Lane wants to curb Friday night drinking to improve results

Thursday 25th March 2010

WHITSTABLE TOWN boss Mark Lane takes his charges to Merstham on Saturday, looking to achieve consecutive league wins for only the second time this season, writes Paul Parkinson.

After Tuesday’s morale boosting victory over local rivals Ramsgate, Whitstable are now out of the bottom two in the Ryman League Division One South table and have nine games to beat the drop.

“Merstham’s not an easy place to get more points, but you’ve got to take each game as it comes,” Lane told www.kentishfootball.co.uk.

“I’ve just said (to the players) they’ve played and beaten Ramsgate, and what we are notorious for is being consistently inconsistent.

“We’ve got to be up for every game, so I’ve got to see what they are like on Saturday. Sometimes I think they are better on Tuesday nights than Saturday’s, because of what goes on, on Friday night, but I’ve told them what I expect.

“I’ll get everyone in on Thursday, but we won’t be training, just to chew a few things over and get us moving forward.”

Lane, who was appointed last Monday, following the departure of Mark Munday, was encouraged by the attitude of the players and has called on his squad to show their qualities.

He added: “All you can do when you’re put in this position, and this is no reflection on anyone else, is try to change a few things, motivate the players. I’m not saying they weren’t motivated, but it’s the new manager syndrome.

“I’ve just got to motivate them, get them to play and passing, and I can’t ask for any more.

“Sometimes things can go a bit stale, and that‘s probably not being fair to Mark (Munday), but sometimes bringing someone new in can change it.

“I mean tonight (Tuesday) we had Clint (Gooding) taking the sessions out there and the players respond to it. But they‘ve set their stall out now and have got to respond over the next nine games.””

With Merstham reasonably assured of safety, and now being within striking distance of 18th placed Chipstead, this will be a good opportunity for Whitstable to improve on their away record of 3 wins and only 9 goals in 17 games, and gain another morale boost ahead of a true 6-pointer at Ashford Town on Monday.

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

Merstham v Whitstable Town

Ryman League Division One South

Saturday 27th March 2010

Kick Off 3:00pm

At Moatside Stadium, Weldon Way, Merstham, Surrey RH1 3QB