The pressure's on Whitstable, says Sittingbourne boss Nick Davis

SITTINGBOURNE player-caretaker-manager Nick Davis says he is looking forward to playing in another tough Kent derby against Whitstable Town on Saturday.


The Brickies welcome Nicky Southall’s side to Woodstock to contest a FA Carlsberg Trophy Preliminary Round tie.

Sittingbourne, who travel to Conference South side Staines Town in The FA Cup Third Qualifying Round next Saturday, appear to be saving their top form for cup football.

They are in the bottom five in the Ryman League Division One South table with three wins and a draw from their ten league games.

Whitstable Town arrive at Broadoak Road sitting four places higher with 13 points from 11 games.

“We’re expecting a tough game against Whitstable,” said Davis, 31.
 
“I know they’ve picked up some results lately, beating Leatherhead away.

“They’re a well-organised, tall and physical side so it’s going to be very difficult and it’s a Kent derby so it’s always going to be tough.”

Sittingbourne were dumped out of the Kent Senior Cup Sponsored by Portablefloodlights.com when Conference South side Ebbsfleet United came away from Woodstock with a 6-1 win on Tuesday night to progress into the last eight.

Davis said: “We’re doing alright in the cups – our form in general has been good. We’re unbeaten in seven – alright we’ll take Tuesday night’s game against Ebbsfleet out of the way.

“We rested eight players in that (game) after Saturday. We had a lot of squad and fringe players that needed game time and just to see if they were pushing any players for a first team spot.

“There’s one or two in there most definitely.

“Ebbsfleet came with their first team. It was a great experience for some of the younger lads that came in.

“We’ve got competition for places, which is making us win really because people know they have to be on their toes because if they’re not they know they could be out the following week.”

Whitstable Town were dumped out of The FA Cup in the Preliminary Round, losing 2-0 at home to Tunbridge Wells in a replay, after coming away from the Southern Counties East Football League side with a goal-less draw at Culverden Stadium.

Whitstable Town lost out on £1,925 in prize money from The Football Association after losing in that round and will be keen to scoop the £2,500 up for grabs this weekend.

Sittingbourne, meanwhile, have banked £9,425 in FA Cup prize money after beating Chessington & Hook United, Littlehampton Town and Ryman Premier League side Thamesmead Town, which has helped the club especially now that they don’t pick up any bar takings in their new surroundings.

Davis added: “We’ve had a good run in The FA Cup. We’ve got a home tie against Whitstable. If we’re successful Saturday we’ve got Romford or Potters Bar at home if we win that it’ll be another five thousand pounds in the kitty.  It’s massive.

“The pressure’s on Whitstable after they got knocked out in the preliminary round of the FA Cup.”

Davis hopes the visit of Whitstable Town will entice supporters through the turnstiles after 174 watched the league game between the two clubs back in August, which Sittingbourne won 1-0.

“They came (here) in the league. It seems like an eternity when they were here in August. There was a good crowd then and the weather was really bad.

“Whitstable are well supported.  We got 170 against Tooting the other week. There may be 180-200 there.  There will be a good Kent derby feel to it with a good crowd hopefully.

“There’s so many Kent derbies at this level. There’s always a little bit of spice to a Kent derby because the Kent sides know so much about another.

“I’ve been at four Kent clubs and a lot of the other players have been at other clubs.

“Everyone knows about each other. There’s a derby feel to it. They always seem to be tight games.”

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Sittingbourne  v  Whitstable Town
The FA Carlsberg Trophy Preliminary Round
Saturday 5^th October 2013
Kick Off 3:00pm
at Woodstock Park, Broadoak Road, Sittingbourne, Kent ME9 8AG