Langton: Our minds have to be right to avoid giant killing

Saturday 29th August 2009

ASHFORD TOWN assistant manager Hugo Langton says his side must not underestimate tomorrow’s FA Cup opponents - Sussex County League basement boys Mile Oak, writes Stephen McCartney.

Ashford welcome the Portslade outfit to Homelands tomorrow, knowing that their opponents have lost all four of their Sussex County League top-flight games, but the FA Cup has a habit of throwing up shock results - just ask the Nuts & Bolts’ Ryman League Division One South opponents Eastbourne Town!

Eastbourne Town were trounced 4-0 at unbeaten Kent League side Hythe Town today, courtesy of goals from strikers Kieran Byrne and a hat-trick from Pat Kingwell.

And Ashford’s early season form hasn’t been too good either, having picked up just one point from their opening four league games, and are currently at the foot of the table, having shipped in thirteen goals.

But Langton, speaking to www.kentishfootball.co.uk on the eve of the Homelands clash, believes his side have too much quality for the Sussex strugglers to be on the end of a giant killing.

“Our form is not good in the sense that we’ve not been winning games,” said Langton. “But our form is good in the sense that we’re performing well.

“Mile Oak tomorrow, they’re coming to us, it’s a great game for them. They’ve got nothing to lose, they’ll have a right go at us, so we have to be on our game.”

Langton added: “Look, you know there’s probably going to be a shock this weekend, hopefully it won’t be us!

“As far as I’m concerned, if we go out tomorrow and perform like we did at Sittingbourne and against Godalming last weekend, and our standards are high from the off, then that should be enough to see us over the post.

“But, if we turn up thinking it’s going to be easy because they’re a league below us, then we may cause ourselves a few problems.

“We have to make sure we’re on our mettle tomorrow.”

With a big Sunday crowd expected to turn up at Homelands, and with £1,500 in much-needed prize money up for grabs, Langton hopes striker Paul Jones adds to the three goals that he’s scored so far this season to progress to the next round.

“Jonah is a good lad,” said Langton. “You know what you’re getting from him, he done it all last season as well.

“He loves playing for Ashford and we love him playing for Ashford. Hopefully the form will continue.”

Langton added: “Cup runs are always great, but the bread and butter is the league. Cup runs are a bonus. We’re not going to win the FA Cup, but any extra revenue we can bring into the club really helps.

“As it’s a Sunday game, there will be other people watching us tomorrow, people wanting to take in a game on a Sunday, they will be down as well, so that helps as well.”

www.kentishfootball.co.uk will be covering this game.

Visit Ashford Town’s website: www.ashfordtownfc.co.uk

Ashford Town v Mile Oak

FA Cup (Sponsored by E.ON) Preliminary Round

Sunday 30th August 2009

Kick Off 3:00pm

At Homelands Stadium, Ashford Road, Kingsnorth, Ashford, Kent TN26 1NJ