Kentish Football 
Whitstable boss Mark Lane gives his squad three games to make 18-man cut
Sunday 25th July 2010
WHITSTABLE TOWN boss Mark Lane says he wants to continue the impressive run of form that his side showed during his caretaker spell, when the new season kick's off on 21 August, writes Stephen McCartney.
Lane guided the Belmont Road club towards Ryman League Division One South safety with six wins and a draw after taking temporary charge of team affairs following the exit of Mark Munday and Paul Lane last March.
Lamb has since been appointed the new first team coach to Derek Hares at Deal Town, a side that sealed an impressive 2-0 home win over Blue Square Bet South side Basingstoke Town yesterday.
“I think that’s gone now,” Lane told www.kentishfootball.co.uk following his side’s 2-1 defeat at Thamesmead Town yesterday.
“We’re talking about the 10 games at the end of the season. I had the motivation, the players wanted to play for the club and we’re starting a new season now and it’s trying to get that same team spirit together and trying to win football matches.”
Whitstable picked up a couple of knocks to Gary Sayer and player-assistant manager Clint Gooding, who scored the Oystermen’s only goal at Bayliss Avenue yesterday, and looking ahead to their trip to Kent League outfit Deal Town on Tuesday night, Lane says pre-season is going well.
“Deal, another tough team to play. It will be a hard, physical game,” he said.
“I think the way we set the ones up was the right way. I mean we played Hythe last week, who were very physical and strong, which was a good game for our youngsters and we played a good footballing team today (Thamesmead Town), who played a lot of football and we had to cope with that.
“Deal will be different again, they’ll be a physical, strong side and the lads will have to compete and play so I’m looking forward to it.”
Lane is giving players three more games to stake their place in his 18-man squad for the forthcoming Ryman League campaign.
He said: “We’ve got Deal away on Tuesday and Croydon (at home) on Saturday and I think by the time we play Herne Bay the following Tuesday I’d rather have a general idea of the 17 or 18 that I want to play in the Ryman.”
Lane added: “I’m really looking forward to it. I don’t really know what to expect at the moment, but as I say, it someone asked me years ago whether I’d be manager of a football club I would probably say no.
“But then again, the opportunity doesn’t come along every five minutes and it was nice to been given the opportunity and we’ll see what happens in the season.”
Meanwhile, former Whitstable striker Ian Pulman, who had signed for Ashford Town during the close season before their much-publicised troubles, turned out for Faversham Town during their 2-0 home defeat to Margate yesterday.
Deal Town v Whitstable Town
Pre-Season Friendly
Tuesday 27th July 2010
Kick Off 7:45pm
The Oatmor-Harris Stadium, Charles Sports Ground, St. Leonards Rd, Deal, Kent CT14 9BE
Red Dragon I.T. Ltd