We have adapted to Ryman football, says Seager - EXCLUSIVE

Despite losing 2-1 at Walton & Hersham yesterday, Whitstable Town boss Marc Seager feels his newly promoted side have now acclimatised to the Ryman League, writes Stephen McCartney.

Seager was pleased with the display from his players despite losing at Stompond Lane - their third Ryman League Division One South match in their history.

“We played ever so well, to be honest with you, it’s the first game this season we’ve actually looked like a Ryman side,” he admitted EXCLUSIVELY to www.kentishfootball.co.uk.

“We looked sharp, our quality on the ball looked good, and we should have been four-up before they scored.

“But one thing we’re learning, and the players need to learn and fast, you have to score when you’re on top at this level. If you don’t, you will get punished and that’s what happened yesterday.”

Striker Jon Neal, a summer signing from Sittingbourne, scored his first goal in Whitstable Town colours yesterday, and Seager said: “It’s nice for him to get on the score sheet.”

And despite their second successive defeat, Seager said: “A lot of positives to take out of yesterday, which is good for me. There was a lot more positives than negatives, which was good.”

All attention now turns to the derby showdown against a Dover Athletic side that have won their opening three games of the new season

And Seager is relishing the chance to pit his wits against Whites’ boss, Andy Hessenthaler, in front of over 1,200 fans at The Belmont tomorrow.

“We’re really looking forward to it, Dover are the favourites, and rightly so,” said Seager.

“They’ve got a great manager, some very good players and they’ve got a big budget, a big fan-base and they’re a massive club.

“But it shows how far we’ve come. This time last year we were playing Erith Town away and Herne Bay at home.

“When you look at twelve months later, we’re playing Walton & Hersham away and Dover at home.

“As a player, players should look forward to the big games and this is a big game - it should be a great game.”

Dover Athletic’s star-midfielder, Alan Pouton, whose previous clubs include Gillingham, is expected to be on the sidelines for upto two months.

The vital player was carried off during the first half of their 1-0 win over Leatherhead yesterday with a suspected broken collar bone.

And with Hessenthaler also out, Seager knows the Whites have more quality players lined up to face his side.

He said: “They’re two very good players, lot’s of experience and I’m sure they will be missed but they’ve also got good players there.

“That’s a mark of a good side when they’ve got strength in depth.

“I want our lads to put on a good show and I’m sure they will do. Whitstable Town versus Dover Athletic in a league game is fantastic, and shows how far we’ve come as a club.”

Seager reminds his players that they’ve already played on the big stage, clinching the club’s first ever Kent League title and winning the Kent Senior Trophy last term.

“We’ve got the experience in playing in front of big crowds and being winners, a lot of these have got silverware,” he said.

“Players should look forward to the big games, it gets your adrenalin pumping and a buzz and we can’t wait for it.

“It will be a great measuring stick for us as a club to see where we’ve come as a club and what we have to do and where we need to go.

“It’s a learning curve for us, and we’re still learning.”

Dover Athletic boss Andy Hessenthaler, meanwhile, has seen his side notch up wins over Horsham YMCA (5-1), Cray Wanderers (3-2) before Mark Lovell netted his first goal of the season against Leatherhead yesterday.

Speaking to www.dafctv.co.uk, Hessenthaler is confident that his side can make it four wins out of four.

“There’s a little bit of pressure for us as we’re not expected to lose when we go there,” he said.

“We’ve got to overcome that, but it’s going to be a tough game.

“There’s going to be a decent crowd there, we know what we’ve got to do.

“We’ve got to go there and be strong, and be positive and try and pass the ball, which we want to do.

“It’s a bit of a tight pitch I believe, but we’ve won three on the bounce, can we make it four, before we go into the Redhill game in the FA Cup (next Saturday)?

“So I believe we can, confidence is good, we’ve had a blow today with the injuries and certainly the injury to Alan Pouton, but we’ve got to show character and that’s certainly what we did today.”

Whitstable Town striker, Andy Constable, meanwhile, is expected to be out for up-to three weeks with a strained Achilles tendon, and joins Danny Tipple (ankle), yet to make his debut following his summer switch from Kent League side Greenwich Borough, on the treatment table.

Alex Hossick and Jake Gess played for the reserves yesterday, and will be drafted into the squad, with last season’s golden boot winner, Stuart King.

For Dover, winger, Byron Walker, Matt Fish are both doubtful, but Sam Gore may feature, having played for their reserves yesterday.

Visit club websites: 

www.whitstabletownfc.co.uk

www.doverathletic.com

www.dafctv.co.uk


Whitstable Town v Dover Athletic
Ryman League Division One South
Bank Holiday Monday, 27^th August 2007
Kick Off 3:00pm
At The Belmont, Belmont Road, Whitstable, Kent CT5 1QP