Whitstable Town FC

Hythe Town 0 v Whitstable Town 2: Keir tops return with a goal?
Picture: WTFC captain Andy Keir scores goal on return after injury: Whitstable were unlucky not to be a goal ahead in the first ten minutes, Sam Prett finishing off a fine move with a clinical finish, which was adjudged offside by a whisker. Prett exasperated at the decision they however were in front in the 22^nd minute after Andy Keir playing his first game for three weeks since his enforced lay-off with a groin strain prodded in from close range after Steve Marshall out jumped Hythe?s defence at the far post to knock the ball down for Keir. ?I am sore all over,? Keir said after the game: ?there is not a place on my body that I do not ache after a hard 90 minutes of football. I thought the lads all performed tonight, Alex Hossick in midfield came in for Marc Seager in midfield, ?Seag?s? is in bed with a touch of flue and Alex had a storming first half. As a team we were good going forward; and when we needed to defend we did so in numbers, I was pleased to get my shirt back on it?s been very frustrating sitting out these last three weeks.?

Whitstable looked dangerous every time they crossed the halfway line and although Terry King and Scott Thomas looked assured defenders for Hythe; Prett and fellow Whitstable strike partner Steve Marshall never gave them time on the ball. With Hossick playing a central holding role in midfield, the busy Gary Ward and Marcos Perona picked up any loose balls to set up the visitors attacks. Perona on one such run was bundled over three or four yards outside the area. Arron Knight, who looked lively from the off curled a superb free kick past the stranded Hythe keeper Nick Day to put Whitstable two nil ahead with a couple of minutes to go to the interval.

 
Half Time: Hythe Town 0 v Whitstable Town 2

Whitstable keeper Mark Hickson, a virtual spectator for much of the first half was much busier in the second period as Hythe upped their tempo and played some decent football. Jason Brazier and centre forward Damian Abel were guilty of wasted ball when they were caught  by the visitor?s offside trap. The longer the 2^nd half went on the both keepers were busy, Whitstable?s Hickson saved well from Darren Wills, then denied Abel before Whitstable regained their first half momentum with Prett and Marshall both kept out by Hythe?s Day when in on goal.

Picture Arron Knight: great free kick sealed win for WTFC: Whilst the 2^nd half lacked the goals of the first it was still quality football, with Hythe trying to get something out of the game but it was Whitstable who always looked a danger playing some lovely quick balls to feet on the surprisingly good surface. The game defiantly benefited from some early rain with the ball zipping about with some neat interplay between Ward, Perona and the overlapping Rob Thomas on one side, and impressive Leon Ingram on the other. Thomas twice should have done better when in on goal, Ingram also had chances to add his name to the score sheet. Although it was not billiard table flat it was as good as surface Whitstable have played on at Reachfield for some time and suited their passing game perfectly. Knight and Ward both had chances and on a other day Whitstable could have notched another couple at least.

Rob Thomas

Team: Mark Hickson: Shane Davies: Rob Thomas: Andy Keir: Leon Ingram: Marcos Perona: Gary Ward: Alex Hossick: Sam Prett: Steve Marshall Arron Knight:
Subs: Mark Lane: Michel Adcock: Andy Martin Andy Constable (Marshall) Stuart Harrison: (Hossick)
Tony Rouse WTFC ? 2005