Fisk slams Dalers' boss over title talk

HYTHE TOWN boss Paul Fisk has launched a scathing attack on his counterpart at title rivals Holmesdale, Tony Beckingham, writes Stephen McCartney.

 Fisk is upset over comments made by Beckingham to www.kentishfootball.co.uk that Holmesdale are not serious Bulmers Cider Kent League title contenders and that Hythe Town are the side to go on to claim the crown at the end of the season.

Fisk insists it’s unfair that Beckingham should play down Dalers’ own chances of success and put pressure on the Reachfields Stadium outfit instead.

Holmesdale, who were defeated 1-0 at Tunbridge Wells eight days ago, reclaimed top spot with a 3-1 victory over Hythe at Oakley Road at the weekend.

And with Tunbridge Wells winning 5-1 at perennial whipping boys, Sporting Bengal United at the weekend, Hythe have dropped to third place in the table.

“I think it was a tough game for us and I think Holmesdale can’t really hide behind the fact that they’re the little club who are trying to compete really,” fumed Fisk, when speaking to www.kentishfootball.co.uk.

Holmesdale have recently added experienced strike pair Steve White and Mark Tompkins from neighbouring Croydon and have a goalkeeper (Danny Harwood) who has vast experience having played for Bromley in the Ryman League earlier in his career.

“They’re a good side with a lot of experience,” said Fisk. “I don’t think they can pretend to not be competing to win the league with the experience that they’ve got. I’d like to have that experience in our side.

“I think they’re real (title) contenders. I just think they’re a top side. Hythe are there to be shot down. Holmesdale are a top side, Tunbridge Wells are a top side with a manager who said he wants to be better and I just think there’s a lot of good sides in the Kent League this season.”

Fisk, however, admitted his side deserved to lose Saturday’s top-of-the-table showdown at Oakley Road.

“We were well beaten I think in the first half,” he admitted. “We had a few chances but Holmesdale were better than us and deserved to be 3-0 up.

“Second half we needed to regain a little bit of pride. I think we did but we didn’t do ourselves justice or maybe we did do ourselves justice?

“We’ve had a good run, who is to say who the best side is? Everyone would like to say it’s Hythe, as it’s good for someone else to be the best side. Personally we will do our job and play each game as it comes.

“I think I would say Holmesdale are hiding behind the fact that Hythe would win the league. Holmesdale have more experience than us and I think Holmesdale are probably the favourites to win the league, along with Tunbridge Wells.

“I’m not writing off our chances. I think we’ve been put up as the top side because we’re the only side that we’re up the top last season.

“I think it’s unfair. We haven’t got the finances to be the top side and the fact that we’ve done quite well is working against us.

“Holmesdale players were obviously happy at the final whistle and fair, completely fair. There was no bad reaction at all, there isn’t any bad reaction.

“Holmesdale are a good team, very, very good team and that’s my opinion. Finances don’t come into it and our lads we’re very disappointed.

“But I don’t think we’re going to get carried away with ourselves. We know where we are and we know what we are and we’re going to get on with it.

“We know there’s a lot of good sides in the Kent League this season and I don’t think pretending you’re not good is the right way to go or does it take the pressure off?

“I think it’s good to play your chances down. I would play our chances down but Tunbridge Wells, Holmesdale, Erith & Belvedere, there’s lots of good teams in the Kent League and playing your chances is good.

“We’re a good team but I don’t know if we’re the best team. Everyone can beat each other. I don’t see any reason pretending not to be the best team. You can’t attract the players you’re getting if you’re pretending not being serious about what you’re doing.”

“But I would say we’re realistic about our aims and what we are. We’re not sort of punching above our weight, we are realistic.

“I’m realistic and the club are realistic with what we’re actually are. We’ll try as hard as we are but I think it’s unfair to say we’re the best team because you have got Tunbridge Wells, Holmesdale, Erith & Belvedere who are possibly better financed than us but we’re still going to try our best every week.”

Hythe Town have to wait until next Tuesday, 18^th November for their next game when Faversham Town visit Reachfields Stadium.

Visit Hythe Town’s website: www.hythetownfc.co.uk