Please note that Whitstable Town has a new website. Whilst both the old and new sites have been updated in recent weeks, the old site will not be fully updated going forward, although it will remain as an archive site for the time being. For all up to date fixtures, results and league tables, please now use the new website which can be found at this address:
So, after a tough pre-season programme consisting of eight matches that ended with a record of 3 wins, 1 draw and 4 defeats (all against BetVictor Isthmian Premier Division teams), the real action starts today. Sittingbourne are the first opposition in the newly named BetVictor Isthmian League South East Division, when they make the short trip to the Belmont Ground. Last season, Whitstable, who finished 12th, won both fixtures 2-1 against Sittingbourne, who finished 6 points behind in 16th place. As is often the case in this league, there have been a number of player movements at both clubs during the summer.
We welcome relegated Whitehawk and Burgess Hill to the division this season, along with promoted teams Cray Valley PM and Chichester City.
Whitstable now have a new chairman, manager and there have been a few other backroom changes. Work continues around the Belmont Ground to try to improve the facilities and this will continue as the season progresses. Coming up next is a visit to Hythe Town on Tuesday evening, then an FA Cup tie at home to Newhaven, closely followed by a Bank Holiday Monday local derby when Herne Bay visit the Belmont.
THANET UNITED 2 WHITSTABLE TOWN RESERVES 3
Pre-season friendly
Saturday August 10 2019 17.30
The reserves were in for a very tough test against a Division One club who fielded a very experienced side. It was always going to be a strong challenge, as the first team only beat them 2-0 early in July in what also proved to be a hard game. The conditions throughout were tough for both sides, with a very strong wind making it challenging in one half for each team. Whitstable started slowly and struggled to get going in the first 10 minutes which led to them being 1-0 down on the 10 minute mark. Both teams were trying to play some nice football in difficult conditions which would have been tough for any team. Whitstable soon started to settle down and play some good football with the midfield three of Billy Mason, Josh Algar and Charlie Vass starting to get a hold of the game, creating chances for the forward three of Muhammed Cham, Mike Budu and Peter Sharpless. Whitstable soon got themselves back into the game through a good finish from Peter Sharpless, after the ball bounced in the box and he reacted quickly and finished superbly past the keeper into the bottom corner of the goal. The goal settled Whitstable down and they looked more comfortable in possession. Thanet United were keeping the ball well but doing little with it. A second goal came before half time, when a fantastic long ball from Luke Barrass put Charlie Vass in and he calmly slotted it past the Thanet United keeper to make it 2-1 to the Town at half time.
Both sides came out of the blocks quickly in the second half and both stuck to playing good football in the conditions. Substitutions were made by both teams, with Whitstable bringing on a number of academy players and they had five academy players on the pitch in the second half. They brought energy to the game and Whitstable were using the pace and trickery of Muhammed Cham and Mike, who caused a real threat down both sides. Whitstable created a number of chances, but were just not clinical enough in front of goal. The game started to become stretched, with both teams looking to get another goal and there were chances at both ends, but assured Whitstable goalkeeper Ryan Birch kept Thanet United from adding a second. The Whitstable back four, Callum Tydeman, Jack Sutton, Luke Barrass and Callum Mason, were all working well with the wind against them for this half. Thanet United equalised through a good 20 yard shot from their striker, which fired into the roof of the net. The pace and skill of 17 year old Glen Bain was causing lots of problems for Thanet United, with great runs down the right hand side. Neither team was settling for a draw, with both still creating chances. A last minute break by Whitstable down the left hand side saw Muhammed beat two players before cutting the ball back into the box for academy graduate Callum Mason to fire a great finish into the goal, leaving Whitstable the 3-2 winners with just 30 seconds to go.
This was a fantastic win for the reserves, which just shows how far they have come as a side, to make it three wins out of three, beating a Kent County premier division side and a division one side in the process. The smiles at the end of the game were clear to see from all players and the management team of manager Josh Algar and his assistant Ian Grieves.
Starting line-up:
Ryan Birch, Callum Tydeman, Teddy Nelson, Luke Barrass, Callum Mason, Billy Mason, Josh Algar, Charlie Vass, Peter Sharpless, Muhammed Cham, Mike Budu.
Subs:
Jack Scott, Gerald Kwaku, Keegan Wickham, Glen Bain, Jack Sutton.
Thoughts from Josh Algar
“A terrific performance and win against a very good, experienced side. Thanet United had some very good players in their ranks who have played at a good level in the semi-professional game. The conditions were challenging for both sides, making it difficult to play football, so credit to both teams who tried to play the right way even in these circumstances. The squad we are creating here is something very pleasing and fantastic to work with. They are all good players with a great attitude, wanting to learn, and we have a very young but experienced side who have played at good levels. We have only trained twice, but the progression made shows we are going in the right direction, as proved by the performances displayed so far. It is still early, but we are pleased where we are at before heading into our first league game at home to Bearsted on August 31st. Once again we had six academy players involved in this fixture, with six U18s on the pitch in the second half, which is massive for me as they are gaining vital men’s experience and the learning they are gaining from this is vital to their development. I and my assistant Ian Grieves are pleased with the progress made so far and hopefully we will see some progress into the first team with Lloyd over this coming season.”
