We want to claim the Kent League double, says Hythe Town boss Scott Porter

HYTHE TOWN boss Scott Porter says he wants to complete the Kent League double by beating holders Herne Bay to land the Kent League Cup on Saturday, writes Stephen McCartney.


Porter, 32, guided the club towards the Kent League title courtesy of a nervy 2-2 draw away to Tunbridge Wells last Saturday, which was enough to clinch the title on goal-difference, despite Herne Bay snatching a last gasp 3-2 win at third-placed VCD Athletic.

Herne Bay beat Sevenoaks Town to win the Kent League Cup last season, but Porter wants his club to win the trophy for the very first time – and most probably the last time – in the club’s proud history.
 
”We want to do the double, of course you do,” said Porter.

”You don’t go into a Cup Final not wanting to win it.  Just because you get promotion you don’t turn up to a Cup Final with your fans nice and local, I live in Folkestone, so it’s a big day for us.  We go there, we want to do the double now.”

Striker, Brendon Cass, meanwhile, whose sweetly struck shot resulted in a blunder from Tunbridge Wells keeper Michal Czanner, who gifted Hythe the draw and the title, paid tribute to Simon Halsey’s side for pushing them all the way to the wire.

”Credit to Herne Bay, they’ve taken it to the last game,” said the prolific 27-year-old striker, who has scored 37 goals this season, given that his effort at Culverden Stadium went down as an own goal.

”Three games ago it was in the bag, but losing to Norton Sports on the Friday brought it back again going into the last game and in the end we just enough held our nerve.

”Again, the Kent League Cup Final is an added bonus really.  Our aim at the start of the season was to go up.  We’ve done that so the Cup Final is a bonus, win the double, we can celebrate even bigger, but we’ve done what we set out at the start of the season so we look forward to the Cup Final.”

Cass revealed that he met the goalscoring target set from Porter after dropping down two leagues from Ryman Premier League neighbours Folkestone Invicta.

However, both clubs will be in Ryman League Division One South next season, as Invicta finished rock bottom this season.

”Scott gave me an aim of 30 (goals).  I’ve reached that a few weeks ago, which was pleasing.  A couple of hat-tricks have helped over the last few weeks, so I’ll try and push 40.  It doesn’t matter how many goals individuals score, it’s a team effort and one (against Herne Bay) will do.”

Hythe skipper, Dave Cook, 27, breathed a huge sigh of relief, following Czanner’s own goal gifted his side the title.

”I’m over the moon.  We made hard work of it though, lucky goal as well, I think” admitted Cook, who led the team out at League Two Hereford United in the FA Cup First Round last November.

”When we went 2-0 down all I could think about was playing Sporting Bengal next year.  Lucky we ain’t go to!

”To be honest we were awful first half.  We were caught square at the back, not winning our second balls and the two boys up top (Cass and Craig Thompson) weren’t really gambling on anything, in my opinion.

”But Scott had a few harsh words at us at half-time and it seemed to shoot us up the backside a little bit.”

When asked what Scott actually said at them in the away dressing room at Culverden Stadium, Cook said, “I wouldn’t be able to say.  A few swear words.  He said, ‘just go out there, we weren’t playing like we wanted to win the league, you’re not playing like a team who wants to win the league!”

”He left it all in our hands and luckily with a little help from their goalkeeper, we done it!”

Cook paid tribute to the club’s management team, Porter, dad Clive, Martin Chandler and Nicky Dent.

”The best thing about it is they’re all best mates as well and a big thank you to them, those four blokes, because they’ve stuck by us, even when we’ve been rubbish and they’ve told us and we’ve sorted it out so a big thank you to them four.”

Looking ahead to next season, one fixture stands out like a sore thump – the local derby against Folkestone Invicta.

Cook added, “Personal opinion, I think I’ve got a point to prove to Neil (Cugley) as I was there pre-season a couple of times and things haven’t worked out so I’ve come back here and they’ve looked after me, Scott and Paul Fisk before and I’m looking forward to that one.  It will be a good game.”

Chairman, Paul Markland, meanwhile, can go to Cheriton Road on Saturday in a more relaxed mood, having suffered from nervous tension last weekend.

A very proud Mr Markland said, “A lot was riding on the game.  We set out at the beginning of the season to do this (win the league) and they’ve done it.

”I was more nervous at the end of the game than I was at the beginning of the game.  I don’t know why, just overcome of the emotion of it, I think.

”Everybody behind the scenes, on the pitch, knew what we had to do and by the skin of our teeth we scraped it.

”It’s a hard league to get out of, the Kent League, and now we’re out of it and now looking forward to the Ryman.”

Looking ahead to the third game against Herne Bay, the two league games ended in draws, Mr Markland added, “That will be a nice test for both sides, so we’re looking forward to that one.  No pressure this time.”

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

 Herne Bay  v  Hythe Town
Safety Net Associates Kent League Cup Final
Saturday 7^th May 2011
Kick Off 3:00pm
At Cheriton Road, Folkestone, Kent CT19 5JU