Whitstable Town FC

Whitstable Town welcome Leatherhead to the Belmont ground on Saturday afternoon for a Ryman Division 1 South match. This will be the first game between the two sides in our long history. Please be aware that kick off will be at 1 o’clock due to the televising of the England game.

Leatherhead moved up five places to fifth in the table on Monday evening when they beat fellow promotees Eastbourne Town by a single goal down on the south coast. This indicates to me a tight game is in prospect, not what Marc Seager’s side need at the moment, still looking for their first league win on home turf. Overall I would say the squad are adapting well at this level and you shouldn’t write of these three points ahead of time. Mistakes have been quite rare on the pitch, but most of them have been harshly dealt with resulting in a goal against. With the exception of the Tooting game all of Town’s Ryman 1 wins and losses have been by a one goal margin. To keep it that close we must be competing at a good standard. The ‘Tanners’ are a good journeyman Isthmian side and I expect the gap between our two sides on Saturday to be slender. Come along and support the Oystermen, it should be a fascinating contest.

By the weekend Leatherhead’s position in the league may have altered as they may be overtaken by Cray Wanderers or the Metropolitan Police. Cray play tonight (Thursday) at home against Corinthian-Casuals (who we visit next Tuesday evening). Last season the visitors took the honours, 2-4, but the reverse should be expected this time if things run to the form book. The Police are playing along the road from us at Chatham Town on Friday evening (12th). The Chats are still looking for their first home victory and will be doing very well to find it against the Blues, who are having one of their best starts to a season.

Back to Saturday and, promotion wannabes, Dover Athletic are on the road at Whyteleafe. Always a tough side to play, Dover have yet to lose a game in this campaign and lowly Leafe (20^th) are unlikely to alter that fact, although a good size crowd is likely. This one ended one all last season, I suspect the Whites should go one better this.

The rest of the fixtures are involved in the mid-table scrap. The other two promoted sides are in action, Eastbourne Town are at home playing Croydon Athletic for the first time ever and Chipstead travel to Horsham YMCA who they beat, after a replay, in the FA Vase season 02/03 their last meeting. Croydon are five points ahead of Eastbourne and Chipstead who both have a two point advantage over the YMs. That’s certain to change with Chips too strong for YMCA, the other result too close to call.

Bottom of the table Molesey welcome Ashford Town to Walton Road for what could be a rewarding afternoon for them, their visitors form has been somewhat erratic to date and they have been far from efficient at dealing with lower placed opposition. I fancy the Moles might post their first three pointer against the record which shows no wins for Molesey and 3 wins from 4 on the road for Ashford.

The last game on Saturday is Burgess Hill Town v Walton Casuals, Burgess Hill are tenth and the Casuals twentieth which pretty much tells the story. If you have any doubt the home side have a 100% winning record at Maple Drive while their visitors have yet to win away on their travels. In case you missed the point – Home win.

Please check with each club for kick off times as they do vary this weekend.

There’s also a game on Sunday, if you are interested, where second place Kingstonian play at home against sixth spot Sittingbourne. This finished 1-1 last season but Ks are slight favourites this year with the Brickies form just dipping slightly after a bright start. Still a close contest though and if you have the time and inclination it should be cracking game to watch.

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

Peter Albin - 26/09/07