We have a responsibility to play the game in the right spirit, says Whitstable Town's Nicky Southall

WHITSTABLE TOWN boss Nicky Southall says his players must keep their emotions in line when they travel to their bitter rivals Herne Bay on Tuesday night.

The Oystermen finished with eight men on the pitch after they knocked The Bay out of the Kent Senior Cup Sponsored by Portablefloodlights.com in October, when James Morrish, John Guest and Steve Hafner all saw red during their 1-0 win at The Belmont.

The two sides met in Whitstable in the Ryman League Division One South back in August, playing out a goal-less draw.

Whitstable Town arrive at Winch’s Field in nineteenth-place in the table with 31 points from 27 games, collecting eight wins and seven draws.

They are two places lower than Sam Denly’s side, who have played 28 league games and have collected 34 points, nine wins and seven draws.

Whitstable Town collected a point in their 1-1 home draw against Kent rivals Folkestone Invicta.

Johan Ter Horst scored his nineteenth-goal of the season to give Neil Cugley’s side the lead, before Whitstable secured a point through Scott Heard.

“I thought the game against Folkestone was a typical derby that was played on a very heavy pitch and I have to say both sets of players handled the conditions,” said Southall.

“Going into the game all the hype was around Folkestone’s young centre forward Johan Ter Horst and there were a number of scouts watching not only him but a couple of my players and to be honest they all stood out.

“Folkestone’s goal was a great run and cross to where the young Ter Horst darted across the near post area to slip the ball into the net which was a great finish and great movement.

“I have to say that we didn’t let that goal dent our confidence as I always felt that we were still in the game especially with the pace of Scott Heard and Jake McKenzie added with the blistering pace of my young sixteen-year-old right-back Aaron Simpson, who has settled in remarkably for one so young.

“Eventually we got our deserved goal from Scott Heard who was a real thorn to the Folkestone back line and he got the equaliser from a great flick on from Dave Raggett.”

Southall added: “From then on the game opened up and it was like a basketball game, end-to-end and full credit to both sides especially my team after playing Tuesday and Thursday last week to find that kind of performance against a very good side in Folkestone.”

The Whitstable Town boss is looking forward to the club’s biggest fixture of the season.

Southall said: “So we have another great game to look forward too, the much eagerly awaited derby against Herne Bay, weather permitting of course.

“Again, these games are not for the faint hearted with bragging rights for players and fans alike to be settled.

“My only hope is that it’s a game that shows the commitment and passion and ultimately quality as that’s what we all want to see, not the unsavoury scenes from the Cup game at the Belmont where we had eight men.

“Yeah, we want to win and play well but you still have to show to fans and the kids that we have a responsibility to play the game in the right spirit, whatever the result.”

Visit Whitstable Town’s website: www.whitstabletownfc.co.uk

Herne Bay  v  Whitstable Town
Ryman League Division One South
Tuesday 4^th March 2014
Kick Off 7:45pm
At Winch’s Field, Stanley Gardens, Herne Bay, Kent CT6 5SG