Battle of Thanet: Trott "still in shock" - Ward wants local bragging rights - EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEWS

Shell-shocked Margate player-manager Robin Trott admitted yesterday’s 6-1 defeat at Boreham Wood was a “total humiliation” and a “bitter pill to swallow”, writes Stephen McCartney.

It was Margate’s first defeat in 12 competitive matches under Trott’s leadership and the heaviest defeat suffered by the club since losing 5-0 to Grays Athletic in a Nationwide Conference South fixture in March 2005.

But Trott admitted he won’t dwell on the past, take any positives from the game, and turn his attention to their next two games.

Margate make the nine mile round trip to Southwood Stadium to tussle with Ramsgate in the “Battle of Thanet,” in the second round of the Westview Cup on Tuesday night, before welcoming Fleet Town to Hartsdown Park on Saturday in the first qualifying round of the FA Cup.

The Hampshire side are currently in second place in the Ryman League Division One South table, losing just once from their first five outings.

“To lose anyway is bad enough, but to lose by that score is totally sole destroying - but I still believe in my team.

“I believe we are still a good team. I just put it down to just one of those games.”

Margate surrendered top spot in the Ryman Premier League table yesterday, but Trott insists his side will return to the summit.

“I don’t know what else to say. I don’t want to dwell on it too much,” he said. “It’s a day later, I don’t dwell on it, I don’t have time for that.

“I take the good points from yesterday. It’s interesting to see the boys play the way they did. It tells me about my players and about our shape.

“Any manager in my position today is probably pleased that they’re near the top with just a point from the leaders but after the start we had it’s such a big come down to lose by a big margin.

“All the goals are defensive errors, six have gone past Scott Chalmers-Stevens, our goalkeeper, but could he saved them? I’m not too sure.

“He’s done his best in the other games and he’s such a great player. It’s just a shame about the team in front of him.”

Trott, meanwhile, admitted three of his players went missing at Meadow Park as a Darrell Cox hat-trick and goals from Chris Walters, Leon Archer and Andrew Delisser caused the damage.

Trott came off the bench at the break, with his side 2-0 down, and a penalty scored by Danny Hockton within five minutes of the second half brought some relief for the Thanet side.

“I think we were missing three players on Saturday on the pitch and the team crumbled,” said Trott.

“I think Boreham Wood had us watched, and if you are at the top people want to beat you that little bit more.

“If we want to stay top and want to win the league we have to get used to it and resilient.”

Trott revealed he may rest a couple of players for their clash against Thanet rivals Ramsgate but admitted they need to play to get yesterday’s shock result out of their systems before their FA Cup tie.

“We need this game more than anything now before a big game on Saturday,” he said.

“We need this game to get confidence back. The boys and myself were in shock, being so high and so low in such a short period is remarkable.

“The boys being in shock tells us a story. The boys and I can’t accept it.”

But Trott knows what his side will be facing against Jim Ward’s side under new floodlights at Southwood Stadium.

He said: “I know they’ve got an awful long throw, one of two weapons and they just work their socks off.

“I would say that they’re a hard working team. If you don’t match them we will struggle. Let’s try to compete and try to take it from there.

“I’m disappointed and angry. In total shock but in some ways it’s good because maybe we do need a kick up the arse.

“It’s only football. It can happen in the Premiership and in our league. When it happens to your team it’s an eye opener. It’s a very bitter pill to swallow and I don’t want to go through another game like that again.”

Trott knows there cannot be any repeat of their abject display when Fleet Town visit in the first qualifying round of the FA Cup next Saturday.

“It’s very difficult, they’re flying high and confident and that’s why we need this midweek game.

“We are going to get them watched and looked at. I’d be foolish not to look at them in such a big game. They’re going to like playing against us and up for the challenge.

“If we play like we have in previous games it will be a good game, but if we play like we did Saturday, we might as well say they’ll win now. We have to get our shape back.”

Jim Ward, meanwhile, admitted Ramsgate fans would like to win the Thanet bragging rights by winning the Westview Cup showdown.

The Rams boss spoke EXCLUSIVELY to www.kentishfootball.co.uk : “Well, it’s a big game for the fans. You’ve got to remember this time last year, we got put out of this competition by Newport IOW reserves at the same stage.

“So yes, I wouldn’t let my fans down. I wouldn’t even let my players down by saying the eleven players who start Tuesday night wouldn’t be first team players.

“At the same time, if anyone’s injured or have a slightest thing wrong with them, they won’t play. Because next Sunday, the FA Cup is more important.”

Despite playing yesterday, Shaun Welford (both ankles), Mo Takaloo (knee), Stuart Vahid (brusied legs) and Mark Munday (hamstring) were all carrying knocks, but despite missing the last two weeks with an ankle injury, Shane Suter may be available.

Ramsgate are now tenth in the Ryman Premier League table, with just six points behind Margate following their 3-0 win over East Thurrock United at fortress Southwood Stadium.

Ward said: “It was fine. I’ve been saying it from day one this season we’re ok. We are what we are. We’ve won the last two league’s we’ve competed in. We’re here to try to make the play-off’s this season as well.”

The Rams boss is, however, relishing their trip to Kingstonian next Sunday in the first qualifying round of the FA Cup, especially after reaching the first round proper last season.

The Rams lost at Nationwide Conference North outfit Nuneaton Borough, who took Premiership club Middlesbrough to a replay later in the competition.

“I imagine it will be a good crowd there Sunday, as it will be the biggest game in the country as no-one else has got a game,” he said.

“We’ve done our homework on Kingstonian, had them watched twice. It won’t be an easy game, but we’ll take over 100 supporters with us Sunday so hopefully that will be the difference.

“It was 50 years since Ramsgate got that far and Nuneaton who beat us got to the third round.”

But the Scot turns his attention to the “Battle of Thanet” showdown but revealed his players are keeping the match low profile – until Tuesday night that is.

“We haven’t spoken about it. The players all had a night out on Saturday night after the game. It certainly wasn’t spoken about in the changing rooms Saturday,” he revealed.

“But yes, you’re right. Ramsgate and Margate it’s bragging rights, certainly for my lads who are local lads.

“And the local lads at Margate have got a point to prove and put one over me because they never made it at Ramsgate.

Meanwhile, Ward revealed that he’s put in a seven-day approach for talented Thamesmead Town winger Sam Thomas and will be speaking to him on Tuesday night.

Thomas, plucked out of Sunday football, impressed during his side’s 3-1 defeat at Sittingbourne in the preliminary round of the FA Cup fifteen days ago.

“I’ve got permission to speak to him,” revealed Ward. “I’ve spoken to him and we’ll talk to him on Tuesday. For me he’s one of the best players in the Kent League – a very talented boy. He can play wide, up front or in the hole.”

Visit the club’s websites:

www.ramsgate-fc.co.uk

www.margate-fc.com