Whitstable Town FC

Whitstable Town 1 v Herne Bay 1
Picture Aaron Knight scored Whitstable's goal:Rarely has there been two consecutive drawn games between the two sides, the weather played its part in the first leg away at Herne Bay when Whitstable looked to have the best of the first half, only for Herne bay to come back into it as the weather worsened, deservedly drawing the game. Today?s game started in much the same vain; and the result ended at a goal apiece as it did in the pre Christmas match. For the second time running  Whitstable started by far the brighter, Arron Knight blasting the ball over Jack Delo?s crossbar after good work in midfield by Marcos Perona as early as the 12^th minute. Town?s management were forced into an early change, Alex Hossick replaced Stuart Harrison after Harrison came of worst in a heavy challenge.
Three minutes later, Delo dropped the ball under a challenge from Andy Constable, the referee, making the first of many poor decisions of the afternoon, deemed Constable to have fouled Delo in the air. The referee, Mr Kieth Stone who one can only hope has had his one poor game of this year, as on this display surely he can only improve in 2006.

He got one decision right in the twenty-fourth minute, he only needed to point to the centre circle signalling a goal after Knight had shown great vision running onto a Steve Marshall pass, before drilling the ball past Delo. The young Herne Bay keeper managed to parry it with his fingertips but was unable to stop it finishing up in the net. At 1-0 up and in full control, Whitstable?s Marshall was blatantly hauled over inside the penalty area; the ref waved away protesting player?s claims of a penalty.

All the play was coming from Whitstable; the visitors Stuart King and Shaun Brown were unable to trouble Sam Mott in Whitstable?s goal with any worthwhile strike.

Whilst at the other end, Delo was called upon to save bravely from Alex Hossick after the young midfielder had burst into the visitors? area surrounded by players, but was still able to get off a shot. Marc Seager laid in a simple pass to Perona; his rasping shot was well saved by Delo. As the first half drew to an end, Constable was denied a goal scoring chance when the ref made yet another poor decision by not allowing Constable to play on after he?d been fouled. Constable earning a yellow card for the decent he showed at the ref?s judgment.

Half time Whitstable Town 1 v Herne Bay 0

Player/manager Seager was scathing after the match of his sides lack of passion and effort after such a superb first half, they seemed to have left their football brains in the dressing room, starting the second half sluggish as if half asleep. The visitors on the other hand were on the pace from the off, all hustle and bustle, with Simon Brown and Dave Soutan at last enjoying some possession. Whitstable's  new signing Gary Ward replaced Seager after Seager sustained a knock in a heavy challenge. The change did little to liven Town, they seemed to run out of ideas when approaching Bay?s six-yard box.

At the other end as the visitors pressed, Whitstable keeper Mott, pulled off a wonderful save after Dave Masters was allowed too much space to fire in a shot, Mott tipping the ball away for a corner. The defining moment of the game, disappointingly yet again involved the Mr Stone, although on this occassion he was let down by his linesman. His failure to spot a blatant two-handed push in the back on Hossick when standing just a few yards away lead to Bay?s equalizer mid way through the second half. The un-punished foul gave Soutan; the space to drill the ball past Mott in the 76^th minute.

Although Whitstable rallied after Sam Prett replaced Marshall, they lacked the cut and thrust of the first forty-five minutes.

The visitors will go home much the happier with their share of the points, whilst Whitstable justifiably feel that the double header of Darby games has yielded just two points will be kicking themselves as they were unable to make up ground on the league leaders, Maidstone who lost and Beckenham who did not play today

Full time Whitstable Town 1 v Herne Bay 1

Team: Sam Mott: Tom Parker: Rob Thomas: Andy Kier: (capt) Gary Sayer: Marc Seager: Stuart Harrison: Marcos Perona: Andy Constable: Steve Marshall: Aaron Knight:

Subs: Alex Hossick: Michael Adcock: Daren Budge: Sam Prett: Gary Ward: