Whitstable Town FC

Erith Town 2 v Whitstable Town 0: KOL Group Cup  Town loose out on top spot?

Manager Marc Seager was upset at this side?s inability to secure top spot in the group, thereby guaranteeing a home draw against one of the other group winners either Herne Bay or Hythe away in the quarter finals.
?We should have done a lot better today but when you consider what a great run we have been on since October, we were due one poor game and if this is I out of the way with the Beckenham match at home next week, then so be it. I am not happy to loose, in fact never happy when Whitstable drop below the standards I have set, but I admit we did today. I am still a young manager and will make mistakes but I will learn from them. It would be easy to say what a poor ref we had today, and despite creating at least double the scoring chances Erith had, they scored two, I think had three chances, we just could not put the ball into the net. We hit the post, their keeper made some great saves and for me was man of the match and they kept nine men behind the ball and made it hard for us on a difficult pitch. The lads are not down, they know that as a team we all undreperformed, we will not let this blip detract us from improving the side and always trying to play good football."

Fancy a flutter..    Bookies are notorious at laying the odds, just look at some of these prices, On Saturday we play Erith Town away, if we beat them 3-0 the odds laid are 16/1 but for the Beckenham game the week after for the same scoreline at home it?s 40/1, now I know that we are plying a side one week whose goal difference is more than the other have scored and conceded all season. But value for money what bet would you go for? I for one like the fact that our local bookie supports the Town, brings his children to the Belmont whenever he can and is often accompanied other friends and family. As one of the Oyster Boy?s (or was it Girl?s) said one week, ?if we all bring a friend, even if its only now and again, the difference it makes to the atmosphere at the ground is worth a goal to Marc and the lads.? PS: check out the betting link?

Picture: Marcos Perona scorer of Towns first goal: Town put on a polished 5 star performance against a side who have not lost in their last 5 outings as they were put to the sword by inform striker Steve Marshall, the two goals bringing his tally to 5 in the last two games, Gary Ward also finding the net twice. Whitstable?s Marcos Perona opening the scoring in the 28^th minute with a well-taken goal. Although the home side had the best chance in the opening exchanges, Jason Elliot shooting over young Sam Mott?s goal when well placed, Whitstable were equal to Slade Green in every area of the game. Steve Marshall bursting through on route-one towards home keeper ex Town?s Gary Arterton?s goal; was squeezed out by two burly defenders who denied him a chance to shoot. With less than half an hour of the game played, Gary Ward; with fellow midfielder Perona alongside started to control the game, neither player is of great stature, but what they lack in height and build they more than compensate with skill and vision as time and again they broke up any threat to Towns defensive back line, then set the visitors forward?s on the attack. The busy Aaron Knight took a corner, which viciously swerved in the air, Arterton having to punch clear from underneath his own crossbar.

Picture: Michael Adcock scored Whitstables first goal: Deal Town Reserves 0 Whitstable Town Reserves 3
After the match Marc Seager pointed out that ?Laney? apart; Michael Adcock at 22 was the oldest player in Whitstable?s team. Which showed on the pitch as they blitzed the home side in the first 45 minutes, ?We made three changes almost in one go,? said manager Simon Kay, ?that always upsets a sides rhythm, but I was pleased with the way they played, Gary Ward looked comfortable and the 90 minute of competitive football will have done him a world of good.? 

In a superb first half display of team football Whitstable were deservedly ahead by two goals at the interval. Michael Adcock with the first after 20 minutes, then Jake Gess with the second in the 40^th, as the visitors dominated the first 45 minutes. Town?s young keeper, 40 years young Mark Lane was untroubled as the home side struggled to cope with Whitstable?s pace and movement. Showing some delightful touches from the back four through to the energetic midfield; with Darren Budge and the effervescent Andy Martin up front, tormenting the visitors defence. 

Marshal grabs the goals, Perona the plaudits?

Quarterfinals of the KL Cup? Whitstable Town 3 v Cray Valley (PM) 0..  

Steve Marshall AUDIO: Steve talking about his three goals, the younger players in the team and how delighted he was to notch another hat trick. ?Three goals in a cup game, it doesn?t get any better than that.?

 Steve Marshall?s hat trick was enough to see off a spirited Cray Valley (PM) and earn Town a semi-final showdown with VCD who finally overcame Deal to book their place in the semi-final with Town. Despite leading two nil at half time Whitstable looked uncomfortable for the first 15 minutes of the second half, the visitors enjoyed their best spell of the game. Whitstable however dominated the first 45minutes, Perona with new Town signing Gary Ward alongside him in place of the injured Marc Seager; looked strong. Up front for the home side, the industrious Andy Constable with strike partner Steve Marshall alongside, caused problems for the visitors back four from the off.

Twice in the first few minutes Cray were nearly caught trying to play the offside trap, Marshall nearly profiting one time, Constable the other. With Aaron Knight enjoying plenty of open spaces on the right, his direct running at the visitors defence unsettled them as they tried to gain some momentum to their game. But all the pressure came from Town, the versatile Alex Hossick wide on the left added the balance as the visitors were caught with a quick attack, the young Hossick winning the ball and feeding wing back Tom Parker whose excellent whipped in cross was met on the volley by Marshall, the experienced striker guided the ball back across the face of keeper Stuart Back?s goal at pace to put Town one nil ahead in the fifth minute. Less than two minutes later Constable could have doubled the score; his shot after good work by Knight was high over Back?s crossbar.

AUDIO..The Big Interview....Testing times for Town..AUDIO Marc speaking after the Herne Bay game....Seager: Talking about the winning mentality and the test his young players face in the weeks ahead. ?They need to realise that they are no longer the new boys to this league a lot of them have a decent number of games under their belts and they need to take on board what I expect from them, I need them to accept that I have set high standards, the standards that the club has set, the standards that I am determined to carry through. I want to win things at Whitstable, to put some silverware in the cabinet and move the club forward.?
?I have said it for a long time,? Whitstable?s manager Marc Seager said: ?we need a decent sized squad to cope with injuries that inevitably come along when you least expect them. With the cup game against Cray Valley on Saturday less than a week away I need a fully fit strong side, as we will not be taking them lightly. Sam Prett took another knock on Saturday so he will be out for a couple of weeks, which is a big disappointment for Sam as he though he was fit after the few weeks he?s had out. Harry, (Stuart Harrison) is out for at least two weeks, myself after the knock I took on Saturday will be sidelined for at least two weeks and so it goes on. Ryan Davis and Shane Davies are both on the way back as is Sam Friskey and Marc Brown. If you add Tom Berry and Mark Lane to that list and put all the injured players out as one team, we?d give most sides a decent game, though not at the moment.? Seager added with a smile.