The Opposing View - Erith & Belvedere v Whitstable Town, SCEFL Premier, Saturday 18 March 2023
with Steve Growns, Whitstable Town Programme Editor

Nik: Can you give us a summary of Whitstable's season?

Steve: Its been a difficult re-introduction to the SCEFL following relegation last year, although I think we knew that was going to be the case. Following a change of manager in the summer there was a rebuild of the squad, unfortunately that appointment didn’t work out with our particularly poor home form making the early change in manager inevitable. As ever a new manager means another change round of players and I feel we haven’t really settled fully as a side this year. However, it’s still been enjoyable on the most part and with Marcel Nimani at the helm, there has been a massive improvement in our style of play, the togetherness of the squad and the buzz around the club as a whole. My feeling at the start of the season was that if we could achieve a 5th place finish it would put us on the right footing for a title challenge in our second season and that’s about where we are.

Nik: Are you hoping to make the top two?

Steve: Basically no! Although at one stage we looked in a good position, we had played 5 or 6 more games than those around us and now that things have evened themselves out, its clear we lost too much ground in the first three months of the season. Our focus now starts to turn to next season, when I believe we will be right up there challenging for promotion under Marcel’s leadership.

Nik: What were your thoughts on the previous match between the two sides (Whitstable Town 2-2 Erith & Belvedere)

Steve: I thought our meeting back in October at The Belmont was a great advert for SCEFL football, with plenty of good play, the lead changing hands and a quite dramatic ending. The match came not long after we had appointed Marcel as manager and it was his first home match in the hot seat and I don’t think the home fans were disappointed by what they saw, with the vast improvement in our play after our difficult start to the season. We were worthy of the half time lead, but Erith & Belvedere came back strong in the second half and a draw was a fair result, but to have that secured by a 97th minute equaliser made it feel like a victory!

Nik: Do you see the current turbulent situation at Erith & Belvedere as a chance to get a result?

Steve: These things can go one of two ways, either being a motivation for the players or create unrest in the camp. From experience, I think more often than not it can galvanise a side who feel they may have a point to prove, so I do not think the current situation will be an advantage to us.

Nik: Thoughts and a prediction on Saturday's match between the two sides?

Last time we met, I managed to call the 2-2 draw, but I think Saturdays match is going to be a tough one to predict. Form wise both teams appear to be currently experiencing some mixed results and with The Deres having just parted company with manager Andy Constable, an extra air of uncertainty is thrown into the mix. I am expecting a close game again so will go for a draw, 1-1 this time.