We've got 17 cup finals remaining, says Munday

Thursday 25th February 2010

FRUSTRATED Whitstable Town manager Mark Munday says he hopes the weather improves to help his side climb off the foot of the Ryman League Division One South table, writes Stephen McCartney.

The Oystermen must play 17 league games within nine weeks and a win away to Walton Casuals could see the club climb out of the relegation zone, depending on other teams results.

“All games between now and the end of the season, for any side are important - whether those at the base of the table or those at the top,“ Munday told www.kentishfootball.co.uk.

“Managers talk about saying they’ve got 15 or 16 cup finals left. We’ve got 17 and I think out of them eight or nine of them will be wanting to be won to maintain our status.

“Ashford have got a little run together, primarily over the last few weeks they’ve managed to get games in and that we’ve been stopping and starting.

“It’s a frustrating time for everyone as we haven’t had a run of games to get our teeth into (because off the weather).”

Saturday’s opponents, Walton Casuals are only four points clear of the drop zone, so a win beside the banks of the River Thames will go down nicely at Belmont Road.

“There’s many sides there who can be brought into the mix if someone like us, Ashford, Eastbourne or Walton Casuals go on a run. Hopefully that will be us,” said Munday.

“As I’ve said before, we’ve played sides in the top six and beaten them and we’ve played sides in the bottom three and beaten them so there’s no-one in this league that we can’t go and pick up three points.

“Walton Casuals have been one of the sides that have continued to play. I know they’ve had a couple of postponements but they’re on a good run.

“We’ve got three games-in-hand over them and we’re playing them. We’ve got to go there and expect a battle and to keep it nice and tight and hopefully be able to take some of the chances that we’re creating.

“It will be a tough game but no tougher than probably what Fleet will be on Tuesday. Fingers crossed, touch wood, any good luck signals you can do to get the game played.”

Ramsgate travelled down to Fleet Town in midweek and claimed a hard-fought point on the sloppy pitch at Calthorpe Park.

“We went there at the end of last year, virtually in the same position and won three points,” recalled Munday, just a player at the time.

“We’ve got nothing to fear from them. It’s going to be a tough game, so is Walton Casuals, so is Ashford and Croydon Athletic when we play them.

“There’s no one there to go there with any fear but we have to give them ultimate respect from top to bottom. You have to go there fully prepared to do the nitty-gritty first and hopefully some luck will come our way in the box.”

Munday is pleased to have a couple of old faces back in the frame for the business end of the season.

He said: “Now we’ve got Ian Pulman in the ranks. He is our goalscorer, hopefully he can get on the end of the chances that we’re creating.

“Dan Tanner is now back in the reckoning after coming back from Australia. He’s been playing to get himself fit and he said if he’s needed he can be called upon.

“But we need a run of games. These non-run of games is killing us at the moment with the lack of consistency.

“We’ve got 17 games - and it’s going to be a busy time but we’re not at the stage yet where we’re Saturday, Tuesday, Thursday, but a couple of cancellations for whatever reason, it will be that case.”

With Dan Wisker still suspended, Munday has added himself to a 17-man squad as they bid to maintain their Ryman League status.

“We’ve got a squad off probably seventeen that have played more than five or ten games as a first-team player,” explained Munday.

“The majority of them have stuck with us. Even with myself there should be enough bodies in numbers.”

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

Walton Casuals v Whitstable Town

Ryman League Division One South

Saturday 27th February 2010

Kick Off 3:00pm

At The Waterside Stadium, Waterside Drive, Walton-on-Thames, Surrey KT12 2JP