Three points are more important than FA Cup win - Porter

Thursday 17th September 2009

FAVERSHAM TOWN boss Justin Luchford says he doesn’t need to motive his side for their Bulmers Cider Kent League game at arch-rivals Hythe Town on Saturday, writes Stephen McCartney.

The Lilywhites suffered their only defeat of the season at Reachfields Stadium last weekend as they were dumped out of the FA Cup.

A solitary goal from Faversham skipper Tom Hickman was sandwiched by two from Hythe as the home side booked their place in the second qualifying round of the FA Cup and a lucrative home game against full-time Blue Square South giants Woking next Saturday.

That game has been billed as “possibly the biggest game in Hythe’s history.”

Having put in a disappointing performance last weekend, Luchford, speaking to www.kentishfootball.co.uk following the 2-1 defeat, says motivation will not be a problem.

Faversham are in second place in the table, having dropped just two points from five outings - six points ahead of fifth-placed Hythe, who have only played three league games due to their heroic FA Cup run.

“I won’t even need to have to do a team talk,” he said. “We’ll prepare totally different to the way we prepared (for the Cup game).

“We will prepare as if it’s a league game, another league game. It doesn’t matter who it’s against, we will prepare in the right way and we will be turning up earlier and be doing things like do in a normal league game and we’ll be ready.

“You’re not going to come to Hythe and get results without hard work.”

Luchford wants his side to bounce back and become the first side to get anything from the fortress that is Reachfields Stadium.

“It’s a totally different game on Saturday,” he said. “We’re going to approach it so differently than we did and we’ll be a lot more professional than we were (in the Cup game).

“I thought we lost a bit of professionalism in a few things that we did - they’ll stay in house - but when we come back down here we’ll be ready to give Hythe a good game.”

Hythe Town boss Scott Porter, meanwhile, is expecting a reaction from their title rivals.

“They’re going to be up for it, of course,” Porter told www.kentishfootball.co.uk.

“They’re going to turn up and want to win. It’s a league game, it’s three points at stake. We’ve won the three grand which is a bonus but this is the bread and butter on Saturday and obviously three points to get out of this league is more important.

“We’re not going to win the FA Cup!”

Both managers know exactly what to expect when the two Kent League heavyweights lock horns for the second time in seven days.

“Yes, we’ve seen each other play now so things might be different but we just go again Saturday and look to win the game,” added Porter.

“That’s what we do every game, we just want to win.

“The chances that we’ve had (in the FA Cup tie) and we defended well with the pressure they put on us. Faversham are very direct but yes I think we can (beat them again).

“I wouldn’t be the manager or wanting to win the title if I didn’t think we could beat Faversham or anyone.”

Visit Hythe Town’s website: www.hythetownfc.co.uk

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

Hythe Town v Faversham Town

Bulmers Cider Kent League

Saturday 19th September 2009

Kick Off 3:00pm

At Reachfields Stadium, Fort Road, Hythe, Kent CT21 6JS