Ray Turner hopes the Valentine’s Day trip to Guernsey will provide a spark to Faversham’s
on-off relationship with the Ryman League, Division 1 South play-off places.

While Sunday’s 8.30am flight to the Channel Islands might not sound romantic, the Town boss hopes his players will return that night with a rekindled enthusiasm for the promotion race.

Turner couldn’t hide his surprise that in a week where sixth-placed Town beat struggling Peacehaven & Telscombe, fifth-placed Guernsey have suffered back-to-back defeats while fourth-placed Herne Bay also dropped points.

Turner said: “I didn’t think we’d be going into this weekend with a chance to get back into the top-five. We are a point behind Guernsey but with a game in hand and we’re only three points behind Herne Bay.

“It is in our hands although I’m still well aware that Hythe and Hastings are the teams in form and with games in hand.

“If those two and us want to get in the top-five, that means three that are in there now are going to have to drop out.”

Turner hopes his squad have learnt from their 5-1 drubbing on their last trip to a play-off rival, third-placed Dorking two weeks ago.

He said: “Let’s hope it works out a bit better this time. “The trip to Guernsey doesn’t feel like your average trip to Chipstead to play in front of 50 fans. They’ll see this as a huge game and I expect there to be 1,000-plus there and for them to be full strength.”