Thanks for your support!

Whitstable Town manager Marc Seager wants Margate to win their FA Cup replay at Fleet Town on Tuesday night, writes Stephen McCartney.

Robin Trott’s side travel to Hampshire for their replay against the high-flying Ryman League Division One South side on Tuesday, and if they win will make the short trip to the Belmont in the second qualifying round on 30 September.

Whitstable Town, the only Kent League side left in the competition, were roared on by a passionate crowd of 320, which saw them defeat Fleet’s rivals Croydon Athletic on Saturday.

Croydon Athletic, who knocked Kent side Sittingbourne out of the Westview Cup last week in front of just 22 fans, brought just twenty to The Belmont on Saturday.

But Seager, who won the FA Vase as a player with Deal Town in 2000, praised the Oysterboys for their support.

“Last week in the local media we asked the supporters to supply us with a 12^th man as the fantastic support we receive from the people of Whitstable can almost be worth a goal when we play at home,” Seager told www.whitstabletownfc.co.uk.

“I don’t think Croydon Athletic brought any more than 20 supporters with them; when you consider our gate was 320, which was amongst the top attendances for the FA Cup at this stage of the competition for the whole of the country.

“It’s a measure of the way the locals responded, so I need to say thanks to them for the support.”

And Seager is desperate for their Ryman Premier League neighbours to get through their replay at Calthorpe Park tomorrow night.

“I am so pleased we have the chance to play at home in the next round,” he said.

“All our cup matches before Saturday have been away. If it’s Margate the Belmont will be rocking. It will be the biggest local derby in the town for years I can tell you.

“If its Fleet, we shall approach the match in exactly the same way. They should bring a decent amount of supporters so we await he result of their replay tomorrow before we can make any plans for the match.”

Whitstable have a mean defence this season, conceding just one goal in seven outings and go into their home game against Deal Town second place in the table.

“All in all it’s been a great start to the season for the club but we need to keep our feet on the ground and concentrate on the next match.

“The FA Cup is on the back burner for the moment. We have a game next Saturday in the FA Vase at Oakwood before I have to start preparing for the next FA Cup match.”