The pressure is all on Hythe, insists Martin Larkin

Monday 15th November 2010

TUNBRIDGE WELLS boss Martin Larkin says the pressure is all on Hythe Town when the two sides meet at Reachfields Stadium on Saturday, writes Stephen McCartney.

Both sides booked their places in the last 64 of the FA Carlsberg Vase at the weekend with Tunbridge Wells thrashing Hellenic League Division One East side Holyport 8-0 at Culverden Stadium, while Scott Porter’s side thrashed Kent League rivals VCD Athletic 5-1 at Oakwood.

Tunbridge Wells go into the Kent League clash sitting in eight place with 15 points from 8 league games, while ninth-placed Hythe have collected 13 points from seven outings.

It’s been just over two weeks since Hythe were defeated 5-1 away to League Two side Hereford United in the FA Cup - the first time in 53 years that a Kent League club have reached the First Round.

Both sides are now playing catch up as they bid to climb up the Kent League table, but with Scott Porter’s side tipped to clinch the title next April, Larkin told www.kentishfootball.co.uk that the pressure is on the home side to deliver the goods.

“In our League, it’s the hardest away game of the season down at Hythe,” said Larkin.

“They’re a very good team, they’ve got some players there who shouldn’t be playing in the Kent League. Fact. Brendon Cass, Dave Cook, Pat Kingwell and Kieran Byrne shouldn’t be playing in the Kent League so Hythe are very lucky to have them. It’s testament to Scott and the board there that they’ve got them at the club. It’s a very good side.”

When asked why team’s fear playing at Reachfields Stadium, Larkin responded: “The ground, obviously, with the over-hanging stand makes it a bit of an intimidating place but we went down there last year and got a point. We’ll go down there again and make sure the game plan is in place. It’s getting a balance really, making sure you respect them for what they can do but not respecting them too much.

“Us and Hythe are in a similar position (in the league as) we’ve only played 8 and 7 games respectively so we’ve got a lot of games to kick on and they’ll be keen to do that and we’re keen to do that and we’re going down there above them in the league so we need to make sure we apply ourselves properly and the VCD game (which we won 3-1 away) is very much the template for that.”

Hythe haven’t played a league game since 21 September, as their Cup priorities have taken over during their last eight games.

“It’s important for them because they haven’t played a league game (for weeks) and there’s a lot of pressure on them. People will now expect, because of their FA Cup run, that they’ll go on and win the league so the pressure will be completely on them. There’s no pressure on us at all.

“We’ll go down there, because we have got games in hand on people above us it’s almost a freebie really with them it’s probably not because the pressure’s on them to deliver having had their FA Cup run they’ll need to win the game so we’ll be aware of that.

“If we can get about them and deal with them properly, like the VCD game, there’s no reason why we can’t go down there and get something out of the game.”

Meanwhile, Hythe Town have confirmed that central midfielder Ronnie Dolan and highly-rated central defender Pat Kingwell have signed contracts.

Visit Tunbridge Wells’ website: www.tunbridgewellsfc.co.uk

Hythe Town v Tunbridge Wells

Safety Net Associates Kent League

Saturday 20th November 2010

Kick Off 3:00pm

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