Whitstable Town FC

Deal v WTFC at the Belmont

The Belmont: “The only way is up…” After conceding six goals in their opening game, Whitstable let in another three to lose their second game in four days, to find themselves firmly rooted at the bottom of the Kent League within the first week of the new season. However, Whitstable’s management are convinced they have the talent at the club to turn things around, starting with the game on Saturday against Tunbridge Wells....  “We need to tighten up at the back and stop conceding sloppy goals, going one down inside the first minute then two ten minutes later, it’s then a big ask to come back and win it.” said manager Matt Toms after the game. Ex Whitstable player John Utterson enjoyed a dream start scoring inside the first minute after Whitstable keeper Mark Brown parried his first shot, Utterson netting at the second attempt. Ten minutes later Mark Polard’s miss-hit shot hit Andy Kier and looped over Brown leaving him with no chance. At the other end Whitstable were awakened from their slumber Andy Constable and Steve Marshall combing well, Marshall shot hitting the post with Deal’s keeper stranded. In a scrappy first 45 minutes which Deal had the best of it was a game when neither side covered themselves in glory, this was not the sort of fair to dish up to the 170 plus supporters who turned up to witness Whitstable send out a message that their title aspirations were more than just paper talk. On this showing neither side will be contesting the league at the end of the season. But to their credit Whitstable never gave up, Constable netting from a deep cores, the ball coming off a Deal defender before skimming Constable’s head and into the Deal net with ten minutes to go to half time. Half Time: Whitstable Town 1 Deal Town 2: Whitstable came out with more purpose and although the game only improved marginally the visitors did not threaten as they had in the first half. Rob Thomas had a good opportunity to level with a header; Constable again went close, as Whitstable looked the side most likely to score. The home sides defence found some time on the ball and instead on hitting aimless passes and long balls as they had in the first 45 minutes, they at least tried to pass it around and find some rhythm to their game. Deal seemed to go to sleep content that they had done enough, sitting on the one goal advantage. Whitstable won a free kick superbly flighted to the far post by Marc Seager, Andy Kier rising to knock the ball into the area, Constable on hand to prod it home with less than 5 minutes remaining. With Whitstable now in the ascendancy it looked as if the next gaol was bound to win it for the home side as they pressed Deal back. It the visitors first real attempt on Whitstable’s goal in the whole of the second half; Utterson nipped in front of his marker from a neatly taken corner to win it for the visitors in the 90th minute. Whitstable manager Toms will have a lot of hard work to do in the weeks ahead, conceding nine goals in two games is hardly title contender form, and the hard work starts right now…. WTFC © 2005

 

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