Home Whitstable Sport Article
Whitstable Town manager Lloyd Blackman looks ahead to their Isthmian South East match against Guernsey
06:00, 28 February 2020
updated: 11:09, 28 February 2020
Whitstable boss Lloyd Blackman expects Guernsey will be looking for a reaction when they visit the Belmont this weekend.
The Green Lions lost 6-0 to Isthmian South East leaders Ashford last Saturday and will aim to get back on track against their 13th-placed hosts.
When asked if Town should be wary of a response from Tony Vance’s team, who are 10th in the standings, Blackman replied: “There is always that in your mind.
“If the shoe was on the other foot, then we would be asking for a reaction from the players.
“But we need to impose our style and demonstrate the things we are good at as well.”
Whitstable won 2-0 at Guernsey’s Footes Lane when the two sides met in December.
“I know Tony very well and I know the style in which his team plays,” Blackman said.
“On their day, they are probably one of the best sides in the league.
"There is no doubt that it will be difficult.
“The forecast doesn’t look good but we are working to get the game on.
“We are hopeful that the weather won’t beat us on this occasion and the ground staff have been working very hard.”
Town will be back in league action, having progressed into the Kent Senior Cup semi-finals - where they will face either Dover or Gillingham - after a 1-0 win over Ramsgate on Tuesday night.
Substitute Charles Etumnu scored the only goal, although Whitstable did have new signing Liam King sent off in the second half.
When asked if their cup run was helping to keep their campaign alive, Blackman said: “Possibly. I think that’s a fair assessment.
“I know I made the point last week of saying we have 11 league games left and our aim has to be to win every single game left.
“But it’s nice there’s something to play for.
“The players deserve credit for that because we have not had an easy run (to reach the Kent Senior Cup semi-finals).
“It’s nice, from the season’s point-of-view, that we are still in a cup competition.”
As well as recruiting King, Blackman has also brought in Jay Hards on loan from Gillingham. Hards is the third generation of the Wilkinson family to represent the club.
Blackman said: “Jay is a local lad.
"He has a connection with us family-wise at Whitstable.
"When the opportunity came to sign him, I was keen to.
“Kingy has just moved to Whitstable as well, so they are two local lads which is great.”
But Whitstable are waiting to find out the extent of midfielder Leo Mazzone’s knee injury after he came off in the first period in their win over Ramsgate.
Read more: All the latest sports news in Kent
