?Kier super strike not enough?? Whitstable Town 2 v Greenwich Borough 2:KOKL Premier Div group cup?Tuesday 15^th November 2005:

 ?We should have hung on for all three points.? Said Mark Lane ? we knew it would be a tough game with a few lads out through little niggling injuries it was the time to put in a couple of the younger lads.  Toby Roy and Alex Hossick had never played together in midfield before, young Budgie, (Darren Budge) deserved his chance after the way he has been playing in the reserves. And I thought they all did well, particularly in the first half when we took the game to Borough.

At the interval Town were just the one goal ahead despite having much the better of the game, Andy Kiers superb volley in the 38th minute from a Steve Marshall headed knock down was unstoppable. Visiting keeper Michael holder saying: ? I heard it thump into the back of the net, but I never saw it after it left his boot.?

Town should have been ahead as early as the forth-minute Darren Budge, who provided the cross for Marshall?s knock down for the Kier goal knocked in an even better ball for Marshall who, unmarked headed over the crossbar. For the visitors, the speedy Chris Hubbard and Duane Moncrife were a constant threat throughout the game, Town containing them well in the first half, young keeper Mark Hickson playing his part in keeping the score at 1-0 to Whitstable.

Half Time: Whitstable Town 1 v Greenwich Borough 1

At the restart the visitors upped the tempo and Whitstable struggled to maintain thee rhythm of the first 45 minutes. Moncrife and fellow striker Gerome Steel both testing Hickson before Moncrife fired in a shot from the right, Hickson unable to stop his strong shot.

At 1-1 the visitors pacey attack unsettled Whitstable and they looked 2^nd best for the first 20 minute after the restart as Borough pressed, Sam Prett became more involved and was unlucky when a goal was disallowed in the 63^rd minute, Town were ahead again two minutes later Prett again finding the back of the neat this beating Holder after good work by Tom Parker down the left. The visitor?s heads dropped for a few minutes but they were soon into their stride again with both sides having chances as the game ebbed towards the final whistle. Somehow the ref found nearly ten minutes of extra time, to their credit the visitors never gave up, they scored the equalizer Moncrife netting his second from a good move on Town left flank with almost the last kick of the game. Town less than happy with the 2-2 draw, the visitors were ecstatic, Whitstable travel to Greenwich at the weekend in the return leg, needing just a point to go through to the quarterfinals.

Full Time: Whitstable Town 2 v Erith Town 0

Mark Hickson: Tom Parker: Andy Kier (capt) Rob Thomas: Gary Sayer: Alex Hossick: Toby Roy: Stuart Harrison: Steve Marshall: Sam Prett: Darren Budge:

Subs: Andy Constable (Toby Roy) Michael Addcock: Robbie Summers: (Stuart Harrison) Robert French: Marc Seager: