Whitstable Town FC

  By Peter Albin: The local press will be sharpening their pencils ready for those giant-killing headlines this weekend as the Southern Amateur League’s West Wickham visit the Belmont ground to play Whitstable Town in the semi-final of the Lea-Ray Kent Senior Trophy. Just one of the seemingly mis-matched games this weekend, kick off is at 3 o'clock, Saturday 3rd March. 

Hard to judge the quality of the opposition as the SAL operates outside of the football pyramid structure. Safe to say that a side that beat Herne Bay 3-1 and Hythe Town 4-0 on the way to the semis will be quite handy. Having said that this is their first away draw in the competition and, not taking anything for granted, Marc Seager has been to watch them in preparation for this game. Currently fifth out of eleven sides in the SAL senior division one, they have a W6 D2 L2 record to date, indifferent by our own high standard. Whitstable Town beat Deal Town (away), Greenwich Borough (home) and Tunbridge Wells (home) to get to this point and have only lost two games all season although both were in cup competition (FA Cup and Vase). Town last won this competition in 2001 and this year could be the last opportunity to repeat the feat, as promotion to the Isthmian League would gain automatic entry into the Kent Senior Cup next season. If you want to go to a cup final make sure you lend Town your support this weekend.

In the other semi-final Kent Leaguers Sevenoaks Town travel to Kent County side Bearsted. In the previous rounds Oaks beat Lordswood at Lordswood and then beat Beckenham Town at home on penalties after a 1-1 draw. Bearsted beat Crockenhill away 0-3 and then took Slade Green’s KPL scalp at home. Clearly another side that will not buckle against higher division opposition. If you’re expecting me to predict the outcome, forget it. Cup football is just too unpredictable and it's too easy to favour the senior sides.

Also with giant killing aspirations, but this time in the Kent Football League Premier, are Erith Town, Tunbridge Wells and Sporting Bengal United. Erith travel across the suburbs to Croydon, that’s 15th v 3rd and the outcome is likely to maintain the Trams pressure on the top two, possibly going ahead of Thamesmead who have a game tomorrow evening (Thursday v Erith & Belvedere). Croydon took the points at the Erith Stadium by a solitary goal, I tip them to improve on that scoreline. Tunbridge Wells, down in sixteenth spot, host VCD Athletic who still have aspirations of winning the league. Vickers ran out two-nil winners at Oakwood four weeks ago and little is likely to change this outing. Martin Farnie is 'fed up' with being complimented on his sides great football and he would trade the flair for a run of results in a disappointing season. Sporting, just behind Wells in the basement position, make their longest trip of the football season down to an in-form Hythe Town. The Reds are still in touch with the top four while not looking particularly threatening. After only scoring twice in London a good thrashing of Bengals best will boost their goal difference, which is poor in comparison to VCD and Mead. When Sporting win again it will most likely be at home, so not to be this week. A long way to travel for zip.

Things are a bit closer in the Erith & Belvedere versus Herne Bay game where two points and two places separate the teams. Bay were experiencing a revival in form before they dipped out against Becks last week, which has made the result of this contest a little harder to predict. The Deres fans are still talking of a top four finish on their forum which has to be tough from where they are now, however, a repeat of the 2-0 win at Winch's field could push them up to seventh if other results go their way. Sorry to Erithian and friends but I think Herne Bay will bounce back to winning ways and make honours even for the season. By the way a 2.30 kick off this one, no lights still I guess.

Even closer to each other are Deal Town and Beckenham Town who meet down on the east coast with just one point between seventh and ninth places. Beckenham won at home by the odd goal in three in August but more recent form would favour the black and white hoops, a home win and Deal will make a start on cutting down the points gap ahead of them in the table.

The remaining fixture is between Lordswood and Slade Green, Lords are seven points ahead of Green in 13th and last of the mid-table grouping. Since posting a great result against Thamesmead in December, Green have shown little apart from taking the points at Sporting. Lordswood also haven't done much this side of Christmas and a win for either would go a long way to lifting spirits. A draw is probably the right result but home turf could favour a Lords win, but just by one goal.

That concludes the weekend's programme except to say that WTFC Reserves are in action at Oakwood aginst VCD Athletic in the Kent Intermediate Cup quarter-final, a postponement from last weekend.

All things subject to the weather of course, wherever you watch your football, enjoy!

Peter Albin - 28/02/07 (c) WTFC