There's no pressure on us because nobody gives us a chance, says Nicky Southall

WHITSTABLE TOWN boss Nicky Southall says there’s no pressure on his team for their game at title-chasing Dulwich Hamlet on Saturday.



The Oystermen claimed a vital 1-0 home win over Merstham in midweek to climb up to seventeenth-place in the Ryman League Division One South table, with 36 points from 34 games, eight points clear of Three Bridges, who occupy the sole relegation spot.

Dulwich Hamlet are in second place in the table, with 66 points from 32 games, three points behind Maidstone United, who have a game in hand, and those two sides lock horns at Champion Hill next Tuesday.

”I’m looking forward to Saturday’s game as there’s no pressure on us because nobody gives us a chance,” said Southall.

”That’s perfect from my point of view being the underdogs.  The only pressure I will put on my team is to not let the game pass them by, go and show people what they’re all about.”

That’s exactly what they did a couple of weeks ago when they came away from Faversham Town with a surprise 4-1 win at Salters Lane.

”We seem to have a new found belief in the dressing room. I suppose that comes with good results of course,” said Southall.

”Three games ago I challenged my players, with eleven games to go, we now have an eleven game season, that’s all. Forget what’s gone on before us and let’s try and be on top of the eleven-game season and then see where it takes us and since then they have really stepped up to the plate with some fantastic performances but we’re in no doubt that the Dulwich game is going to be very tough.

”It has been for the majority of the teams in the league this season.”

Dulwich Hamlet suffered a 1-0 defeat at Hythe Town last weekend and Southall wants his side to replicate what they did at Faversham.

He said: ”Dulwich have some very bright players in their ranks with flair and pace to boot – but then so have we.  

”If we show the kind of performance as we did at Faversham Town then hopefully we will make it very tough for them as now we’re scrapping for every point available.

”In fact all the teams in the bottom half of the table are desperate for points to try and ensure safety.”

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Dulwich Hamlet  v  Whitstable Town
Ryman League Division One South
Saturday 23^rd March 2013
Kick Off 3:00pm
at Champion Hill Stadium, Dog Kennel Hill, Edgar Kail Way, East Dulwich, London SE22 8BD