We didn't fear Dover, admits former striker Smissen - EXCLUSIVE

Striker Michael Smissen was delighted that he managed to put one over his former club - as Kent League side Hythe Town knocked giants Dover Athletic out of the FA Cup yesterday, writes Stephen McCartney.

Smissen, 22, joined Dover Athletic as a sixteen-year-old and spent four years at the club, including loan-spells with Sittingbourne and Chatham Town, and was part of the Hythe Town side that secured a 2-1 win.

“Absolutely fantastic, you could see from the reaction from all the players at the end of the game, how pleased everyone was,” he said EXCLUSIVELY to www.kentishfootball.co.uk after Hythe Town’s famous win.

“If you watched the game, from an honest perspective, that every time Dover got near our box, around the box, there was Simon Rainbow, Gavin (Ransley) and Marshy (Sam Marsh) and everyone in the team just throwing themselves to the ball.

“And I think that shows our mentality of the team - it showed how much we wanted it today.”

There was an air of excitement engulfing Reachfields Stadium for nearly two weeks when the draw paired the two clubs together.

And Hythe Town chairman, Mr Paul Markland was delighted that the club was able to stage such a big game without any glitches.

A crowd of 1,109 flocked through the turnstiles at Reachfields Stadium and the game was well marshalled by the club, that averages 130 in the Kent League - the second best supported club in the division.

“We’re delighted off the pitch, 1109 people through the turnstiles, the most we’ve had for many a year, it was a good take money wise,” he said EXCLUSIVELY to www.kentishfootball.co.uk.

“It proves that we can organise a match of that size. On the pitch, what can I say? Two-one win, superb!”

Mr Markland is hoping that the Football Association pull out a home tie with AFC Wimbledon in the next round, tomorrow morning.

“We’d like another good gate home game,” he said.

"We’ve been keeping a fairly low profile and I think they’re going to start taking notice of Hythe Town now.

“I think the players that have played for Dover, it’s certainly raised their game, practically Paul Hyde.

“I think he had a point to prove, and we’ve actually got a good set of players here who can play and raise to the big occasion.”

Smissen added: “Before the draw was announced we wanted the team in the next round to be Dover and when we got it, we was all excited.

“And walking in the changing room sometimes the saying goes you could smell the fear but there was none of that in our changing room.

“You could tell there was an air of belief about us that we knew if we worked hard and we played our game, we would win.

Sam Marsh, a player who has yet played in front of a four-figure crowd, having previous played for Folkestone Invicta’s reserves, impressed Smissen.

PE teacher Smissen, who lives in Eastry, near Sandwich, said: “Maybe there was a few players that hadn’t played I such a crowd, how they would get on, would they freeze?”

“But the likes of Marshy, who I thought was awesome today, he didn’t freeze whatsoever, and I didn’t think anyone did.

“I think everyone proved that they can play in a higher league and at a higher level because we have also beaten (Ryman League Division One South) Whyteleafe at home (in the preliminary round) as well.”

Eleven goal Smissen added: “So that’s got to be Hythe’s ambition - to maybe try to get into that league.”

Visit Hythe Town’s website:  www.hythetownfc.co.uk