Players must be up for derby - O'Brien

Monday 12th October 2009

CHATHAM TOWN chief Alex O’Brien has told his side to stand up and be counted during tomorrow night’s Kent derby against Whitstable Town, writes Stephen McCartney.

Chatham welcome the Oystermen to Maidstone Road looking to maintain their unbeaten home league record and O’Brien, speaking to www.kentishfootball.co.uk on the eve of the derby clash, insists his side are a good side to watch.

O’Brien was left frustrated at the weekend as his former side Dulwich Hamlet fought back from being 3-1 down at Champion Hill to force a draw in a six-goal thriller.

“A thrilling game? - you could put it that way!” said O’Brien. “One things for sure, we’re not a dull side, but I think in all honesty getting into a position where you’re 3-1 up at a place like Dulwich you need to be mentally a lot more stronger to kill the game off and come away with all three points.”

When asked what went wrong, O’Brien replied, “I just feel that we probably maybe tired a little bit. We were missing a few players and Dulwich are a very, very pacy side and they look to deliver crosses.

“If you would have said in October we would get a point at Dulwich I’d probably would have taken it.

“But being 3-1 up and all off a sudden Brendon Cass, having to come off, he had a gash in his head, Matt Lovell’s still not match fit and had to come off, Lew Watts’ hasn’t done anything, not done any training, he was playing, it was one of those days.

“You sort of knew whatever could go wrong could happen. The boys did ever so well to get into the position but I think we ran out of steam.

“We were a little bit naïve, we should’ve killed the game off. We went in search of more goals and it wasn’t to be unfortunately.”

O’Brien demands passion for tomorrow night’s Kent derby against a Whitstable Town side that arrive at Maidstone Road in the bottom three - but performing well, according to their manager Mark Munday.

“I’ve played in a few derbies, whether it be London ones or Kent ones,” added O’Brien. “I just think form guides go out of the window, defensives go out of the window and attacking formations goes out of the window.

“It’s all about how you turn up and how you play on the night. It’s a night where you don’t carry anyone, anyone who doesn’t pull their weight will get found out.

“You want your players to get in straight from the off. You want them to turn up mentally prepared. It’s going to be what it is, it’s a fantastic Kent derby.”

Presently in sixth place in the Ryman League Division One South table, with four wins and two draws from nine league games, O’Brien wants more.

He said: “I use the word ok, myself and Lew (Watts) we think that sometimes we’ve beaten ourselves. On the Saturday if we were that little bit mentally tougher that you have to be in non-league football, we’d have more points on the table.

“We’re not happy that we’re leaking a few goals in, but on the other hand we’re scoring a few goals. If we can get the fine balance of a few 1-0 or 2-0 wins then I’m sure the confidence will kick on and we can get ourselves on a nice little run.”

Lee Barnett and Brad Potter are out and so is Tom Binks (family issues). Ben Payne, meanwhile, returns to the squad.

“I’m happy with the squad going into tomorrow’s fixture,” added O’Brien. “I just hope they all turn up and are mentally prepared.”

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

Visit Chatham Town’s website: www.chathamtownfc.net

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

Chatham Town v Whitstable Town

Ryman League Division One South

Tuesday 13th October 2009

Kick Off 7:45pm

At Maidstone Road, Bournville Avenue, Chatham, Kent ME4 6ES