Kentish Football 
The pressure is off us and we're confident of causing a shock, insists Hythe boss Scott Porter
Wednesday 06th October 2010
HYTHE TOWN boss Scott Porter says he is confident that his side can cause a FA Cup shock at Ryman Premier League side Concord Rangers on Saturday, writes Stephen McCartney.
The sole Safety Net Associates Kent League survivors travel to Canvey Island in the penultimate qualifying round of the FA Cup and Porter told www.kentishfootball.co.uk that he fancies his chances of producing a newspaper headline grabbing shock.
Whilst his side were defeating Combined Counties League side Raynes Park Vale 3-0 in the FA Vase last weekend, Porter sent his scouts to Cheriton Road to watch Concord’s 1-1 draw at Folkestone Invicta.
He said: ““I’m expecting a physical battle, I do believe. We sent people to watch people to watch them at Folkestone.
“Obviously we’re looking to go there and create a shock to be honest with you. We’re confident. There’s no pressure on us whatsoever. This is the first game this season that we’re not under pressure and that started in the first game in the league at VCD right the way through we’ve had pressure and we’ll have a lot more pressure on us after this.
“It’s nice to go into the game with no pressure whatsoever and the lads can go out there - and the football club can go and enjoy the day and hopefully come away with a shock and we’re very confident we can do that.
“Anything can happen that’s why it’s such a great competition and we’re looking to cause a shock.
“We trained well last night, everyone was there and we’ll prepare in the right way and we’ll have a real crack at it and that’s exactly what we’re going to do.”
Hythe have already knocked Bookham (4-0), Deal Town (4-2), Epsom & Ewell (2-0) and Erith & Belvedere (4-1) out of the FA Cup and are only two wins away from reaching the first round proper of the FA Cup, which would be an excellent achievement by a Kent League club - and about time too!
“It’s been a long run, we’ve played four games already and we’ll take each game as it comes and if we win Saturday we’ll look forward to the following one,” said Porter.
“We’re going to enjoy the day and as a whole football club were buzzing.”
Hythe booked a trip to Kent League rivals VCD Athletic in the second round of the FA Carlsberg Vase with a professional 3-0 win at Raynes Park Vale last weekend.
“I think we lost to Woking (in the Second Qualifying Round of the FA Cup) last year and then we went to Herne Bay in the FA Vase and got beat and we went out of those two competitions in a week,” recalled Porter.
“You don’t realise how lucky we are at Hythe with the facilities that we’ve got. I said to the lads we had to create our own atmosphere and not to let ourselves down. We didn’t let ourselves down and we put in a good performance.
“They played three up top and we dealt with it and our quality shone through in the end and it was very pleasing to come away from there with a win.”
Hythe go into their biggest game of the season sitting in fourth place in the Kent League table with four wins and a draw from seven games - three points adrift of surprise leaders Deal Town.
“Yes, you’d take that,” said Porter. “I’m obviously disappointed losing two games but I’m sure there’s much more twists and turns from most of the teams up there until the end of the season.
“We’re happy, we’re sitting up there and still in the Cup competitions but the league is the main focus this year but obviously we’ll take each game as it comes and we want to win every game we play in.”
Looking ahead to Saturday’s FA Cup clash, Hythe are more than capable of grabbing the headlines on Saturday.
“It’s a great game to be involved in,” added Porter. “There’s no pressure, we’re away to a higher league club and looking to create a shock and it’s something we’re all looking forward to.
“As a manager it’s a personal thing that we’ve got this far so all credit to the lads and obviously to Hythe and we’ve made some money (£9,750) for the club.”
Victory on Saturday will bank the club a further £7,500 in prize money and just one win from a potential FA Cup tie against the likes of Gillingham.
Visit Hythe Town’s website: www.hythetownfc.co.uk
Concord Rangers v Hythe Town
FA Cup (Sponsored by E.ON) Third Qualifying Round
Saturday 9th October 2010
Kick Off 3:00pm
At Thames Road, Canvey Island, Essex SS8 0HH
Red Dragon I.T. Ltd