I want to avoid semi-final heartbreak again, says Fisk - EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW

Hythe Town manager Paul Fisk is desperate to get his side to the Kent League Cup Final at the third time of asking, writes Stephen McCartney.

The Reachfields Stadium outfit have been knocked out by Herne Bay and Maidstone United in the semi-finals during the past two years and Fisk wants his side to make up for lost time.

However, to reach the showpiece final, expected to take place in neighbouring Folkestone, Fisk has to get past Whitstable Town.

The Oystermen are still unbeaten with only ten Kent League games of the season remaining and Faversham Town came within minutes of being the first domestic side to defeat Marc Seager’s men but Sam Prett levelled proceedings in the 94^th minute on Saturday.

The only sides to have defeated Whitstable Town this season are Ryman Premier League side Margate (FA Cup) and Sussex County League outfit Oakwood in the FA Vase.

EYES ON THE CUP: 
Despite losing to Herne Bay and Maidstone United in the last two years at the semi-final stage, Paul Fisk hopes his side can make it third time lucky this season.


Photograph courtesy of www.hythetownfc.co.uk


But Fisk said EXCLUSIVELY to www.kentishfootball.co.uk on the morning of tonight’s first leg clash at The Belmont that he feels his side can win.

“We’re going there as confident as we can against a team that’s unbeaten in the league,” he said.

“We’re not being brash of over confident but we wouldn’t bother turning up if we didn’t think we’ve got a chance of winning and going through.

“It’s the third time (in the semi-finals). We lost to Herne Bay the year before last so we’re just hoping we can go one step further and get to the cup final this time.”

Fisk had four key players missing as Sevenoaks Town bagged a surprise 1-0 win at Reachfields Stadium on Saturday.

Sevenoaks bounced back from their embarrassing 5-1 defeat at the hands of Kent County League side Bearsted in the semi-finals of the Kent Senior Trophy seven days earlier when Tony Atkins scored the only goal of the game.

But Barry Crawford (work commitments), Michael Smissen (training course), John Walker (calf injury) and Gavin Ransley (suspended) are all available for tonight.

“It was always going to be a difficult game Saturday,” admitted Fisk. We let one in and couldn’t score.

“People had one eye on tonight as well. Not so much complacency, we just took our eye off the ball looking at this game.

“Joe Neilson broke his leg Saturday, it wasn’t a particularly friendly game, but we were a little bit complacent and one eye on other games. You cannot afford to do that because if you’re not 100% up for it anyone can beat you.”

Hythe Town are currently sitting in fifth place in the Kent League table with 43 points from their 23 games, and Fisk explained his aims for their last remaining nine league outings.

“We set out to try to get a top six finish and we’re hoping to do that and anything higher will be a real bonus,” he said.

“It’s a nice position to be in and we’re looking up than down really.

“No-one this season has talked about us being one of the better sides.

“We’ll get attention by doing well. Everyone enjoys the big games and we’re playing the team of the moment, the team of the season and we’ll see what we can do.

“It’s good to be in the semi-finals and it’s good trying to finish in the top six or whether we can finish higher.

Striker Neilson, whose on loan from Ryman Premier League neighbours Folkestone Invicta, is out for the rest of this season.

But Fisk already knows what his aims are for the near future - with everybody working tirelessly on and off the pitch to clinch promotion into the Ryman League.

“We are definitely looking to plan for next season, trying to keep the majority of the players we’ve got and try to add two or three to what we’ve got as well,” revealed Fisk.

“We have got a lot to play for and we’ll be looking to improve on this season.

“The chairman puts in a lot of work and we’re no different than anyone else.

“I think we are looking to try to make Ryman League football a possibility and that’s no different to anybody in the Kent League.

“All the hard work from everyone else at the club is geared to getting us established as a top six side to actually challenging at some stage.”

Meanwhile, the other semi-final, first leg takes place on Thursday night between Thamesmead Town and Herne Bay at Bayliss Avenue.

Hythe welcome Whitstable to Reachfields Stadium for the second leg next Tuesday, 20^th March, with the other tie being settled at Winch’s Field seven days later.

Visit club websites:

www.whitstabletownfc.co.uk

www.hythetownfc.co.uk

Whitstable Town v Hythe Town
Kent League Cup Semi-Final First Leg
Tuesday 13^th March 2007
Kick Off 7:45pm
At The Belmont, Belmont Road, Whitstable