23rdsept05

Managers relish big game at the Belmont

It's a return to league action this weekend as Maidstone United attempt to make up ground on the leaders when they pay a visit to Whitstable, reports www.maidstoneunited.co.uk

As ever, it will be a tough game but Lloyd Hume hoped that the squad would rise to the challenge: "This is always a big game for Whitstable and their boys will be really up for it so we expect our players to match that ambition and certainly put in a much better performance than last week."

Stones will be able to welcome back both Jimmy Strouts and Hume to the squad for Saturday, with the only injury worry being Mario Celaire. He's still suffering pain in his foot and although it was confirmed there were no broken bones the swelling has still to subside, but it is hoped a cortisone injection today will speed up his recovery and enable him to play on Saturday. This does then once again leave manager Hume another selection dilemma with an almost fully fit squad meaning that some players will miss out on selection.

With his strongest squad available for selection, Hume hopes that lessons were learnt from last Saturday. "To be honest the first half performance was terrible, Cowes were not as good as we expected but we were worse and the players were left in no doubt at half-time that a performance like that was not acceptable.

"It was once again the case that rather than playing to the standards we know we can play, they let their standards drop to the level of the opposition. I don't know why that happens, I guess I'd be a millionaire if I did, as it happens at all levels of the game, but we picked ourselves up in the second half and did enough to win through.

"There were excellent performances by Sam Tydeman and Lyndon Rowland and after being threatened with physical violence by Alan Walker at half-time, Mo Takoloo had a very good second half!"

Other news, and the Kent League confirmed this week that our match on the 8th October against Greenwich will kick-off at 1pm to avoid a clash with the England qualifier.

Meanwhile, Whitstable boss Marc Seager has vowed his team are not about to give up their return to winning form without a fight.

The Whitstable boss explained to www.whitstabletownfc.co.uk : “The Maidstone match is a big game for us. They are very strong at set pieces and if we defend like we did in the Slade Green game we’re going to be in trouble.

"We should have won that game five, six or seven-nil. But we are constantly improving and all is going well at the club.”

Whitstable Town v Maidstone United
Kentish Observer League
Saturday 24th September 2005
at The Belmont, Belmont Road, Whitsable