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Alex is the Snowman:

Alex is the Snowman:

Alex is the Snowman: Herne Bay 1 Whitstable Town 1
Picture: Whitstable captain Andy Keir trying to find his team-mates in the blizzard: Kentish Observer Premier League. 27^th December 2005:
Snow, and plenty of it was the opposition for both sides in the first of this double header of Derby games over Christmas and the New Year. That the game went ahead was due in no small part to the sterling efforts of Herne Bay who?s stoic band of helpers worked from 10am until minutes before the kick off to ensue the 330 plus souls, who although stuffed full of Christmas fare were desperate to sample some Xmas football. With the game was in doubt until minutes before the kick off, the ref said to both captains; saying simply ?We start? implying that if conditioned worsened the game would be called off. Fortunately, although the conditions at times resembled matches played in the 50?s and 60?s when fixtures were regularly played in blizzard conditions, thankfully the game went ahead:

With the temperature dropping by the minute Whitstable played their best football of the first half when the surface was reasonable firm, Andy Kier; Whitstable?s captain fired a decent header just wide, which was the best of the opening exchanges as both teams struggled to find the feet.

The whole match was played in a good sprit, some hard, but fair tackles were flying in on both sides on the less than perfect surface, Whitstable playing the more adventurous football, the home side seemed intent on breakaways as their only route to goal. With neither home skipper Jack Delo in goal at one end or Sam Mott, recalled after he was summoned back to Gravesend & Northfleet at the other were troubled between the sticks, and it came as something of a surprise when Alex Hossick shot beat Delo and rebounded off his up-right. Andy Constable latched onto the ball; his shot, like Hossick?s rebounded off the woodwork, the ball fell kindly to Hossick who hammered home the ball from close

range in the 30^th minute.

Five minutes later the scores were level, Kier slipping as he tried to clear the ball Herne Bay?s Shaun Brown shot from distance, and Mott unsighted only saw the ball when it was to late. The remainder of the first half was played in snow that fell, at times heavy; making playing good football something of a lottery.

Half Time: Herne Bay 1 Whitstable Town 1

Both sides seemed to have left the desire to continue with the contest after tasting the warmth of the dressing room, with the snow at times horizontal and visibility a problem, the game drifted along for the first 20 minutes of the second half without any meaningful action. As the game neared its climax so Whitstable stepped up the ante, winning a number of corners but were not able to capitalise on them, Delo protected by his defence of Gary Cook and Steve Lloyd were largely untroubled, when Whitstable did break through, both Hossick, Steve Marshall and Constable shot wide. The home sides Dave Masters and Shaun Brown likewise were ineffectual in front of Town?s goal, Kier and Rob Thomas both outstanding in defence as were Tom Parker and Gary Sayer as Whitstable snuffed out any threat from the home side.

At the final whistle with honours even both sets of supporters and players alike headed for shelter from the snow, ready to contest the next game in a weeks time at the Belmont, when it is hoped the weather plays no part in the outcome.

Full Time: Herne Bay 1 Whitstable Town 1

Team: Sam Mott: Gary Sayer: Tom Parker: Rob Thomas: Andy Keir (capt) Marc Seager: Alex Hossick: Marcos Perona:: Andy Constable: Steve Marshall Aaron Knight:

Subs: Michel Adcock: Stuart Harrison: Darren Budge: Gary Ward:

Tony Rouse WTFC ? 2005

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