Mistakes cost Town...Whitstable Town 1 Andover 3 FA Vase 29th October 2005......Third goal was the killer?. Picture: Marcos Perona scoere of Towns 45th minute goal: Whitstable manager Marc Seager, with fellow ex Vase winner Steve Marshall wanted to win through to the next round of the FA Vase as much as any player on the pitch given that they had climbed those hallowed Wembley steps to lift the trophy five years ago with Deal Town. Fate however has a funny way of dealing with such dreams.There were two incidents which eventually shaped the game, both leading to Andover goals, the first a spilled free kick allowed Andover to take the lead in almost their first worthwhile attack, the second an attempted back header which gifted the visitors a second, making Town progress from then on, an uphill struggle.

? Mistakes cost Town? ?

 Whitstable Town 1 Andover 3: FA Vase 29th October 2005Third goal was the killer?.

Whitstable manager Marc Seager, with fellow ex Vase winner Steve Marshall wanted to win through to the next round of the FA Vase as much as any player on the pitch given that they had climbed those hallowed Wembley steps to lift the trophy five years ago with Deal Town. Fate however has a funny way of dealing with such dreams.There were two incidents which eventually shaped the game, both leading to Andover goals, the first a spilled free kick allowed Andover to take the lead in almost their first worthwhile attack, the second an attempted back header which gifted the visitors a second, making Town progress from then on, an uphill struggle.

It had all started brightly enough for Whitstable, whilst the visitors tried to muscle Town out of their stride with the bustling Ashley Vine booked for a robust challenge. Seager?s side were intent on playing football, and for the first fifteen minutes were the better side. Andy Constable bringing a fine save out of Andover keeper Colin Hopkins, their linesman however had raised his flag, so it counted for little. It did spur Town on, Arron Knight having a good opening spell down the right, the omens looked good. Marcos Perona played in Constable; his shot was scrambled away for a corner. From the corner kick which Andover only half cleared, eventually the ball was laid out to Seager his rasping shot just clearing the Andover crossbar.

That all changed as the visitors wingman started to get into the game, with Dave Asker tearing down one flank, Danny Lewis the other, Whitstable full backs Tom Parker and Gary Sayer both struggled with the pacey pair. Asker fired in a great cross after Parker slipped, the ball shooting across the face of keeper Mark Hickson?s goal with no Andover player getting the final touch. In the 28^th minute the visitors won a free kick midway into Town?s half, Lewis flighting the ball over the wall, Town keeper Hickson spilling a reasonably easy take, Justin Bennet knocking in from just yards out. Town head did drop for a while, Seager then hitting Andover?s crossbar with a well-taken free kick sparked some life back into them, Knight going close, Hopkins pulling off a fine save.

Seven minutes latter an attempted back header by Town skipper Andy Kier presented Andrews with an easy chance for Andover?s second gaol in the 35^th minute. Again Town dipped but they were deservedly back in the game after a superb first time cross from Parker found Perona, the young midfielder beating Hopkins with a firm header just on the stroke of half time.

Half Time: Whitstable Town 1 Andover 2
At the restart booth sides had chances, Constable going close whilst at the other end the visitors Andrews just failed to get on the end of substitute Jaz Chahal?s good cross. With the 2^nd half less than 10 minutes old Knight failed to hit the target after Stuart Harrison had picked him out with a pin point cross, knight just had to be on target to score, he dragged his scuffed shot wide. In the 75^th minute the Cahal Andrews combination clicked again for the visitors, Cahal picked out on the left with a delightful 25 yard cross field ball. The nippy winger beating Sayer for pace his cross met on the volley by Andrews to put the game beyond town. Steve Marshall replaced Parker, the change unsettling Town as they went in search of the two goals needed to level the score, with the clock ticking down. To Whitstable?s dismay, the visitors took every opportunity to slow the game down, often kicking the balls out of play into the car park or the trees, eating up valuable minutes. In almost the last action of the game Knight was presented with a wonderful opportunity to score an FA Vase goal, the ball coming off his shin,  he had the goal at his mercy he just needed a  little more composure , it just about summed up towns afternoon.   

 At the final whistle the visitors could hardly contain their delight at reaching the next round, they will be a problem for any side they meet in the next round, their quick breakaway style of play will win them plenty of admirers, just a pity their home supporters do not watch them in any great numbers. With their average home gate of just over 100, on this showing they deserve many more.

WTFC: Perona 45:  Andover: Andrews: 35 75 Bennett: 28

Full Time: Whitstable Town 1 Andover 3

Team: Mark Hickson: Gary Sayer: Tom Parker: Michael Adcock: Andy Keir (capt) Marc Seager Stuart Harrison: Marcos Perona: Andy Constable: Sam Prett: Arron Knight:

Subs: Steve Marshall: Rob Thomas: Toby Roy: Rob Summers: Mark Lane:

Tony Rouse WTFC ?