Whitstable Town FC

Lordswood 3 v Whitstable Town 2:...?Broad ?tango?s? Town?
Town were undone in the 44^th minute by Ray Broad?s scrambled goal after what manager Marc Seager described as: ?A game where we had 65% of the possession, at least double the chances to score than they did but came of second best. We let in sloppy goals just before and just after halftime. Two goals that we should never have conceded and then another midway through the 2^nd half and made the game hard for ourselves. I thought we totally dominated the first half but went in a goal behind.?

Seager started with Tom Parker wide on the left, Andy Constable on the right and the pairing gave the home side the run around from the first whistle. Lordswood keeper, Gavin Hopper was by far the busier, nearly conceding in the first five minutes grateful to his defender Lynden Guscott clearing Constable?s strike off the line with Hopper stranded. But Seager?s plans were thrown into disarray in the 15^th minute after some neat build up play involving Andy Martin and Constable who laid in a great ball to the far post was chased in by Parker who trying to avoid colliding with the goalpost went over on his ankle. Parker limped on for a few minutes before Arron Knight replaced him, after a general shuffle around of the side to accommodate Knight Town found their rhythm again and attacked Hoppers goal.

For the home side the abrasive Guscott seemed more intent on getting sent off than playing football, something he never quite managed to achieve despite the games chief official Richard Ross?s reputation as a card happy official. Guscott, who was tetchy throughout the game was involved in an unsavoury incident after the final whistle when he confronted Andy Constable, his action have no place in Kent League football.

Lordswood offered little by way a attempts on goal apart from two strike from distance by Broad, one sailing wide of Whitstable keeper Mark Hickson, the other in danger of bringing down a passing bird. Despite near misses by Constable Martin, Knight and Marcos Perona for Whitstable Broad had the last laugh after he literally bundled the ball over the line with his backside in the 44^th minute. 

Half Time: Lordswood 1 v Whitstable Town 0

Lordswood made it two three minutes after the restart, Hickson electing to punch an innocuous cross in a crowded penalty area, the ball dropping for Dave Forster to nod home to put Lordswood two gaols ahead. Steve Marshall replaced Martin at the re-start but with Town chasing the game and Lordswood growing in confidence with the comfort of their two-goal cushion, they started to push Town back in midfield, Hickson saving well from Nick Smith. At 2-1 down Town pressed and it was on the cards that the visitors would leave gaps at the back, on more than one occasion indebted to the dependable Rob Thomas and Michael Addcock for timely interceptions. The enforced departure of Parker had robbed Town of the overlapping attack play between him and Leon Ingram, not so evident with Knight probing more infield. Sam Prett replaced Constable and Town now playing with the considerable wind in their favour looked a good bet to score, Prett going close and Marshall looking dangerous with balls played to feet.

It is ever a mystery that faced with sides that play the long high ball, Town revert to copying as if the fact the opposition were in front this must be the best game plan. All thoughts of keeping the ball on the floor and playing their own quick passing game seem to desert them.

The nippy Prett who made an impact with his direct running finally netting, with a cleverly worked lob over the advancing Hopper in the 75^th minute. Lordswood made it 3-1 in the 82^nd minute after Andy Doer was allowed far too much room to run at Whitstable?s defence, no one was interested in putting in a worthwhile tackle and he was able to lay the ball off for Forester to curl the ball past Hickson for his second of the match. Town went into top gear, throwing everyone forward; Hopper saving well from Prett and Marshall before Marshall scored direct from throw in. Seager took it early, Marshall catching the ball on the turn hitting it in one movement to curl past Hopper at 3-2. Town pressed but despite all their best efforts Hopper held firm. Lordswood victory quashing any feint hopes of Whitstable finishing in third place and the remote possibility of gaining promotion.

Team: Mark Hickson: Shane Davies: Rob Thomas: Michel Adcock: Tom Parker: Marcos Perona: Gary Ward:: Marc Seager: Andy Constable: Andy Martin: Michel Adcock:

Subs: Mark Lane: Steve Marshall: (Martin) Aaron Knight (Parker) Alex Hossick: Sam Prett: (Constable)

Tony Rouse WTFC ? 2005