We must battle to avoid the drop, says Whitstable star

WHITSTABLE TOWN could be heading straight back down to the Kent League - if they continue with this poor run of form, writes Stephen McCartney.

Since defeating local rivals Chatham Town by three goals to nil at the Belmont on the first day of December, Marc Seager’s side, playing in the Ryman League for the very first time in the club’s history, have picked up just one point from their last six games, and that point was the 1-1 draw at then leaders Dover Athletic fifteen days ago.

During this miserable run they have lost to Metropolitan Police (0-3), Eastbourne Town (2-3), Sittingbourne (0-2), Walton Casuals (2-3) and went down 3-1 at Chipstead yesterday.

You need to pick up points in this division against the likes of Eastbourne Town, Walton Casuals and Chipstead and as a consequence of them failing to do so, last season’s Kent League double winners now find themselves in a precarious position.

Third from bottom in the table, only one goal keeps them above Horsham YMCA in the drop zone, although the west Sussex side are showing signs of improvement - forcing Ryman Premier League side Tonbridge Angels to extra time in the Ryman League Cup last week.

And Whitstable Town midfielder Tommy Martin, a former apprentice at Chelsea before playing for Erith & Belvedere, now knows this is the time to roll up the sleeves to maintain Ryman League survival.

“It’s an entirely different level of football (than the Kent League)”, admitted Martin, when speaking to www.whitstabletownfc.co.uk.

“If you’re on the sidelines and have never played at this level it doesn’t look any different to Kent League level, but believe me it’s very, very different.

“We’ve got young lads who have played all their senior football for Whitstable and never finished up lower than fifth in the old league, so this is a massive learning curve finding ourselves at the wrong end of the table.

“It’s the same for the supporters as well as the players. We all need to keep the faith. Now is the time to battle it out until the last game of the season.”

Whitstable have seventeen games remaining, starting with next Saturday’s visit of Corinthian-Casuals, a side that’s three places and three points above them in the Division One South table. A six-pointer and a must-win game at Belmont Road.

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