorrow night with an hours worth of fitness, like we have done most Tuesday’s.”

Visit Hythe Town’s website: www.hythetownfc.co.uk

Hythe Town v Corinthian

Kent Senior Trophy First Round

Saturday 16th October 2010

Kick Off 3:00pm

At Reachfields Stadium, Fort Road, Hythe, Kent CT21 6JS