27thoct04

Whitstable looking to bounce Beck

WHITSTABLE TOWN manager Matt Toms insists his side must bounce back after their disappointing FA Vase first round performance at Maidstone United last Sunday, writes Stephen McCartney.

Despite taking the lead after 15 minutes through Stuart Harrison, Toms' side were well and truly beaten by the Stones.

Toms' insists he will be looking for more from his players when Beckenham Town are the visitors to the Belmont in the Go Travel Kent League on Saturday.

Whitstable, sitting in second place, lost top-spot last Saturday when Hythe Town returned to the summit after a 2-1 win at Sevenoaks Town.  However, they play a Beckenham side, sitting in third place with 13 points from ten games.  Whitstable do have four games in hand over the Eden Park Avenue side.

Toms said: "We are at home to Beckenham on Saturday, which is going to be a tough one.

"If we bounce back, we'll hopefully get three points, which is the most important thing."

Toms, however, couldn't hide his disappointment after his side didn't perform on the day, despite taking the lead, a devastating spell from the Stones saw them through to the second round and now  travel to Kent League rivals Thamesmead Town on 20th November.

Toms said: "It was difficult to take in after the way we've been playing, but it had to come to an end.

"The most important thing in the world was we didn't perform.

"Not taking anything away from Maidstone, fair play to them, they thoroughly deserved the 4-1 victory, but I was disappointed with our performance.

"We went 1-0 up, we didn't deserve to go 1-0 up and the players took a bit of flack at half-time because we didn't get the ball down and play.  We didn't do that in the second half either."

Maidstone equalised through the first of Richard Sinden's three goals in the 20th minute, but three goals in a devastating five minute spell around half-time saw the Stones go 4-1 up after 48 minutes, ending the game as a contest.

Toms said: "Games are never won after 45 minutes.

"We can play, and should have played a lot better in the second half.

"We didn't perform and we deserved exactly what we got out of the game, which was absolutely nothing."

Toms issued a blunt message to his players ahead of Saturday's game against the Eden Park Avenue outfit.

"The Maidstone defeat could be a good thing but it's going to be hard to swallow for a couple of days, but it's how we bounce back from it.

"That's what I said to the players, we were going to lose and if you wanted to lose something you would rather lose in a cup than in the league, but it's how we bounce back from it."

Whitstable Town v Beckenham Town
Go Travel Kent League Premier Division
Saturday 30th October 2004
Kick Off 3:00pm
at The Belmont, Belmont Road, Whitstable