Whitstable Town FC

The kids done good as Town halt Stones unbeaten run: Picture: Steve Marshall who netted the winner for Town: Maidstone United 1 ? 2 Whitstable Town: Bourne Park, Sittingbourne:Kentish Observer Kent League Saturday 25^th February 2006: Whitstable started as brightly as the home side, the leveller in a game of few real chances on goal was the weather. The wind seemed to change direction and force by the minute affecting not only the flight of the ball but the players ability to read where it might finish when punted long distance. Add to that a less than perfect surface which in part resembled one of Delia Smith?s recipes for sticky black toffee and you get the picture. It was not a canvas for attractive football.

Maidstone?s Mo Takaloo had Maidstone?s best opportunitie  of the first half for the home sidewhich saw a below par Stones struggle to impose themselves on the visitors. Takaloo first forced Sam Mott to tip the ball wide after a good run and pass from Lee Sperring and then he found himself with just Mott to beat but he elected to shoot early and he scuffed his shot wide much to the delight of Whitstable?s travelling supporters.

In the 23^rd minute the games best chance went begging after Whitstable?s Tom Parker?s superbly flighted corner swept across the face of home keeper Pat Mullin?s goal, missed by all the assembled players, Steve Marshall, Whitstable skipper in place of the absent Andy Keir, was centimetres away. A minute later Whitstable took the lead when Scott Lindsey scored for Stones at the wrong end, nodding in Aaron Knight?s corner under pressure from Andy Constable. The goal stunned the home side whose supporters seemed to not only have dropped off in numbers, 340 souls at the game, but also lost their voices as the assembled choir of the Oysterboys out sang them. How there must be a few Whitstable wives and girlfriend smiling at the thought of their other half, knowing that they will return home able only to offer a feeble croak after singing their hearts out for Town.

In a half of few chances, Whitstable manager Marc Seager was able to return to the warmth of the dressing rooms with a ready smile, the Stones Lloyd Hume; fumed.

Half Time: Maidstone United 0 ? 1 Whitstable Town:

The Stones emerged in the second half a much stronger force. Takaloo should have equalised on 50 minutes when Lynden Rowland headed Mott?s goal kick into his fellow striker?s path but Takaloo put the chance wide. The talented Mario Clarire started to motor forward for the home side with more intent as they went in search of the equalizer, but at the same time inviting the visitors to exploit the gaps as they grew in confidence, but Town were unable to capitalise as neat through balls from Gary Ward and Marcos Perona, which on another day would have been inch perfect swirled in the wind or stuck in the muddy patches. The contrasting style of the teams eventually led to the Stones equalizer, ever expert at quick set pieces, accepted a replacement ball whilst Town dwelt over what looked to be a throw in to Town, given the other way by the finicky referee Mr Fissenden. Aaron Lacy?s quick throw picked out Rowland on the edge of the box who beat the on-rushing Mott and passed to Takaloo but Ian Hossick saw his sliced clearance just clear the bar. However, Takaloo made up for his earlier misses with the equaliser on 57 minutes when he latched onto another Lacy quick throw in and slotted the ball past Mott. With the sides level the home side laid siege to Whitstable goal, with Mott firm between the uprights and Whitstable defending with bodies behind the wall the Stone could find now way through.

Town?s second goal owed much to the good work of Tom Parker and Constable after Parker?s great delivery from wide on the left at pace was controlled with the deftest of touches by Constable, his rasping dipping shot had goal stamped all over it. Except the with the keeper Mullins beaten, the woodwork came to the home sides rescue as the ball crashed off the underside but bounced off the goal line and seemed to take an age to drop. Ex Stones favourite Marshall stood rock steady; picked his spot with a powerful downward header, leaving Mullin with no chance.

At 2-1 ahead in the 68^th minute Town still had much to do as the referee inexplicably added ten minutes of extra time to the allotted 90. Admitted; there was a clash of heads, Constable and Michael Addcock meeting head-on is challenge to clear the ball, both sustaining cuts, but able to carry on after treatment.

Maidstone with extra time added on, bombarded Whitstable? goal with a succession of corners, young keeper Sam Mott?s handling was faultless and his defence of Addcock, Parker, Rob Thomas and Ian Hossick in for the injured Gary Sayer, to a man held firm. So much for the pre-match jibe by one of the supporters that Whitstable were fielding a ?bunch of kids?. Well today the kids done good.

Team: Sam Mott, Ian Hossick, Tom Parker, Rob Thomas, Michael Adcock, Alex Hossick, Gary Ward (Marc Seager 83), Marcus Perona, Andy Constable (Andy Martin 90), Steve Marshall, Aaron Knight. Subs not used: Sam Barker, James Duffy, Mark Lane.