Seager asks title rivals: We can handle the pressure, can you? - EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW

Wednesday 10th January 2007

Whitstable Town manager Marc Seager insists the pressure is on Thamesmead Town when the two sides meet in a Kent League top-of-the-table showdown at the Belmont on Saturday, writes Stephen McCartney.

Whitstable reclaimed top spot when they leapfrogged over the Mead following their 2-2 draw at Greenwich Borough on Tuesday night and go into Saturday’s clash with a slender one point lead.

But Seager described their defending during an enthralling second half at Harrow Meadow as “shocking” and “woeful”.

Borough striker Meshach Nugent latched onto a long clearance from his goalkeeper Michael Holder to captalise on a mix-up between Dan Tanner and goalkeeper Kevin Fewell to give the south Londoners a 39^th minute lead.

But a Stuart King penalty eight minutes into the second half brought Whitstable level before the former Herne Bay striker scored direct from an in-swinging corner with fourteen minutes remaining.

But Gary Carter was penalised for handball and Nugent fired home the resulting penalty just twelve seconds into injury time for a share of the spoils.

But it was their second half defending that upset Seager, and must have had Keith McMahon, Thamesmead’s manager who was watching the game, rubbing his hands together as he attempts to move back to the top of the table.

“He must be over the moon,” Seager said EXCLUSIVELY to www.kentishfootball.co.uk after their midweek draw.

“Keith would prefer for Greenwich to beat us because it would still keep them top of the table.

“We are top of the table we’ve still got two games in hand – the pressure is still on everyone else.

“We’re seven points clear of VCD, five points clear of Croydon, and with a game in hand, so if someone had offered me that, first game of the season, then I would be over the moon. So the pressure is still on them.

“The biggest smile that will be on Keith’s face is he’ll probably look at my defence.”

But Seager believes his side will defend much better on home soil and will rise to the occasion.

“It’s a big game on Saturday and the lads will be up for it,” he insisted.

“I’ve let the lads know I’m not happy about it but we don’t become a bad side over 45 minutes of football.

“The lads have done ever so well and it’s the half-way stage, 15 games, and there’s still a zero in that defeat column.

“Even though I’m disappointed, it’s still a testament to the lads that there still undefeated.

“The pressure is all on Thamesmead. We will still be one point clear of them, still with two games in hand and they will know they have to beat us.

“But we’re a good side, we don’t become a bad side over 45 minutes and we’ll be right up for it on Saturday.”

Seager admitted the destination of the Kent League title race is between four clubs.

He said: “Personally, it’s a four way race. Four horses in it and hopefully at the end we’ll win it by a neck.

“But the pressure is on the other three, they have to catch us.

“They have to hope to take points off us and the pressure is on them every weekend, every match that they play to make sure they win every game.

“Because every weekend they’ll be picking up the phone to ask how we got on and it’s whether if they can handle the pressure.”

Josh Maine (completed suspension) and Sam Prett (groin) are both expected to be added to the squad.

Visit club websites:

www.whitstabletownfc.co.uk

www.thamesmeadtownfc.co.uk

Whitstable Town v Thamesmead Town
Kent League Premier Division
Saturday 13^th January 2007
Kick Off 3:00pm
At The Belmont, Belmont Road, Whitstable