I suppose that’s the excitement of playing teams in national competition – the unknown, says Whitstable Town boss Marcel Nimani

WHITSTABLE TOWN manager Marcel Nimani says he wants his side to experience an enjoyable FA Cup awayday at Haywards Heath Town on Saturday.

The Oystermen kicked-off their Southern Counties East Football League Premier Division campaign with a 2-0 home win over Erith Town last Saturday, courtesy of a Josh Oliver brace.

Whitstable Town are in sixth-place in the pecking order after 90 minutes of league football.

“Tough start to the season having been scheduled with one of the promotion candidates,” said Nimani, who guided the club to a fifth-placed finish last time out, a place beneath Adam Woodwards’ Dockers’.

“It’s very hard to look good when playing Erith Town, being so naturally narrow, it was so hard to play through them.

“Ultimately, we just had to be clinical in moments and to defend well and we done that well enough to  get the three points.”

Whitstable Town face a FA Cup Extra Preliminary Round tie against Southern Combination League Premier Division side Haywards Heath Town.

Their 12^th placed hosts have opened their league campaign with two 1-1 draws against Eastbourne United and Horsham YMCA during the opening week of their new campaign.

Nimani said: “Another tough candidate, another game against a big club with rich Step Four experience.  When you consider a year before they were (Isthmian League South East Division) play-off semi-finalists.

“We’ve managed to get a couple of reports form their pre-season games but we are wise enough to know that pre-season performances are not always an accurate reflection.

“From our perspective, we will focus on our game and try to adjust to anything that we may identify as the game goes on.

“I suppose that’s the excitement of playing teams in national competition – the unknown. 

“We’ll focus on ourselves and if we get that right, we stand a good chance.”

Nimani says he wants his players’ to build relationships with each other as they make their way down to West Sussex.

“It’s such an exciting competition and it is the first thing that we all look at when the new season begins – who did we get in The FA Cup?

“At first, I think we were all gutted with two away rounds as it would have been great to bring an opposition from another league into our ground but away trips are a great opportunity to travel with the team and build experiences and relationships with one another.

“We are excited and looking forward to the away trip.”

When asked about his aspirations for the season ahead, Nimani replied: “With the introduction of the play-off system, it is not a hidden secret, collectively as a club we want to take one of those play-off spots at the end of the season.

“Alongside the league, we aim to compete strongly in both domestic cups too. We think it’s important to keep the season alive and competitive throughout.”

The winners shall travel to Sandhurst Town or VCD Athletic in The FA Cup Preliminary Round on Saturday 19 August.

Visit Whitstable Town’s website:  www.whitstabletownfc.club

Haywards Heath Town  v  Whitstable Town
The Emirates FA Cup Extra Preliminary Round
Saturday 5 August 2023
Kick Off 3:00pm
at Hanbury Stadium, Allen Road, Haywards Heath, West Sussex RH16 3PT