We have to be at our absolute best to get anything against Margate, says Ray Turner

FAVERSHAM TOWN boss Ray Turner says his side have to be at their best if they are to knock Margate out of The FA Cup next Saturday.

The Lilywhites welcome Chris Kinnear’s side to Salters Lane in a First Qualifying Round clash on the back of a disappointing 4-1 home defeat to breakaway kings Walton & Hersham at the weekend.

Turner said: “I did not really see the result coming! We had just come off the back of two strong performances but Saturday we let ourselves down.  It is an embarrassing defeat, make no mistake!

“For large periods of the game we were second best and they deserved their win.  No point making excuses.  If you don’t work hard in this league you lose. It’s that simple!

There was a massive turning point in the game when Faversham should have  levelled but Luke Harvey’s header thundered off the near post following Renford Tenyue’s cross.

Turner said: “As is often the case if you don’t take your chances to score the opposition will and shortly after they went two goals to the good.

“I chased the game at two down because I still believed we could get a positive result.  This, however, played straight into Walton & Hersham’s hands.  I have to say they executed their breaks very well and I can see how they have scored so many goals. They broke with pace and exposed us defensively.”

Even a fantastic late strike from former Herne Bay targetman Harvey could not hide any disappointment for Turner.

He said: “It is a bad defeat no doubt about it and it came at a time when we were starting to find some balance in the team.

“I will now have to really look at the next two Cup fixtures and the team selection. We are massive underdogs against Margate on Saturday and also the following week against AFC Sudbury in the Trophy.

“The players need to show me that they are the ones to take this club forward, otherwise I will be forced to look elsewhere.”

Unbeaten Margate arrive in Faversham sitting in fourth-place in the Ryman Premier League table.

And Turner hopes secretary Wendy Walker has sent Margate the wrong directions to Salters Lane ahead of Faversham Town’s biggest Cup game for many years.

Turner quipped: “I think Margate need to get lost somewhere on their way to Faversham and not make the kick-off time for us to win!

“After Saturday’s performance against Walton & Hersham we are nowhere near ready to take on a side with so much experience and quality.

“Margate have had a fantastic start to the season. Chris and Jake (Kinnear and Leberl) have assembled a great squad of players and they probably can’t wait to get over to our place.

“Put it this way the scouting report on us Saturday would not present any cause for concern and I am sure their supporters are looking forward to the short trip and trying to take over the ground for the day.

“I hope very much our own supporters will come out in force and get behind our players.

“There is not a bigger draw for us at this stage of the competition and Margate have very few competitive derbies so it is set up for a great day for both sets of supporters and for us a chance at causing a massive upset.”

Turner hopes his former Margate contingent in his squad of Simon Overland, Wayne Wilson, Aidan Sherlock, Aaron Lacy, Adrian Stone and Danny Hockton turn over their former side.

He said: “This really is a dream tie for the club as a whole. There are many at the club who have worked incredibly hard just to keep a football club in the town and these days are to be savoured.  It is a proud day for many and we have to give a performance the whole town can be proud off.

“We have to be at our absolute best to get anything out of this tie.  We have to lift everyone in the crowd who in turn can inspire the best possible display from the team.

“It will be a day where there will also be an amazing amount of former Margate players potentially on show.  I am sure all these players will be well received by both sets of fans on the day.

“It is set up for a historic day for this team and the club and we have got to go out on the pitch and play with huge belief in each other and what we can achieve together.”

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

Faversham Town  v   Margate
The FA Cup with Budweiser First Qualifying Round
Saturday 8^th September 2012
Kick Off 3:00pm
at Salters Lane, Faversham, Kent ME13 8ND