We won't give this trophy up lightly, insists Hythe Town boss Scott Porter

HYTHE TOWN boss Scott Porter says his side will not surrender their grasp on the Kent Senior Cup against Thamesmead Town on Tuesday night.

Hythe got their Kent Senior Cup (sponsored by Portablefloodlights.com) campaign off with a victory over Kent Leaguers Erith Town last season, before they produced three giant-killings to win the prestigious silverware for the very first time.

Porter’s heroes stunned three Conference clubs in the shape of Ebbsfleet United and Dover Athletic before beating Dartford 1-0 at Princes Park in the final.

Influential skipper Dave Cook smashed home the penalty winner as early as the seventh-minute to stun Dartford, who were thwarted by American keeper Dean Ruddy, who produced a world-class performance to bring the silverware to Reachfields Stadium.

The trophy sits proudly inside the trophy cabinet at the club and Porter takes his side to Bayliss Avenue trying to avoid a Second Round exit.

Porter said: “We’re the holders and we’ve worked hard to get it and we’re not going to give it away easily.

“I’ll put my strongest side I possibly can out on Tuesday but I’ve got injuries. I’ve got Greg Smith, Taser Hassan and Craig Cloke injured so we have got injuries to deal with but I’ll play my strongest side I possibly can come Tuesday.”

Keith McMahon’s side are presently sitting in seventh-place in the Ryman League Division One North table and have only lost twice at Bayliss Avenue in the league this season.

Porter said: “We worked bloody hard to get that trophy. We beat some top teams with top players in it and we won’t give this trophy up lightly.

“We want to retain it like every team would do.

“We’re going to go as strong as we can. It was a great occasion last year up at Dartford and it will always stick at the back of my mind. It was a great achievement for this football club so we want to try to keep hold of it for as long as we can.”

When asked about the trip to Thamesmead, Porter replied, “It’s probably the worst draw it possibly could have been, but it’s a football ground, it’s a football club and we’re football players and they’ve got to get up for every game and I’ll do my utmost to get them up for it on Tuesday.”

Porter takes his side to Tooting & Mitcham United next Saturday for a league game.

Hythe Town presently lie in fifth-place in the table, with 37 points from 22 games, whilst their hosts are in sixteenth-place with 27 points from 23 games.

Porter said: “They drew with Dulwich the other day. They’re going to be tough but they’re all tough games in this league from top through to bottom so I’m expecting a tough game.

“They’ve come into a little bit of form but I’ve said all along in all my interviews this league is wide open.  Any team can beat any team, top or bottom, so we’re looking for a tough test they’re.

“We need to get back on track and we need to start turning the corner.  We’ve suffered two defeats on the spin in the league, it’s the first time it’s happened all season, so we need a reaction come Saturday.

“Hopefully we’ll get the walking wounded back and we’ll have a full strength squad and be as strong as we can be.”

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

Thamesmead Town  v  Hythe Town
Kent Senior Cup (sponsored by portablefloodlights.com) Second Round
Tuesday 8^th January 2013
Kick Off 7:45pm
At Bayliss Avenue, Thamesmead, London SE28 8NJ