Whitstable Town FC

..Picture: Town goal scorer Andy Martin: Tunbridge Wells 2 Whitstable Town 1 Oysters miss the boat?
Any chance that Whitstable had of a top three finish and with it the remote possibility of a top three spot and promotion was lost after a Well Fargo style smash and grab by the home side. Town; the better team by a country mile in the first half were undone by two ?sucker punch goals? in the second as they pressed for all three points. With the FA still dithering right up until the last day of the season, their decision on league places will not be heard until early May, Whitstable need a large slice of Lady Luck to go their way to step up to the Ryman League. It was not to be as Marc Seager?s side, for the third or forth time this season outplaying the opposition, but despite playing some neat football, unable to find the back of the net.

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Town hit the woodwork in the fifth minute; Marcos Perona?s well-struck free kick just outside the area clipped the angle of Tunbridge stranded keeper John Whitehouse?s goal. Town piled on the pressure and pegged the home side back into their own half, Perona hitting the woodwork again in the 20^th minute after quickly taken free kick allowed him the space to shoot, again Whitehouse stranded. Minutes later Andy Kier, Town?s captain rose highest at a Perona corner, his firmly struck header came back of the post much to the despair of Whitstable?s bench. For the home side Aaron O?Leary and Adrian Hacher stayed clam in defence as Whitstable continued to press, Whitstable?s Andy constable with strike partner Steve Marshall both lively throughout never let the home sides defence rest.

Gary Sayer, making up loads of ground on the right should have scored with about ten minutes to go to the interval, Michael Adcock?s well flighted cross was met to perfection by Sayer, his header however went the wrong side of the up-right

Slowly the home side started to get into the game, twice Mark Lane needed to be at his best to quickly snuff out chances for Alex Rich who looked the home sides best bet for a goal. Rob Thomas, ever dependable in Whitstable defence all season mistimed a header, Tunbridge keeper Whitehouse gathered and punted the ball long to Matt Nichols who had a great chance to test Lane but he shot into the trees. Whitstable were solid at the back, Kier with Shane Davies alongside looking in great form after injury had robbed him of at least half of the season

For the visitors; Perona was everywhere in midfield tackling, setting up play and generally unsettling Tunbridge at every turn. Perona had Ian Hossick one side with Stuart Harrison the other who offered great support and it was almost beyond belief that the two sides walked off in the blazing sunshine at 0-0.

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Half Time: Tunbridge Wells 0 Whitstable Town 0

Town started the second as they had the first; Perona fired in two corners in quick succession, the first the ?Wells? put out of play, the second Andy Constable strike was cleared off the line. With Whitstable knowing that nothing short of a win and others teams dropping points would do in their quest for third spot; they threw everything at the home side. It was inevitable that the chances would come for Wells as Whitstable pushed more and more players into attack, ten minutes into the second half Dan Nichols shot cannoned off Lane?s post.

Whitstable?s Rob Thomas pulled up with a hamstring, manager Marc Seager bringing on another forward in Andy Martin as Whitstable still pressed the home side. Constable, Marshall and Hossick all had chance?s, Tunbridge keeper Whitehouse doing just enough to keep the scores still at nil apiece. Martin was quickly into the action twice in a great goal scoring position when his strike partners elected to shoot instead of pass, both shots going wide of goal.

Then came the ?Wells? smash and grab after being under the cosh for 65 minutes they scored in their second attempt on Lanes goal, the first had hit the woodwork. Dave Hassett took a great long ball in his stride raced to the by-line and fired in a low cross which was gleefully side footed in by Abdul El-Ferdi to put the home side in front.

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Still Whitstable pressed when finally ten minutes later; after all the missed chances Martin charging bravely into the area beat Whitehouse to a neat Adcock cross to level the score. Town seemed to feel lady luck that had so far deserted them might just be on their side. It was not to be; as Whitehouse raced out of his area to take a quick free kick almost at the halfway line, the ball well taken in his stride by Hassett who lobbed over the advancing Lane to secure the victory for the ?Wells? with ten minute remaining. 17 year-old Harry Gower came on, he had half a chance to win it as did Martin but it was not to be.

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To finish off the season the way they did was a huge disappointment for Marc his management team and all the players, only seven weeks ago they looked a good bet for third spot. Losses against VCD, Erith & Belverde who they played the better football against but lost to, then Thamesmead, who they played off the park but couldn?t score, shaped their season. They will however be ready for the new campaign next season.

Team: Mark Lane: Shane Davies: Rob Thomas: Andy Keir: Gary Sayer: Michel Adcock: Alex Hossick: Marcos Perona: Stuart Harrison: Steve Marshall: Andy Constable:

Subs: Harry Gower: Sam Rigden: Robert French: Andy Martin: Nic Smith:

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