Kentish Football 
We'll take Whitstable all the way, insists Trams' chief - EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEWS
Croydon manager/chairman Dickson Gill believes his side are capable of becoming the first side to inflict a Kent League defeat on leaders Whitstable Town tomorrow - at the 23rd attempt, writes Stephen McCartney.
Second placed Trams are unbeaten in their last five games and are eight points behind a Whitstable side that needed a 94th minute equaliser from Sam Prett to prevent local rivals Faversham Town winning at the Belmont last weekend.
And in midweek the Oystermen were held to a 2-2 draw at home to Hythe Town in the first leg of their Kent League Cup semi-final.
This recent stumble has given Gill the optimism that his side can claw back their eight point deficit to steal promotion away from the coastal club.
Speaking on the eve of the top two showdown, Gill said EXCLUSIVELY to www.kentishfootball.co.uk : “Every game’s winnable isn’t it?
“Well, they’ve been unbeaten on record and they’ve done very well . They’ve had a lot of luck on their side with lots of ninety minute goals.
“When the teams are at the top of the league this is the best time to play them because everyone will be up for it.”
Mr Gill is pleased with the way his side have climbed the Kent League table under his leadership.
Victory at the Croydon Sports Arena, with it’s eight lane athletics track and long jump pit surrounding the pitch, will keep the title race - and promotion into the Ryman League - open.
“Going top is a possibility,” said Mr Gill. “We’ve done a great task so far when we consider where we were at the beginning of the year.
“We haven’t got a big budget. I’ve only lost one league game since I’ve taken over so we’re not that far behind them.
But if Marc Seager’s side win in south east London tomorrow, they will go eleven points clear of their nearest rivals, but Mr Gill won’t be throwing in the towel.
“We’ve got other games to compete so we can’t just throw the towel in,” he said.
“We will go towards the end. If we give up we’ll finish towards the bottom but we’ll take every team to the end of the season because we’re going to take our strongest side to every game.”Mr Gill revealed the only absentee for tomorrow’s game, which should attract a crowd of over 150, is Bronek Dabrowa (family bereavement).
Whitstable Town boss Marc Seager is relishing tomorrow’s top two showdown - but insists the pressure is on the Trams.
“We’re looking forward to it, first versus second, don’t come as big as that,” he said EXCLUSIVELY to www.kentishfootball.co.uk.
“The pressure is on them because they’re eight points behind us and we’ve got a game in hand.
“We just take it one game at a time and try to do our own job. We know what we’ve got to do. We’ve got ten games left and if we win all ten then we’re champions.”
Seager, meanwhile, is expecting another tough game against their rivals.
“Tomorrow’s a big game and we’re looking forward to it,” he said. “It will be the fourth time we’ve played them this year and they’ve all been entertaining games.
“I think Croydon are one of the best sides we’ve played this year and I’m looking forward to a great game.”
Despite scoring a 94th minute equaliser against Faversham Town last weekend to preserve their unbeaten status, Seager admits you need “mental strength” to keep going until the final whistle.
“I wasn’t relieved at all,” he said. “The lads showed great courage and great mental strength, not for the first time.
“Good teams keep going until the end. It only takes a second to score a goal, or to concede a goal and that’s what makes football so good.”
And Seager believes his side will reach their second cup final of the season at Reachfelds Stadium next Tuesday night, having been held to a 2-2 draw in the first leg.
“We didn’t play very well on he night,” he admitted. “Hythe were the better side and maybe they should have took their chance when they had it.
“We will be going to Hythe full of confidence and if we can remain unbeaten tomorrow, Hythe will know they will have to be the first team to beat us to make the final.
“I think Hythe are a good side and it’s going to be tough for us but it’s all about who wants it most on the night.
“We will go there and do our job and hopefully that will be enough.”Visit club websites:
Visit club websites:Croydon v Whitstable Town
Kent League Premier Division
Saturday 17th March 2007
Kick Off 3:00pm
At Croydon Sports Arena, Albert Road, South Norwood, London SE25 4QL
Red Dragon I.T. Ltd