It would be nice to get into the play-off zone at this stage of the season, says Faversham Town boss

Monday 14th February 2011

FAVERSHAM TOWN boss Justin Luchford says he wants the fans to flock through the Salters Lane turnstiles for their Kent derby clash with Ramsgate on Saturday, writes Stephen McCartney.

The Lilywhites are now unbeaten in eight league games following their 1-1 draw away to struggling Corinthian-Casuals at the weekend, but they will leapfrog over Burgess Hill Town into the Ryman League Division One South play-off’s with a win on Tuesday night.

Casuals grabbed a last-gasp equaliser after Damian Abel had given the Kent side the lead in Tolworth on Saturday.

“It should have been three (points), I think,” said Luchford. “Obviously disappointed to not close out the game again. I think if we taken our first half chances we’d be out of sight again.

“They’ve got a fairly decent home record recently - they’ve changed a few players and they play some decent football so I can’t be too disappointed.”

Luchford admitted he wasn’t aware that his side can jump from seventh to fifth with a win over Burgess Hill on Tuesday night.

“Do we? Right, ok! I’m not too sure. I haven’t looked at the league table for a bit. I know how many points (44) we’ve got and that’s all what’s in my mind at the moment.”

He added: “It’s a tough fixture going down there on a Tuesday night. Any team that have got to travel that distance on a Tuesday night is under pressure some what so we’ll go there tomorrow night and hopefully give a good account of ourselves and hopefully try and keep the run going that we’re on at the moment.”

And on his side’s chances of claiming fifth place with a win, Luchford said: “Yes, it would be nice to be there but at this stage of the season it’s just nice we’ve got so many points on the board and going into the last thirteen games in decent form.

“Obviously only losing one in 18 is testament to the players and the work we’re doing so we’re pleased where we are but as always with me we don’t get carried away, we’ve got no intentions of that.

“We’ve got a job to do and we’ll keep working at it and when we get to the end of this month we’ll take stock of where we are going in the last ten games and see what we can and can’t achieve.”

Ramsgate - also unbeaten in eight games - arrive at Salters Lane on Saturday and Luchford hopes the fans flock through the turnstiles.

“It should be a good game and hopefully should be a big crowd as well,” said Luchford.

“I think it’s the time of the season where a big crowd will go down well putting the money back into the club.

“It’s got all the makings of a cracking game. They travel (to Godalming) tomorrow, we travel tomorrow. I think we’re second and third respectively in the form guide at the moment so it’s two sides going into the game in good form, depending on what happens tomorrow night.

“It was a close game up there. We should have taken all three points. They got a bit of a smash-and-grab at the end and got themselves a point but there wasn’t much between the two sides and I don’t expect that to be any different Saturday.

“Jim (Ward’s) got a decent side down there, he’s had a side of established players, like us, that have been there for a long time.

“Hopefully it will be an exciting game for the crowd. Get a big crowd in, a good Kent derby and hopefully we can continue our good home form.”

Faversham Town’s average gates in the Ryman League of 140 this season - the club averaged around the 200 mark in the Kent League last season.

“It is disappointing but at the same time you have to remember no-one’s getting big crowds,” explained Luchford.

“It’s eight pounds to get in, in the Ryman League and we’re dictated to by the league and unfortunately in the current climate people haven’t got the money to spend.

“Our average is well over 100 at home. If you look at clubs around us at the same level we’re still fairly decently supported compared to other clubs. You look at the Ryman Premier, Maidstone United, who are only pulling in 250-300 and Maidstone are a massive club!

“I think it shows it’s hard times at the moment. There’s no a lot of money in non-league football unless you’ve got someone with a lot of cash behind them that can throw at the club’s.

“I read on the Margate website two months ago if they don’t get the gates up they will have to pull back some money.

“It’s not great but all we can do as managers - in the Kent League, our level and above - just try and get results and try and do well that people want to come and get involved and watch a decent game of football.”

Visit Faversham Town’s website: www.favershamtownfc.co.uk

Burgess Hill Town v Faversham Town

Ryman League Division One South

Tuesday 15th February 2011

Kick Off 7:30pm

At Leylands Park, Maple Drive, Burgess Hill, West Sussex RH15 8DL