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WTFC 5 v Deal 4

Simply Fantastic? Tuesday September 19^th Whitstable Town 5 v Deal Town 4 KPL....Seasons come and seasons go in a flash, often we who follow football struggle to remember matches as one-year blends into another. I well remember the Kent Senior Trophy victory against VCD at Sittingbourne?s Reachfield Stadium for all the right reason. It was Whitstable Towns first piece of Silverware for many a year. For less exalted reasons, the humbling 7-0 we suffered away at Cray the year they won promotion, they were a very good side that year, unfortunately were not.

Last nights thriller between two sides who both just wanted to score goals; fortunately for Whitstable?s ?Oyster? supporters and players falls into the ?remember with a smile box?, for Deal?s players and followers who left the Belmont shell shocked; a game they will look back on for all the wrong reasons.
It was a game during which the referee and his officials contrived to spoil at every turn; consistency is all we ask from officials unfortunately when they consistently get decisions wrong, the players and the supporters get on their back.

Sam Prett scores (c) Per Lanleng

In this life, I believe you reap what you sow, on Saturday when Whitstable played Croydon Athletic the ref booked not one single player; he was in total command the whole game and I bet you a fiver at those terrific odds that local bookie William Hills are offering, you would be hard pressed to describe what he looked like to me. Enough said.

Fist blood went to the visitors who scored in the 4^th minute, from the first of many poor decision by the linesman who although was correct in flagging Tom Parker for shirt tugging on Danny Smith he failed to raise his flag when the same player blatantly fouled Parker inside Towns area which lead to Parkers retaliatory tug. From the subsequent free kick Ian Wallace headed past a static Whitstable?s defence to give the visitors an early lead.

Town then clicked into top gear and battered Deal?s defence without another single attempt by the visitors on Whitstable?s keeper Kevin Fewell?s goal by Deal for the remainder of the first half. Fewll was a spectator; whiles visiting keeper Robert Hudley was quite simply in breathtaking form and unbeatable.

Jake Gess scores

Strikes from Stuart King, crossbar, Sam Prett post, as both stood in shock as the ball few out of harm?s way. Hudley then made a string of great saves from Prett, King, Mickey Lane, Marcos Perona (twice) and Alex Hossick as Whitstable piled on the pressure. The passing and movement by Whitstable was a a joy to watch, at the other end Deal did not threaten at all, the talk at half time was surely Hudley could not hold out against Town strikers who must find the back of the net in the remaining 45 minutes.

Half Time: Whitstable Town 0 v Deal Town 1

After the restart both sides had chances as they continued to try and play quick open football, still the officials contrived to spoil the game with a string of bizarre decisions. Deal then confounded all by going further ahead with Whitstable defence breached for the second time in a game, Deal?s Bathgate scoring for Deal to lead 2-0. When you consider the home side had conceded just one goal in over 560 minutes of league and cup football, the crowd were stunned.

Sam Prett started the Whitstable fight back with a typical strikers goal, driving the ball past Deal keeper Hudley to bring the score to 2-1. The visitors Barnett then scored in the 78^th minute to put Whitstable on the back foot again as they trailed by two goals to two.

Stuart King then waltzed through the Deal defence to give Whitstable father hope his neat shot giving Hudley no chance Whitstable trailing by the odd goal. In between there were some moments pure farce after a Deal player stamped on his opposite number which started a mini push and shove contest between all 22 players. Two Whitstable players were booked for retaliation whilst the offending Deal player just received a yellow for stamping. As one player said after the game, ?some of the officials decisions were so off the wall you couldn?t make them up.?

Deal on their knees as Town win

King then converted a penalty, his second goal of the night and the game becoming more frantic by the minute. Steve Marshall replaced Jackson as Whitstable pushed up from the back seemingly not content to share the points. Danny Smith then put the visitors further ahead after the tree man back line was split by a quick Deal breakaway in the 85^th minute. With some supporters drifting away with Whitstable seemingly staring defeat in the face for the first time this season, Jake Gess powered home a header to level the scores in the 88^th minute. There was time for still more drama before the final whistle, skipper Marcos Perona?s thumping the ball past the despairing dive of Hudley to win the game 5-4 and sent his side back to the top of the Kent League.

What a night!

WhitstableTown
Prett65,King74,83(pen)
Gess 88, Perona 90

DealTown
Wallace4Bathgate63
Barnett 78, Danny Smith 85

Whitstable:

Kevin Fewell: Gary Sayer: Tom Parker: Jackson Okiakam: Michael Adcock: Alex Hossick: Mickey Lane: Marcos Perona: Jake Gess: Sam Prett: Stuart King:

Subs: Gary Carter: Mark Lane: Andy Constable: Marlon Button: Steve Marshall:

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