I can see us hammering some side, warns Faversham Town assistant Clive Walker

FAVERSHAM TOWN assistant manager Clive Walker warns his rivals’ that his side are capable of hammering somebody, writes Stephen McCartney.


The Lilywhites travel to local rivals Whitstable Town at Belmont Road tomorrow on the back of a FA Cup exit at the hands of Ryman Premier League side Carshalton Athletic.

“Well, I don’t think it will be easy, will it,” said Walker, on the eve of the Ryman League Division One South clash between two sides that are separated by two places and one point.

“It’s a local derby – but it’s important you win your local derbies.”

Walker added: “I think the last few matches we’ve done alright actually.  I think we’ve played quite well, even last Saturday at Carshalton I thought we played alright.  They’re a higher side than us and I thought we done alright against them to be honest.

“I thought we played well.  We missed chances and let in sloppy goals (during the 3-0 defeat), but in general play we did alright.

“Before that we went four games, I think, without being beaten.  There’s no reason why we can’t go on another run.  We’ve got enough talent in the team.”

Dale Skelton misses the derby game due to work commitments, but former Herne Bay midfielder Ben Brown is likely to feature.

“Dale Skelton has got work commitments with the Police,” revealed Walker.  “He was probably the best player on the pitch last week, he was the best player on the field.  We have got Ben Brown in there now from Herne Bay playing. 

“We just need an extra midfield player really.  We’re not sure when  Dale can get (time off work) and we needed another option in there.  Dave Botterill has had an operation on his nose so he will be out for a few weeks so we had to bring a new player in.”

Sixteenth-placed Faversham have won two and drawn one of their six league games so far – one point better off than Whitstable Town, who have slumped since winning their first two games of the season.

But Ray Turner’s number two, insists Faversham will start to climb the table.

Walker said: “We’re capable of doing very well actually with the squad we’ve got. Whether we’re mentally prepared for it, I don’t know, that’s the other side of the game you’ve got to get right as well as a bit of belief.

“Some games we’ve played so well at times.  Looking through the season Worthing we deserved to win.  For sixty minutes I don’t think they touched the ball – we ended up being beat by a long range shot and I can’t see us conceding (like) it again.

“The other two games we deserved to lose, Hythe and Whitehawk.  Other than that every league game we’ve deserved to win.

“Yes, it’s consistency, it’s getting the team playing together,” added Walker.  “It’s getting a bit of belief in the side.  There are some decent players at this level.  I can see us really hammering some side to be quite honest.  The possession we get at times, we’ll batter somebody and then go on a run.

“The standard of the league, I think it’s stronger this year.  I don’t think it’s a much of a muchness, where last year you probably had four or five really strong sides.  I don’t think we’ve got them this year to be honest.  Obviously the likes of Dulwich Hamlet and that have started well but it’s a long season, ground’s change, weather conditions change, injuries and suspensions happen. It’s a long season.”

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Whitstable Town  v  Faversham Town
Ryman League Division One South
Saturday 24^th September 2011
Kick Off 3:00pm
At The Belmont Ground, Belmont Road, Whitstable, Kent CT5 1QP