Robbins wants to avoid Cup hangover

TUNBRIDGE WELLS boss Mike Robbins expects yet another tough battle at Deal Town on Saturday - as the Kent League title race hots up, writes Stephen McCartney.

The Wells were dumped out of the FA Carlsberg Vase at Christchurch last weekend, going down to Mark Burrows’ strike fourteen minutes from time, and Robbins wants a positive reaction to maintain the pressure on Kent League leaders Holmesdale.

The Dalers’ welcome Erith Town to Oakley Road and with the Wells five points behind - with two games in hand - Robbins wants to take advantage of any slip up.

Hythe Town, Faversham Town, Herne Bay and Erith & Belvedere can also be considered title contenders.

“We’re going down to Deal, perennial hard match, very difficult game and that’s got to be our focus now 100%,” Robbins told www.kentishfootball.co.uk following his side’s defeat in Dorset.

“We’re second in our division and we need to get our focus back.”

Despite his side’s impressive start to the season (9 wins and 3 defeats from 12 games), Robbins is not going to put his players’ under pressure.

“As I’ve said before, I’m not going to change until it’s mathematically impossible for me not to finish in the top six. I will stay with my story.” said Robbins.

“I want improvement, finish in the top six. We’ve had a fantastic start to the season, perhaps we need to be looking at a new target.

“Being in the top four in a couple of weeks time when we get closer to that achievement maybe after Christmas perhaps we could talk championships but at this moment like Holmesdale, like Hythe, you know me, I take one game at a time.”

Visit Tunbridge Wells’ website: www.tunbridgewellsfc.co.uk

Deal Town v Tunbridge Wells
Bulmers Cider Kent League
Saturday 22^nd November 2008
Kick Off 3:00pm
At Charles Sports Ground, St Leonards Road, Deal, Kent CT14