Fewell wants to reach survival earlier than normal

Tuesday 18th August 2009

WHITSTABLE TOWN goalkeeper Kevin Fewell says his team-mates are capable of causing big-spending Croydon Athletic problems at Belmont Road on Wednesday night, writes Stephen McCartney.

The 28-year-old performed heroics throughout the Oystermen’s resilient 1-0 win at Burgess Hill Town on Sunday in what was a smash-and-grab raid by the Kent side.

Stuart Vahid’s looping 20th minute header won the game for Whitstable, who relied on Fewell’s heroics and two goal-line clearances from Greg Smith and Alex Hossick to steal the points.

But their second game of the new Ryman League Division One South season will be much tougher when Croydon Athletic visit Belmont Road.

The Rams banged seven goals (without reply) past Ashford Town at the weekend, but Fewell, speaking to www.kentishfootball.co.uk is relishing the challenge.

“After their result at the weekend, yes we’re looking forward to that,” he said.

“I was busy enough today so as long as we keep a clean sheet, I don’t care how busy I am!”

With new manager Mark Munday instilling resilience into the team, Fewell knows how important it is to get their campaign off to a good start.

In each of their previous two campaigns at this level, Whitstable have finished their campaign on 50 points.

Last season, the team picked up just 20 points (15 defeats) from the 23 league games that they played before the New Year - and after the festivities the Oystermen collected 30 points (5 defeats) in their remaining 19 outings.

“This is my fourth season here now, my third season in the Ryman and every year we only kick on after Christmas when the pressures on and we needed to get some points on the board,” reflected Fewell.

“Last two seasons we only got there (survival) just. The goal this year is to get as close to 50 points before Christmas and then kick on and see where we are second half of the season.

“The form we had towards the end of last season, the results we were getting were up there in the form table.”

Whitstable’s five match unbeaten run (if you consider the last four league games of last season) comes under scrutiny tomorrow night.

“Muns (Mark Munday) mentioned before the game that we went to Kingstonian and turned them over last season in the Cup but we’re more than capable off doing that,” warned the Gravesend based stopper.

“I think we tend to raise our game against the better sides. Maybe they give you a little bit more time to play.

“We’re dogged, we sit in and defend and if we do that against Croydon we’re always going to nick one.”

Fewell, who works for a finance company, knows how important it is for the team to perform on home soil and a crowd of over 250 is expected to watch their first home game of the new season.

“The chairman and management rely on those supporters coming in,” he said. “We know that we’re grateful for that support.

“It was justified a couple of years back when we won the Kent League. That was my first season at the club and there were some great attendances as we were doing really well.

“Hopefully we can do that again this year and the crowds will come back.”

Munday, meanwhile, says he is making Whitstable a hard side to beat.

“If players can’t raise their game for the better sides in the league, then there must be something wrong,” he told www.kentishfootball.co.uk at Leylands Park.

“Traditionally we’ve been, for the better sides; better stadiums and the better surfaces, we’ve raised our game.

“What I’m trying to do is make us resilient and hard to beat and nicking points and picking up points when we shouldn’t be - and staying in games when we haven’t had the passage of play.”

Defending his side’s defensive minded tactics at Burgess Hill on Sunday, Munday added, “I don’t have to justify where I get my points from or how I get them. But it’s getting enough points and the good starts that we can go into the latter part of the season, where Whitstable have traditionally been strong, and see where it takes us.

“I’m making no predictions, but the more points we can pick up early with displays like that, (then we should be well clear off relegation).”

www.kentishfootball.co.uk will be covering this game with Mike Green reporting from Belmont Road.

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

Whitstable Town v Croydon Athletic
Ryman League Division One South
Wednesday 19th August 2009
Kick Off 7:45pm
at Belmont Road, Whitstable, Kent CT5 1QP