My players' have a point to prove against Invicta, admits Hythe boss Fisk - EXCLUSIVE

Hythe Town manager Paul Fisk is looking forward to Wednesday night’s derby showdown with Folkestone Invicta, writes Stephen McCartney.

Despite being a pre-season friendly, Fisk feels his side have a point to prove against their Ryman Premier League neighbours.

“We look forward to it really as it’s a test for our players,” he said EXCLUSIVELY to www.kentishfootball.co.uk following their 5-3 win over Lewisham Borough earlier today.

“Lots of our lads are ex-Folkestone players, who didn’t make the grade at Folkestone, so they want to show what they can do.

“And there’s a few players at Folkestone who are ex-Hythe players, who have gone on and done better.

“I’m looking forward to it, I like Neil (Cugley), I worked with him for quite a long time, so we’re looking forward to the game and we know it’s going to be hard because the league that Folkestone are in, and the quality players that they’ve got.”

Fisk feels his side are “fit and raring to go” for their Kent League opener at Lordswood on 11^th August.

“We’re not making any predictions about anything, but as long as we’re right, fit and the side’s right, we’ll go into it hoping we’ll get a win, because that is what (pre-season) is all about, the first game.

“We’ll gear this towards our first game, enjoy Folkestone and Ashford, but the aim is to be fit and raring to go by the first game.”

Having broken into the top six sides in the Kent League last season, Fisk knows his side will have to stamp out their defensive frailties, having leaked three goals against Kent County Premier League side Lewisham Borough, if they are to stay in that bracket this season.

“We want to be in the top six,” Fisk said. “If we can try and be in the top six for the best part of the season, and then improve and finish higher than that, that would be great.

“Last season we were trying to get into the top six (and) this season I want to be in the top six, stay in the top six.

“We’re all looking forward to the season, we’re hopeful. But we do know there’s a lot of good sides.”

He added: “The hard thing is to stay in the top six and that’s what we want to do - be one of the top six sides.

“So to do that, we have to do it again and stay in there comfortably.”

With Reachfields Stadium having good facilities, Fisk admitted that the club needs more money at its disposal if they’re to achieve promotion into the Ryman League.

“You need a little bit of money and things, to get into the Ryman League, and at the moment, we haven’t got the most money at all, I would say,” he said.

“We need sponsors and other things to bring some money in and if we can get a bit of money in, then obviously yes, our aim is to get into the Ryman League.”

But Fisk is not under pressure to secure Ryman League football at Reachfields Stadium - in fact the club are happy to stay in the Kent League until they’re ready on and off the pitch.

“It’s something that we’d like to do but there’s no pressure saying we’re going to do it,” he said.

“If we’re going to do it, and there’s no pressure to do it, then they’ll probably need more money to put pressure on you.

“There’s no pressure, we want to do well - but it’s no different to everyone else in the league.”

Former Dover Athletic goalkeeper, Paul Hyde is expected to return in goal for the Ashford Town's visit to Reachfields Stadium on Tueday, 7th August - as he's currently on holiday.

The Nuts & Bolts are managed by former Dover Athletic boss, Clive Walker.

Visit club websites:

www.hythetownfc.co.uk

www.folkestoneinvicta.co.uk

Hythe Town v Folkestone Invicta
Pre-Season Friendly
Wednesday 1^st August 2007
Kick Off 7:45pm
At Reachfields Stadium, Fort Road, Hythe