We're not taking this game lightly, says Whitstable Town boss Nicky Southall

WHITSTABLE TOWN manager Nicky Southall says he is relieved to avoid slipping up on a potential banana skin away to Tunbridge Wells on Saturday.

The Oystermen came away from Culverden Stadium with a goal-less draw in The FA Cup Preliminary Round tie.

Martin Larkin’s side reached The FA Vase Final last season, going down to a 2-1 defeat to Spennymoor Town at Wembley Stadium on 4 May and are flying high at the summit of the Southern Counties East Football League.

Southall said: “It was a tough game for us. A banana skin game. I think everyone talked it could have been a potential Cup upset on the back of what Tunbridge Wells have done over the last season in the Cup competitions so we were on guard in that respect.”

But Southall, who has played at every level of the professional game added: “But I thought we started the game quite well. Dominated the game for the first 30 minutes.  They came into it, had a chance on the break away. We rode that and just after half-time they came out at us, which I said to our players to be on their guard because they will and they did.

“We played particularly well at times in the first bit of the second half but they did put pressure on us and I’ve got to say they got a fortuitous penalty I must admit.

“It was a fanatic tackle from my centre half John Guest and the referee saw it as a penalty. How it was a penalty baffles me because the linesman was ten yards away from the incident.

“We got justice, I think, and a fantastic save from my goalkeeper Luke Watkins, who has been an absolute revelation since he’s come into the team.”

Higher league sides tend to finish off the job when it comes to FA Cup replays at home – and Southall wants his side to win Tuesday night’s replay at Belmont Road.

“I hope your prediction comes right,” said Southall.

“Listen, we’re not taking this game lightly, by no means. It will be a tough game. They’ve got a second bite as we have and there’s a big carrot at the end of it – so let’s hope we bite hardest!

“It was a difficult game for us to go away to Tunbridge Wells. They had a decent crowd there so hopefully we can get a decent crowd through the door tomorrow night and a decent game to boot.

“It’s a local Kent derby again, another Kent derby and it’s a game I’ve got to say I’m looking forward to.”

Southall revealed he will make a couple of changes to his side to book their place in the First Qualifying Round.

“We’ve got a decent squad, some fresh legs coming back into it and we’ll use those fresh legs,” said the former Gillingham ace.

“Our fitness levels have been fantastic of late but I think we’ve had two games over the Bank Holiday weekend last week so we have to keep people fresh and raring to go.

“I’ll be looking to maybe make a couple of changes to freshen things up, especially in the forward areas.”

The winner of Tuesday night’s replay will travel to Eastbourne Town in the First Qualifying Round on 14 September.

Tony Reid’s side knocked Corinthian out of the competition with a 1-0 win on Saturday, courtesy of a header from central defender Sacha Mbaye in the 58^th minute.

Eastbourne Town went into the game with only one point and two goals to their name from their opening six league games and are rooted to the foot of the Ryman League Division One South table.

Tunbridge Wells are the sole Kent survivors in the Southern Counties East Football League in The FA Cup after Greenwich Borough were knocked out by Littlehampton Town yesterday, courtesy of Jason Jarvis lashing a shot into the top corner from 12-yards.

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

Whitstable Town  v  Tunbridge Wells
The FA Cup with Budweiser Preliminary Round Replay
Tuesday 3^rd September 2013
Kick Off 7:45pm
At The Belmont, Belmont Road, Whitstable, Kent CT5 1QP