Whitstable Town 1 v Maidstone Utd 1:  ?Maidstone well Marshalled?
Kentish Observer Premier League Sat 24^th Sept 2005:
WTFC Steve Marshall (7) Maidstone Mario Claire (45)
The game, which was picked as the Kentish Observe Kent League match of the day by the press certainly lived up to its expectations. Two committed football sides battled throughout the 90 minutes watched by a crowd of 353, only for both teams to walk away with a share of the points. Maidstone secretary Darren Lovell saying after the game ? We were off the pace in the first half but came on stronger in the second, overall I think both clubs will be happy with the points. It?s always a decent game between us, and today?s was certainly no exception.?

Town?s manager Marc Seager, without his captain Andy Kier who was attending his bothers wedding, made a bold choice in naming Shane Davies as his replacement. Not only did Davies fill Keir?s central defender role with consummate ease, he took up the challenged of the captain?s armband to rally Whitstable with a solid performance alongside ever improving Michael Adcock. At the back, Whitstable were organised and disciplined, up front they harried the visitors who were unable to play with any sort of rhythm for the whole of the first half.

   Picture Steve Marshall after scoring the opening goal:  In the seventh minute Whitstable were ahead through Steve Marshall who, under pressure, slotted the ball underneath the giant frame of keeper Gary Sprayer. Marshall finished of a move involving Sam Prett and Marcos Perona, Prett setting up the quick passing move, Marshall taking advantage of a leaden-footed defender to put the home side in front. It stayed that way through most of an enthralling first half; the best the visitors managed was a 25-yard Sam Tydeman bullet which Whitstable keeper Mark Brown pushed out for a corner low down to his left.

Whitstable on the other hand went close through Stuart Harrison; after good work by Prett and Perona, player/manager Seager also went close from a Gary Sayer throw in, Seager spun and shot, Sprayer pushing the shot out for a corner. Harrison then had a great chance to put Town further ahead with a clear sight of goal but he shot high over the trees, the ball nearly landing in Grimshill Road.

Just as Whitstable?s management were looking forward to half time team talk of, ?much of the same please lads? up popped Mario Claire in the 45^th minute to prod home the ball after Brown made poor contact with a punched clearance at a corner

 Picture: Maidstone player/manager Lloyd Hume booked:  The second half was a much more even affair with all of Town?s player working hard to keep the ball as the visitors tried to turn up the tempo. Aaron Knight, on Town's right flank, never quite made the impact in this game as he did last week, non the less the young forward ran non stop and is impressing all with his work-rate. On the left, Tom Parker is now getting regular games and is looking more solid as the week's pass. Whitstable upped the pace, nearly scoring their second, Prett?s shot scampering past the post after he and Marshall had combined well with some quick neat passing.

The visitors had a good ten minute spell, Mo Takalobighashi blasting his shot in a similar way to Harrison, not once but twice in the space of a couple of minutes. Town?s keeper Brown needed to be alert as the visitors started to get behind Whitstable?s defence, something they had failed to do the whole of the first 45 minutes. Luck, however deserted them as Lyndon Rowland and Sam Tydeman, who both should have tested Brown shot weakly and wide.

As the clock ticked down both sides could have settled the game, Maidstone getting caught offside too many times at the other end. Whilst Whitstable?s Seager nearly finished the visitors off with just minute?s remaining, his rasping shot was well saved by Sprayer, the giant keeper then turned away shots from Harrison and Prett before the final whistle.

  Full Time: Whitstable Town 1 v Maidstone Utd 1
WTFC ?
Team: Mark Brown: Tom Parker: Rob Thomas: Shane Davies (Capt.) Micheal Adcock: Gary Sayer: Stuart Harrison: Marcus Perona: Marc Seager Aaron Knight: Sam Prett: Steve Marshall:

Subs: Robbie Summer: Rob Thomas Wayne Barrett: Andy Constable: Mark Lane:

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