April 25, 2010
 The game had a bit of an end-of-season feel to it, but as it was a beautiful day, I don't think many minded. More importantly, Town's record against the Police had been truly atrocious: played 5, lost 5, goals for 2, goals against 17. So this result was on the face of it, remarkable. Part of the explanation lay in the the fact that this was the poorest Police team I've ever seen: promotion contenders last term, mid-table mediocrity this. However, this is not to say that Whitstable didn't deserve their win. It's been a while since fans could look at an early 1-0 scoreline and feel completely safe: there was no doubt in my mind that the Oystermen would see through the game without conceding and possibly even going further ahead. Whitstable had much of the earlier exchanges and Pulman scored with a real poacher's effort after just 10 minutes of play. This came courtesy of a swift counter attack following the first of two or three long shots that the Police had on goal. Pullie had the beating of the Met defender and manages to dink the ball over the advancing Mo (Met keeper, who didn't get quite as much stick from Taffy as he usually does, but still feigned injury as is is want). Pullie took one in his face for his trouble, but made a quick recovery.  , After the goal there was really very little to report. Parker stood out because of a mixture of good and bad - he had the beating of the Met captain at right back for the most, but was also guilty of some wayward passing - but he reminded the team to stay focused for the duration - which they did.   Stubbs did what he was told wide right, but it's not his natural position and so it was not surprising to see him leave the pitch in the second half. Wisker eventually occupied that berth having started in the middle of the park. No sign of Heard on the day, not sure why, which meant Lloyd at left back - where he did fine, and Cornhill at right back (I prefer to see him further forward as he has an eye for goal) but in the absence of any recognised left back, the back four including Denly and Sayer, was perhaps the best choice even if GS can play anywhere at the back. The game petered out to its eventual conclusion and having guaranteed Ryman league status with two games to spare, the future brings with it a number of interesting permutations and combinations. Will Laney stay on as manager (the strong feeling amongst the fans is that the Lane/Gooding combination might work very well indeed given recent form). Will Cory reconsider his retirement? Can we bring in the four or so players needed to strengthen? WIll the season start the way it finished? This will probably mean more pre-season training than has been the case in the past. Have a good summer everyone and see you on the flip-side.
Posted by Per Laleng. Posted In : Match Report
April 7, 2010
It may be too early to make the suggestion, but this game was a "classic". Whitstable were 3-0 up within the first fifteen minutes and Sittingbourne scored two in the space of a minute in the second half to set up a heart-stopping finale in which the Oystermen triumphed.
Dave Cory won himself a penalty in the first five minutes. The tackle was just outside the box, but the lights at the home end were dreadful, so it's hardly surprising that the ref didn't see that the foul happened just... Continue reading...
Posted by Per Laleng. Posted In : Match Report
March 14, 2010
I didn't make it to the game at Croydon mid-week. Apparently, the youngsters played really well with Heald putting in a particularly impressive debut. Their reward? To find themselves on the bench as the 'experienced' players regained their places for this bottom-of-the-basement fixture. And what did experience bring to proceedings? Nothing. Once the youngsters eventually came on, Whitstable actually looked vaguely threatening. But by then, it was too late. The first half was utterly forg... Continue reading...
Posted by Per Laleng. Posted In : Match Report
March 6, 2010
An attacking formation by
Munday’s Oystermen coupled with a new-found ability to pass the ball (at one
point, we counted 6 consecutive passes) ensured an ultimately comfortable win
for the home side in this ‘six-pointer’. Munday fielded a fluid 1-2-4-1-2 formation
with Vahid and Pulman up front and Cory in the hole. This left Parker and
Gooding in the middle of the park and the rest of the line-up as before, GS
sweeping up imperiously at the back as per usual.Whitstable played some...
Posted by Per Laleng. Posted In : Match Report
February 28, 2010
After a long absence from the stands, a return to the happy hunting ground of Walton Casuals was the perfect tonic even if Whitstable really should have won with a more comfortable margin.
The pitch was slippery and cut up badly after the recent inclement weather which made attractive football unlikely. And neither team disappointed. Whitstable proved most effective down the right hand side with Cornhill threatening throughout. With GS sweeping up at the back, the defensive frailties on both ... Continue reading...
Posted by Per Laleng. Posted In : Match Report
January 24, 2010
It's been a while, but well worth the wait! Whitstable emerged victorious on a heavy pitch after recent postponements, and on balance, the win was deserved. Walton & Hersham probably displayed better technique, passing and composure on the ball, but Whitstable's solid defending masterminded by GS and desire shone through here, especially in the second half. Whitstable started brightly enough and took the game to the visitors, but within the first few minutes it became clear that most of ... Continue reading...
Posted by Per Laleng. Posted In : Match Report
December 9, 2009
What a dreadful evening at Chipstead! As cliches go, this was a great example of a game of two halves. For the first twenty minutes it was difficult to work out who were the worst team as the ball spent most of the time in the air or bouncing off players ping-pong like in the middle of the park. No sooner had that thought crossed the mind, when Chipstead scored their first and then scored twice more in the space of two 7 minute intervals. All three goals were contributed to by defensive err...
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Posted by Per Laleng. Posted In : Match Report
December 6, 2009
Games against Dulwich usually end
up high scoring, and Saturday was no exception. It was a good game, and the
better side on the day won. Quite simply, Dulwich had more pace, more
technically gifted players, and as the game wore on, more stamina. Although Whitstable
battled hard, a point would probably have been unfair on the hosts.
Whitstable came out firing on all
cylinders and took control of the game from the outset. They worked the ball
forward with some nice one touch footbal...
Posted by Per Laleng. Posted In : Match Report
November 29, 2009
Mundz made one change from the side that beat Eastbourne last week: he dropped himself to the bench and put Gooding back into the centre of the park alongside the less experienced Ben Smith and Joe Hitchings. Of the three Hitchings was the standout performer: creative, busy, willing to get stuck in, and great composure infront of goal to crown his performance with Whitstable's third goal of the afternoon. This was a spirited team performance from The Oystermen against a fellow struggler - a... Continue reading...
Posted by Per Laleng. Posted In : Match Report
November 25, 2009
After an horrendous run of results and tensions spilling onto and off the field, finally some happy news: a win against a team from which which we've only taken one point in four attempts, which thrashed top-of-the-table Worthing 3-0 in their last game and in a similar league position as ourselves. Not only that, but we played pretty good football in blustery conditions for the most part.
Munday put himself in the middle of a central midfield trio including Hitchings and Ben Smith, flank...
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Posted by Per Laleng. Posted In : Match Report
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