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Faversham Town joint-manager Phil Miles has welcomed the Velocity Trophy as useful match practice for his ever-learning team.
The Lilywhites were beaten on penalties by Ramsgate in Tuesday night’s Group 7 clash having opened with a 7-1 win over Hythe earlier this month.
While adding to an already busy fixture list, the competition does offer sides the chance to experiment.
Miles said: “A few managers have not really spoken too highly of it but we aren’t against it.
“It gives us another game to play together as a team because we’re still in early stages of our 3-4 year plan.
“It’s better than training and also gives us chance to look at some under-23s who are playing for us at the moment.
“It’s another five games where we can play together.”
Extra minutes on the field together can only bode well for young players who Miles admits are still adjusting to life in Isthmian South East.
He added: “We have got a young team, we’ve got four or five 19-year-olds who are playing every week, a lot of the players are 19, 20 and 21 so we’ve got a young squad.
“Luke Watkins, Matt Bourne and Jamie Maxted are that little bit of experience but really around the park people are trying to find their feet in this league.
“We do have to bear that in mind sometimes, we aren’t as experienced as other teams and do switch off, that will be our downfall in games at times.
“But as we’ve already proven the youthfulness of the team wins us games as well, the more they play the better they will be and the more experienced they will become.
“It’s a learning curve, we need to learn quickly because this league doesn’t take any prisoners, it doesn’t matter where you are in the league.
“If you don’t perform to the best of your ability you’ll get punished.”
Faversham host last season’s FA Vase winners Chertsey Town in the FA Trophy extra preliminary round on Saturday.
It remains to be seen whether Steven Mills and Jack Sellens will be available as they continue their recovery from respective injuries.
Miles explained: “Steven Mills is still getting over a knock on his shoulder which was three or four weeks ago, I think there was a bit more damage to it than we first thought.
“Jack Sellens turned his ankle against Ramsgate but with rest he should be fine.”
