We'll produce a giant-killing if we play the Cards right - Porter

Sunday 27th September 2009

PROUD Hythe Town boss Scott Porter says he is confident that his side of Kent League semi-professionals and potential giant-killers can pull off another great result by knocking FULL-TIME Woking out of the FA Cup at Kingfield Stadium on Tuesday night, writes Stephen McCartney.

Woking, who played in the top flight of non-league football for 16 years before their relegation to the Blue Square South in the summer, have a history of FA Cup giant killings to their name - just ask supporters of West Bromwich Albion!

But they had no answer to Hythe’s passion during the 2-2 draw at fortress Reachfields Stadium (only Bulmers Cider Kent League leaders Faversham Town have won there this season) in yesterday’s second qualifying round tie.

With goalkeeper Kieron Mann and defender Gavin Ransley immense, the underdogs came so close to pulling off their greatest ever FA Cup giant killing against the Cards.

Porter has been overcome with pride ever since the game ended, and www.kentishfootball.co.uk caught up with him at lunchtime today.

“Proud? Massively yes!” he said. “A great day for the club, for me, as well for all the players as they were absolutely outstanding, every single one of them. You couldn’t fault anyone really. It was a great day!”

The Rookie manager added, “Obviously we wanted to win the game, but we didn’t, but two-all against a team that are full-time, they train seven days a week or whatever.

“Come Monday, tomorrow, they’ll have their massages and all our players have to go back to work. You can’t fault anyone of them.

“Two sloppy goals we gave away to be honest, but what are sloppy goals against a team as high as them!

“The keeper, Keiron Mann was outstanding! I can’t single out anyone as everyone was absolutely superb - a great day for everyone yesterday!”

Porter takes his side to Kingfield Stadium for Tuesday night’s replay, expecting a backlash from Graham Baker and former Welling United number two, Jimmy Dack, who were clearly both unhappy over their side’s performance in Kent.

“It’s going to be a total different game,” warned Porter. “They’re going to be on their own patch, their own crowd, lovely surface and their manager is going to be bang up for it.

“He was giving them an absolute rollicking at half-time and after the game. They didn’t even come upstairs for a drink so that shows how professional they really are.

“We’ll just prepare for it as normal, turn up on the day and hopefully try and finish the job, but it’s going to be an uphill task as soon as we get there.

“But we’ll go there, we didn’t think we’d get this far, and enjoy it, that’s all we can do. The boys have been absolute fantastic and it’s another big day for the club.”

The key for Hythe at Kingfield Stadium is to silence the home crowd - and Porter is confident his side can do exactly that.

“They were frustrated for 71 minutes, you didn’t hear them until they scored and they brought a fair few with them,” he said.

“It’s going to be tough up there, of course we all know that and that was our day yesterday. We’ll go there on Tuesday and give it our best shot like we did yesterday.

“Playing a full-time team, who gets paid lots and lots of money, obviously we’re on a tight budget and they’re three leagues above us with full-time footballers. It’s a great day for myself but mainly for the lads and the club.”

Porter does have one more motivation tool to use for Tuesday’s eagerly-awaited Kingfield clash.

“We are always going to be the underdogs against a team like Woking, but you never know, it’s the FA Cup,” said Porter.

“We thought we were out of it at 2-1, but the boys showed great character to come back and get an equalise.

“Woking got a reaction at half-time and got a reaction at full-time and they will be all guns blazing out to put us to bed straight away.

“There’s a lot of pressure on his (the manager) shoulders and it showed in his reaction of the disrespect that he gave us and not even came upstairs (for a drink) after the game.

“He showed that disrespect all day - we’re not like that as we’re not big time.”

Porter added: “The lads’ upped their game because they were playing against better opposition. A lot of the lads haven’t played in front of a big crowd.

“The best thing we could have done money wise was for the club to draw at home in front of a big crowd and a replay in front of a big crowd.”

Porter, whose day job is a bricklayer, added, “A victory will be the icing on the cake!”

This proves just why the FA Cup is just the greatest Cup competition in the world!

Supporters can book their coach travel by calling 01303 265 962.

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

www.kentishfootball.co.uk will be covering this game

Woking v Hythe Town

FA Cup (Sponsored by E.ON) Second Qualifying Round Replay

Tuesday 29th September 2009

Kick Off 7:45pm

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