WHITSTABLE TOWN ACADEMY 8 RAMSGATE U18 0
Pre-season friendly
Thursday August 8 2019 18.30
Whitstable faced local rivals and Kent Youth League side, Ramsgate FC. The academy fielded a strong side with the likes of Muhammed Cham, Teddy Nelson and Mike Budu, who have all been involved with the first team this season. Whitstable started quickly and controlled the tempo throughout, playing some fantastic attacking football that was easy on the eye for the spectators. Goals soon came, as lots of chances were being created from Whitstable. The three forwards, Muhammed, Mike and Gerald, were causing real problems for the back four of Ramsgate with their pace and trickery. The first goal was a good finish from Brooke Tiernan, who slotted the ball into the corner of the goal. The goal was well deserved and Whitstable weren’t stopping there with a second goal soon added by Gerald Kwaku, who found himself in the box and turned and fired into the goal. Whitstable were really enjoying themselves and the football played was superb to watch, with the build up from the goalkeeper all the way through the team. The commanding presence of centre backs Teddy Nelson and Aidan Chrascina denied Ramsgate any real threat throughout the first half.
Whitstable started the second half where they left off, by moving the ball quickly and setting the intensity and tempo. The third goal was a 20 yard strike from distance by Brooke Tiernan, which the keeper misjudged. The fourth goal was scored by Teddy Nelson and what a fantastic strike it was – a 25 yard free kick screamer into the top corner of the goal. Whitstable were flowing with the midfield three of George Potter, Bailey Bryant and Brooke Tiernan controlling the game. Muhammed Cham then got into the action, after he was put through by George Potter and calmly took the ball around the goalkeeper to put Whitstable 5-0 up. Credit to Ramsgate, as they never gave up but the attacking force of Whitstable was too much to handle. Whitstable added a sixth through Muhammed Cham, when a good cut back from Adam Bull found Muhammed for a simple finish into the goal. Left back Adam Bull got into the action of goal scoring when he drove down the left hand side before cutting in and firing into the bottom corner. Muhammed Cham rounded off the game with his third, and hat-trick, with good trickery in the box before firing into the goal. Smiles were showing on every Whitstable player, which was thoroughly deserved as the performance was splendid to watch.
Full time result 8-0
Starting team:
Jack Scott, Liam Saunders, Teddy Nelson, Aidan Chrascina, Adam Bull, Bailey Bryant, George Potter, Brooke Tiernan, Muhammed Cham, Mike Budu, Gerald Kwaku
Subs Used: Bailey Collin, Jack Mulford, Madou Bojang, Carson Noble.
Thoughts from the academy manager Josh Algar:
“It was a very pleasing performance from my players. The football displayed was superb to watch and very pleasing, as we are only in pre-season and don’t start our full time training until September so we haven’t trained a lot and worked on anything specific. Pre-season is about getting as many minutes as possible and we have over 32 players within our academy now so it was good to get other players vital game time. We have a lot of very talented players within our academy programme and hopefully people watching saw glimpses In this game With lots of our players stepping into our men’s reserves side and the first team squad with Lloyd, it is a very exciting time for players to be involved in our academy set up, which is going from strength to strength as a lot of people are seeing. I would encourage as many people as possible to come to watch the academy play because the players are the future of the club and it is a very exciting with these fantastic players coming through.”
Whitstable play their last friendly today, before the new league season gets underway next week. New Romney are the visitors to the Belmont Ground and kick off for this game is 11 a.m.
Whitstable Reserves also have a friendly today, when they visit Thanet United for a 5.30 p.m. start. Their team will feature some of the academy players who were involved in their 8-0 friendly win against a Ramsgate team on Thursday evening.
The dates for the group games in the 2019-20 Velocity Trophy have now been confirmed. The Whitstable Town fixtures in group seven are listed below.
Tuesday 3 September 7.45 pm
Whitstable Town v Herne Bay
Tuesday 10 September 7.45 pm
Hythe Town v Whitstable Town
Tuesday 15 October 7.45 pm
Whitstable Town v Faversham Town
Tuesday 22 October 7.45 pm
Whitstable Town v Ashford United
Tuesday 5 November 7.45 pm
Ramsgate v Whitstable Town
A reminder of the new format:
There are ten regional groups in the first stage, which contains teams competing in the North, South Central and South East divisions. Each of the group winners will receive some prize money and progress to the knockout stages where they will be joined by the Premier Division teams.In the group games, there will be three points for a win, but if the scores are level after 90 minutes, the teams will receive one point each and there will be a penalty shootout, with the winners gaining a bonus point. Each team can play up to five substitutes from the five named on the bench.
