Upbeat Hume fancies a Cup giantkilling

Wednesday 07th October 2009

MAIDSTONE UNITED joint-boss Lloyd Hume says he is relishing taking his side to Woking in the penultimate qualifying round of the FA Cup on Saturday, writes Stephen McCartney.

Woking are a full-time outfit that are currently in fourth place in Blue Square South - but Hume is fully aware that his side can match the Blue Square South hosts at Kingfield Stadium - just like Kent League side Hythe Town in the last round.

Scott Porter’s brave hearts out-fought Woking at Reachfields Stadium but had to settle for a 1-1 draw, but although Woking ran out 5-1 winners in the replay, the Cards netted their last three goals in the final ten minutes as Hythe ran out of steam.

“We’re not silly and we know what the task is in front of us and we know what a good side Woking are,” Hume told www.kentishfootball.co.uk.

“We know they struggled to get past Hythe but by all accounts in the first game Hythe put up a fantastic effort and showing and we went and watched the second game and they did again to be fair.

“It’s no coincidence that Woking won at the weekend comfortably in their league, which is Conference South, which is a league above us, so we know they’ve got quality, we know they’ve got money and they’re full time so we know what we’re up against.

“But equally we have confidence in our own ability. We can go there, we can play, compete and we can upset them.”

Although unbeaten on their travels, Woking have picked up 8 points at Kingfield Stadium and have scored only 4 - and conceded only 4 - in the league on home soil.

Hume hopes complacency will slip into Woking’s ranks for Saturday’s third qualifying round tie, which is worth £7,500 to the winners.

“The thing is we went to a team in the last round that are step 5, which is a couple of league’s below and whenever you enter into these games they’re always difficult to motivate your players for,” said Hume.

“Whilst you say the right things to your players and expect them to be professional, you don’t always get into the game the way you like to. We certainly didn’t (at Harefield United) in the last round.

“I don’t think the mentality of Woking will be the same against us, they know we are capable upsetting them.

“We hope they have an arrogance against us, we hope that they don’t start the game the way they start a league game or perhaps against a team in a higher level than them and we’ll maximise on that.

“We’re not going there on Saturday believing we can’t get anything out from the game. We’re going there positive, knowing that if we can compete all round the pitch, we’ve got a chance of upsetting them.

“It’s obvious that the FA Cup is rich spoils in terms to rewards. Woking is a good game for us because they’re expected to beat us. We’re the underdogs, I’d rather be the underdogs in the FA Cup most of the time if I’m honest.

“Woking get good support, a good crowd, so we get a share of those spoils as well and if we can upset the form book and beat them then the rewards are great for the chairman in terms of prize money (£7,500) and hopefully a good draw in the fourth qualifying round.”

Woking’s supporters didn’t seem up for it vocally for the visit of Hythe Town - but Hume expects the travelling Stones fans to show their usual passionate support.

“I would expect the fans of Maidstone to get behind us in big games,” said Hume. “They know it’s a big game, a good ground and Woking are well supported.

“I hope we have a big contingent there as we have done in the FA Cup in the past and they make more noise than the home fans.”

Meanwhile, the Bring The Stones Campaign (BTSH) received a massive boost today as the supporters club handed over a cheque for £3,278.55 bringing the totaliser amount to £10,854.

The money comprises of the various fundraising initiatives which took place before the launch of the BTSH campaign and consists of money from the Sponsored Walk, Sponsor a Goal, Profit from away travel and various donations from winners of the Golden Goal and the Prediction League.

Also included was the £45 from young supporter Emilia Threadgill who raised the money from her sponsored walk and £13 already raised from our resident Avon Lady!

In handing over the cheque, supporters club chairman Angela Reed hoped that;”it may get people thinking about the campaign”. Receiving the cheque, new BTSH Chairman Peter Philpott thanked the supporters club and responded to the fact that the appeal had smashed through the £10,000 barrier as a result of the donation.

He told www.bringingthestoneshome.co.uk, “The fund to bring our club home to the County Town has done remarkably well since its birth earlier this year. I have been astonished by the generosity of fans and the sheer hard work of all those on the Committee, their families and fellow supporters which has enabled us to reach this first of what I hope will be several significant milestones.

“In addition to these stirling efforts the Christmas Draw has really taken off and we should all be grateful to those who are busy selling tickets and kindly donating prizes.

“There is a long way to go and in these difficult times it is asking a lot for people to contribute.

“We all know what the real prize is, bringing the stones home, so it is my intention to broaden the base for fund raising, by involving a much larger pool of people.

“For example we have 32 football sides in the club having at least 15 members, including management -you do the maths!

“We have reached this figure in under 12 months! Keep positive and we can really make a difference!”

Back to Saturday’s FA Cup tie, www.kentishfootball.co.uk spoke to Woking manager Graham Baker following his side’s win over Hythe Town.

“It doesn’t matter who you play, whether you play teams above you or teams below you, or teams in the same league, every FA Cup tie is on the day and it’s who performs on the day and you’re out as quick as you can click your fingers,” said Baker.

“You have to turn up on the day in all FA Cup ties and be ready and be your best.

“Maidstone will come here, they will like the occasion and they will play above their ability.

“They’re having a great season (so) we’ve got to be on our game.

“We’re not good enough to play half heartedly against any team, no matter what level it is. We’ve got a bunch of boys, a lot of them are still learning the game so every game is different for us.

“We find it very hard at the moment to put games to bed early in the game. We can’t kill teams off.”

Visit Maidstone United’s website: www.maidstoneunited.co.uk

COVERAGE: Paul Parkinson will be covering this game for www.kentishfootball.co.uk

Woking v Maidstone United

FA Cup (Sponsored by E.ON) Third Qualifying Round

Saturday 10th October 2009

Kick Off 3:00pm

At Kingfield Stadium, Kingfield Road, Woking, Surrey, GU22 9AA