Whitstable Town FC

Peter Albin

Out of one cup and into two more? 

Whitstable Town are in yet more cup action this week with a League Cup game at the Belmont this evening and a Kent Senior Trophy tie in Deal on Saturday.

Sporting Bengal United are our guests this evening for our first match in Group C of the Kent Football League Premier Division Cup (PDC for short). The competition starts with a round robin of four or five teams, the top two teams progressing to the knockout stages. Town are one of the favourites to go through in a group that also includes Greenwich Borough and Croydon.

The Reds then travel to the Charles Sports Ground at the weekend in the first game of the KST. Those who witnessed the nine goal bonanza between the two sides the other week need not worry about their nerves as this one is likely to be much closer, both sides having weighed up the opposition. A straight knockout competition this one, and Whitstable will need to be on top form to get into the next round, against Greenwich Borough on the 25th November.

Deal are also in action tonight and also in the PDC competition, they play host to Faversham Town. In the 'group of death' both sides will do well to qualify on top with Sevenoaks and Erith & Belvedere being the other Group B participants.

Elsewhere on Saturday Faversham Town play in the Kent Senior Trophy when they open their gates to Herne Bay. Should be a big gate with the travelling support only having to travel two stops up the line. Bay have had a poor start in the League by their own standards while Faversham have flown out of the blocks on a wave of enthusiasm resulting from their performance in the County league last year. Herne Bay haven't shown in the cup competitions either and I think are likely to trip up in this one as well.

Some other Kent sides play in the FA Vase, at home Croydon play Littlehampton Town (Sussex 1 and yet to win a league game), Erith & Belvedere play Cobham (Coco Prem, struggling), Erith Town v Romford (mid Essex Senior) and Tunbridge Wells are visited by Pagham (Top of Sussex 2 P7 W6 L1). Having to travel for the pleasure are Sevenoaks who take a trip to Horley Town (3rd place in Coco 1) and Thamesmead Town who board the charabanc bound for AFC Kempston of the United Counties League Div 1 (5th place). Always difficult to predict Cup results (and I usually screw up), I tip Croydon, Deres, Wells and Horley to progress to the next round and Erith to draw for a replay on the other side of the river. Sorry Oaks but Horley have yet to lose this year in the league and will be well up for it.

In Kent Football League encounters are Hythe Town who travel to Beckenham Town and Greenwich Borough who travel to VCD Athletic. Both cracking fixtures that will be well worth a look if you are in east London. Boro' need the points to stay in the top ten who are threatening to open a gap with the lower sides, while Vickers would move into second or third with another win. Hythe are also pressuring for a top three placing Saturday evening and will have to be strong at the back to resist the fire power of Beckenham's front men. Competitive games that could swing either way, I feel home advantage should clinch it in both fixtures.

Wherever you watch your football, enjoy it to the full! Come on you Reds!

Peter Albin 03/10/06