We'll give Lordswood respect to avoid Cup upset - Munday

Thursday 27th August 2009

WHITSTABLE TOWN boss Mark Munday says he is preparing his side professionally to avoid being on the end of a FA Cup upset at Kent League side Lorsdwood on Saturday, writes Stephen McCartney.

Munday has enjoyed some memorable FA Cup exploits as a player and wants that to continue as the manager of Ryman League Division One South side Whitstable as he takes his side to play Kevin Metcalf’s unpaid players.

Back in December 1995, Munday and Paul Lamb (his right-hand man) both played for Gravesend & Northfleet in the third round of the FA Cup, which ended in a 3-0 defeat at Aston Villa.

But nearly two years later, Munday scored Margate’s only goal in a 2-1 defeat to Fulham in a first round tie at Hartsdown Park.

“I’ve been very lucky in the FA Cup as respect to going as far as many non-league players have gone - it’s been good to me,” Munday told www.kentishfootball.co.uk this afternoon.

Munday will be giving Lordswood the same respect as both Aston Villa and Fulham had given Munday’s side’s back then.

“One thing I will be doing is we will be preparing,” he insisted. “We will be using this as any other Ryman League game.

“We won’t be preparing any different for Lordswood as we did Folkestone on Tuesday and that’s the only way we can do it.”

He added: “I will give them the ultimate respect because they’re the next team in front of us that we’ve got to get a result against.

“It’s irrelevant of what league they’re playing, or who you’re playing. We will prepare as professionally and be as committed as we are for all Ryman League games.”

Munday spoke to his players about the importance of not taking lower league opposition lightly in the early rounds of the FA Cup.

Ten-man Whitstable go into this game on the end of a 1-0 defeat at Folkestone Invicta. Jake Gess was red-carded after 52 minutes and the Oystermen held out until the 89th minute when Josh Burchell grabbed the points.

“I said to them on Tuesday, I was absolutely delighted with their effort and their all round play, shape, organisation, strength and ability on Tuesday and we have to put every inch of effort and every inch of commitment in on Saturday, otherwise we’re going to be on the end of a cup upset, “ said Munday.

“I don’t want to be and the club certainly doesn’t want to be.

“We will be going out with the right frame of mind. If we don’t, then we will be on the end of a cup upset.

“We will not get by Lordswood by going through the motions. That’s one thing I certainly won’t tolerate and the players, and the effort they’ve given me - won’t tolerate.

“We will be giving Lordswood the ultimate respect and preparing and playing a side to get us through to the next round.”

Sam Denly (dead-leg) is the only Whitstable player expected to miss this preliminary round tie.

Lordswood boss Kevin Metcalf, meanwhile, is confident that his amateur side can pull of a cup shock on Saturday.

“I think it will be a tight game,” he told www.kentishfootball.co.uk . “Whitstable are the Ryman side, we will treat them with utter respect.

“I look forward to the FA Cup, but the FA Cup is mainly for the club, the prize money is good for the club.

“If our players turn up on the day, we can match Whitstable man-for-man. We’ve got a squad now who have played Ryman football and I think it will be a tight contest.”

With this being the only Kent derby in the preliminary round, Metcalf hopes the crowds flock through the turnstiles and support both sides.

“I would like to see a big crowd,” the former Tunbridge Wells manager said. “I know Whitstable have got a following, hopefully the weather and the atmosphere will be good and it makes way for a good spectacle.”

Metcalf, who is without much-travelled striker Dave Hassett (prior arrangements) has told his players to perform on the big stage, making up for yet another disastrous start which has seen them lose to both Holmesdale (1-2) and Erith Town (0-4) and only have Fisher below them in the Bulmers Cider Kent League table.

“I want them to just go out and perform on the day, like I know that they can, which they did in the last round,” he said.

“In the last two league games they haven’t performed very well - I think they owe us one!”

www.kentishfootball.co.uk will be covering this game, with Mike Green reporting.

Visit Lordswood’s website: www.lordswoodfc.co.uk

Visit Whitstable Town’s website: www.whitstabletownfc.co.uk

Lordswood v Whitstable Town

FA Cup (Sponsored by E.ON) Preliminary Round

Saturday 29th August 2009

Kick Off 3:00pm

At Martyn Grove, North Dane Way, Walderslade, Kent ME5 9XX