Whitstable Town FC

Nerves were settled for Whitstable after a couple of Marc Seager corners, Andy Constable scoring from the second in the 14^th minute after keeper Gavin Hopper failed to gather the ball cleanly, Constable taking the half chance to bundle home the ball from close range. Ten minutes later, with Whitstable?s corner count up past the half dozen mark, the Seager Constable combination struck again, this time Seager?s driven ball was deflected with the deftest on touches by Stuart Harrison, Constable netting from just inside the six yard box. Now Whitstable took control, but missed chances by Harrison, Steve Marshall and Arron Knight could have cost them dearly. Just two or three times in the first half the visitors tested Hickson, Mike Cunningham flighting a great ball curling towards the back post which just went wide. At times the visitors final ball was wasted after some neat approach play, Andy Doerr, Cunningham and Ray Broad all worked hard to create the openings, but all without a direct shot at Hickson?s goal.

Half Time: Whitstable Town 2 Lordswood 0

From the restart Whitstable so nearly scored their third, Knight feeding in Constable with a defender in close attendance, Constable still managed to get off a great shot, well saved by Hopper. Then somehow Steve Marshall managed to miss from just yards out after some great wide play from Marcos Perona. He was not alone, as the opportunities came, so did the misses and you sensed that the visitors might just be getting back into the game, some quick breakaways testing Town?s defence. Keir and Tom Parker along with Rob Thomas and Gary Sayer were all called upon to make timely tackles as the visitors threatened. 

Still Whitstable pressed, Marshall just wide with a great strike, Perona went close before Knight forced a great save low down from Hopper. Directly from his quickly taken clearance the visitors Doerr scored, taking the ball in his stride wide on Towns left, he drifted inside and hit a superb strike which evaded the fingertips of Hickson to bring the home side right back into the game at 2-1 in the 75^th minute. Town suffered a few nervous moments, Rob Thomas clearing up after Hickson was forced to come for a long ball, Thomas keeping his cool to clear the danger.

Then with ten minute remaining Sam Prett came on for Constable, Prett immediately creating two good chances before wrapping the game up with a typical Prett finish. Gary Sayer laid the ball in for Knight, his good work on the right and a neat ball into the penalty box still left Prett with plenty to do. With his back to gaol and well marked, Prett somehow managed to turn and shoot, Hopper getting a full hand to the ball but not enough to stop it nestling in the far corner of Lordswood?s net to give Whitstable all three points.

Whitstable Town 3 Lordswood 1

Mark Hickson: Tom Parker: Andy Kier (capt) Rob Thomas: Gary Sayer: Stuart Harrison: Marcus Perona: Marc Seager: Arron Knight: Steve Marshall: Andy Constable:

Subs: Sam Prett: Michael Addcock: Toby Roy: Robbie Summers: Robert French: