Sunday represents an opportunity to put a difficult week behind us, says Faversham Town boss Turner

FAVERSHAM TOWN manager Ray Turner says the club will be looking to avoid their third cup exit in a week when they travel to play Aylesbury United on Sunday.



The Lilywhites play The Ducks in The FA Carlsberg Trophy Preliminary Round in Leighton Buzzard, having been knocked out of The FA Cup last Sunday and the Kent Senior Cup Sponsored by Portablefloodlights.com in midweek.

Faversham Town suffered a 2-0 defeat away to their Ryman League Division One South rivals Horsham in The FA Cup Second Qualifying Round, before crashing to a 5-0 defeat away to Hythe Town in the county cup second round.

“I think Sunday represents an opportunity to put a difficult week behind us,” said Turner.

“Nobody at the club is happy about going out of two cup competitions in three days but nobody at the club will be moping around. We will be looking forward to the game Sunday.

“Every team will experience injury problems this season, I’m sure with the amount of games we are expected to play, but mentally we just have to remain strong, believe in the long term prospects of the club and the team.

“This week can be quickly forgotten with a win on Sunday and at Worthing in the league on Wednesday night, that’s where our focus will be.”

Turner, like many managers, used the Kent Senior Cup to blood some of the club’s youngsters in to the first team fold.

He said: “The positives of the last week is that I have been able to give game time to some of our promising young players at the club.  The experience of recent games in particular the Hythe game will be invaluable.

“I actually did not think there was much difference between the sides in the first half with the boys acquitting themselves well.

“In the end, experience and know how came out on top.”

Turner has done his homework on Aylesbury United who just like their landlords Leighton Town have failed to win a home game in the Calor (Southern League) Division One Central Division so far this season.

Aylesbury United are presently in the bottom-six in the table, having collected three wins from their first seven league games.

Faversham Town travel up to Bedfordshire sitting in ninth-place in the Ryman League Division One South table, having collected four wins and two draws from eleven league games.

“I do have some information on them which will be useful but I like to focus on us in games like this,” added Turner, whose side will play a team at their own level.

“We will go there to win as always.  This group of players are not used to losing consecutive matches so I know they will be hurting and looking to put it right.”

Turner has contacted Maidstone United manager Jay Saunders to bring in Bill French from the Ryman Premier League outfit.

He said: “I have been lucky enough to sign Bill French from Maidstone for a month to help us out. He will go straight into the squad for Sunday. 

“He is rated at Maidstone and elsewhere and I would like to thank Jay for sorting that out this week.  He is a real prospect and played against Thamesmead on Tuesday night.

“It should be a good arrangement for both player and club as Bill will get some game time under his belt which will only aid his development.”

Turner revealed that he will be without Ashley Brown, Michael Jenner, Renford Tenyue and Danny Hockton against The Ducks.

However, there will be late tests for Jamie Maxted, James Peacock, Toby Ashmore and Wayne Wilson.

“It’s been strange playing three Sunday fixtures in the last month,” added the Faversham Town boss.

“On this occasion an extra days rest might just do us a favour. We know the importance financially to every club at this level so we will be ready come Sunday.”

Visit Faversham Town’s website: www.favershamtownfc.co.uk  

Aylesbury United  v  Faversham Town
The FA Carlsberg Trophy Preliminary Round
Sunday 6^th October 2013
Kick Off 3:00pm
At Bell Close, Lake Street, Leighton Buzzard, Bedfordshire LU7 1RX