Whitstable Town 3 Erith 0...Saturday 18 February 2006: KOKL:Town back on track with Martin hat trick .....Whitstable's Andy Martin, the Division 1 leading score was the player with the biggest smile on his face at the final whistle as Whitstable got back to winning ways in fine style. ?I don?t think you could have possibly removed the smile on my face,? Martin said after the game. ?I have had some half decent games for the first team but I hope that today?s performance has given the manager a bit of a headache with the Maidstone game next week in our sights.?
After the disappointment of loosing out to Herne Bay in the Group Cup quarter final and the prospect of a tough away match to league leaders Maidstone next Saturday, the performance of Marc Seager?s Whitstable was as important as the result, albeit against the leagues bottom club Erith Town. There seemed little chance on paper of the visitors netting a hat full of goals, their net return from the 17 games played before Saturdays was a measly 12, having concede 41 in the process. Their biggest win of the season was away at Sevenoaks winning by the single goal. But; as football followers the world over know only to well, previous form, reputation and lady luck count for little when in comes to 90 minutes of passion.

After the disappointment of loosing out to Herne Bay in the Group Cup quarter final and the prospect of a tough away match to league leaders Maidstone next Saturday, the performance of Marc Seager?s Whitstable was as important as the result, albeit against the leagues bottom club Erith Town. There seemed little chance on paper of the visitors netting a hat full of goals, their net return from the 17 games played before Saturdays was a measly 12, having concede 41 in the process. Their biggest win of the season was away at Sevenoaks winning by the single goal. But; as football followers the world over know only to well, previous form, reputation and lady luck count for little when in comes to 90 minutes of passion.

If Erith striker Chris Arnold had shown a little more composure the visitors could have been ahead in the 9^th minute after Mark Hickson, Whitstable?s keeper in for flue victim Sam Mott, could only half punch away a testing cross. The ball fell kindly to Arnold but his snap shot brought cries of ?how high do you want the goal? from Whitstable?s vocal supporters. Hickson; who looked more composed the longer the game went on has had a good season with the reserves and always puts in 100% when he steps up to the first team, the clean sheet will do his confidence no harm at all.

 The visitors, including the evergreen Shaun Cooney, Danny Harris and Danny Little must have read Herne Bay?s crib sheet on how to beat Whitstable as most of Erith?s players seemed more intent on getting booked than on playing football, this week however Alex Hossick and Andy Constable and the rest were in no mood to be ?hustled? out of three points and the home side kept their cool. Whitstable?s best early chances came when Arron Knight played a delightful ball over the top of the visitor?s defence, Constable just missing the target with his shot. Whitstable?s Gary Ward, fast becoming a favourite with the supporters had a good game, as did Marcos Perona, although the letter played more of a holding role with player/manager Seager still sidelined through injury. It was Ward who set up the first goal; his great run to the by-line and pinpoint cross was well met by Hossick, whose firm header was parried away by keeper Chris Connally. Andy Martin, stepping up from the reserves was on hand to thump the ball in from close range in the 32^nd minute. Then in a frantic five minute, skipper Andy Keir went close from a Tom Parker cross; Martin had a superb effort hit the woodwork. His overhead kick in a packed goalmouth would have been candidate for goal of the season; keeper Connally was stranded, the crossbar coming to the visitors rescue.

As the clock ticked down with the home side on top, there was a moment of madness when some brave defending and lady luck somehow kept the ball out of Whitstable?s net after a corner was not dealt with, The ball seemed to take on a life of it?s own, the visitors having at least four good chances to find the back of the net but they trudged off with Whitstable a goal in front. The downside for Whitstable was that Gary Sayer had been injured in the goalmouth mealy and did not come out for the re-start, Rob Thomas taking his place in the back four.

Half Time WTFC 1 Erith Town 0

Whitstable extended their lead in the 60^th minute. Ward again involved in the build up laying on a delightful ball to Knight who unselfishly played in Martin who despite the close attention of two defenders finished well. But Town could have been two more goals in front before Martin?s second. Constable when clearly at least a yard offside, was thwarted by Connally who saved well with his legs after the striker delayed his shot just a bit too long. Perona also should have been on the score sheet; his shot from distance was well saved by Connally.
Steve Marshall replaced Constable as the home side continued to press for the third goal, Knight; after a great run tried to lob Connally, he only succeeded in clearing the bar by some distance and was himself the subject of some light hearted banner from his own supporters.  Martin then rounded off a great afternoon for himself and the team scoring from a Tom Parker corner, it was delivered at pace and  invited Conneally to come to gather it, then drifted away to evaded his grasp, Martin on hand with a firm far post header for his hat trick. Considering the defenders surrounded him, it was a well-taken goal and he joined in with the celebrations with his delighted team mates. Late on Whitstable Skipper, Keir watched in disbelief as his firm header was saved by Connally, whilst at the other end Hickson emulated the visiting keeper, saving well from Robert Browning when he looked long odds to score to keep a well-deserved clean sheet.

It would be easy to get carried away with the result, but without doubt it is good preparation for the next away match, a trip to Maidstone who play VCD in the week. Both are teams who Whitstable must beat if their intentions of a top two or three finish, together with a place in the KST final are to be realised.

WTFC: Team: 

Mark Hickson: Gary Sayer: Andy Keir (Capt.) Michael Adcock: Tom Parker:

Gary Ward: Marcos Perona: Alex Hossick: Aaron Knight: Andy Constable: Andy Martin:

Subs: Mark Lane: Darren Bridges: Steve Marshall: (Constable) Rob Thomas: (Sayer) James Duffey