match-reports-10-11

WTFC 2 Chatham 1 - 09.04.2011

Sat, 09 Apr 2011 22:12:54 +0100

Report courtesy of R Austin 78

Well yes it was "Heart attack stuff", first half they took the game to us, had a shot come back out off the inside of the post, and (by now obviously) PK stupidly, and needlessly getting sent off after reacting to a challenge I wouldn't personally call X-rated. Second half, we came firing out of the blocks, ballooning a few shots over the bar, and putting them under the cosh for long periods, they scored first after a cross to the far post wickedly turned into the far-post top corner, your probably thinking it sounds a bit of a fluke goal?! and it certainly was, in my opinion goal keeper (Twyman) was unlucky not to get more on it to push it away, this silenced the fans, and got the few Chatham fans singing, after their goal they put us under a bit of preassure, at times I thought we looked like conceding a second, and in other games probably would have. In the last 20-25 minutes Cornhill got bought on, set off on some good runs, and eventually got us 1 goal back, a sweetly struck ball from the edge of the area that had a bit of curl on it, the other fans as well as myself went mad, and a few minutes later we scored a second, forget the work up to it, but remember their keeper almost getting to it but spilling it at the feet of, Pullman I think it was, and yeah then the fans went nuts! and for the last few minutes it was all hands to deck, and again of my opinion, the boys in red defended like their lives depended on it. Still safe to say a few more grey hairs in the crowd after today, but I don't think I'm alone in saying bring on Horsham YMCA in 2 weeks time, IF we continue playing like we did today (well as far as the second halfs concerned), I can't see us dropping too many points, if any, in the last few games, but then again we need consistancy, and as we all know, sounding harsh but consistancy is a word that seems to strike fear into the hearts of our players sometimes! But IF, and thats a big IF, we CAN be consistant in the last 4 games, it might give us something to build on to take into pre-season and beyond.

Please excuse the amatuerish highlighting of events

ed: Wisker scored the second goal after the Chatham keeper spilled it after Hawkins put him off.

Bognor Regis 1 WTFC 1 - 15.02.11

Wed, 16 Feb 2011 13:30:13 +0100

Report couresty of steveparsons

Excellent result against a high flying Bognor side.

PULMAN could have given WTFC an early lead, but shot over. After this it was really backs to the wall, with HAWKINS and LLOYD solid again at the back and SMITH L and ULPH having to deal with the constant wing threat. S.SMITH was called on to make a couple of fine saves and the game was all square at the break (my 39 minutes on the first goal a loser). Bognor now applied more pressure, but CORNHILL could have scored missing from 12 yards. He made up for this though when BLACKMAN was pulled down just outside the area, and the resulting free kick saw CORNHILL thunder home a crisp shot which took a slight deflection on 68 minutes. Again soaking up home pressure, CORNHILL broke clear on the right and only a good save by Stoner kept the top side in the game. With PULMAN chasing everything up front and the WTFC game plan looking spot on, Nightingale popped up to give Bognor a share of the spoils on 86 minutes. With 5 minutes added time ??? there was a melee on the left with PULMAN being stamped on, by the slightly overweight no 17, a few handbags were thrown, the the reff called it a day 1-1.

So summing up, a great point, against top opposition and what a great night on the terrace 6 lads outsing the home support.

WELL DONE ALL THE BOYS

Burgess Hill 1 WTFC 1 - 05.02.11

Sat, 05 Feb 2011 21:31:46 +0100

By all accounts, the performance against Welling on Tuesday was very good notwithstanding the fact that Welling fielded a number of academy players. Whitstable continued their impressive recent performances with a good draw away at Burgess Hill. They scored both the goals. Unfortunately, only one went in the home team's net. The first was an impressive own goal from Ashley 'Butch' Ulph, scoring with a looped shot over Shaun Smith (now installed, for the moment, at least, as Whitstable's No.1. In fact, he had another excellent game, making three first class saves through the game). Ulph had a bit of a mare in the first half an hour - being guilty of a number of wayward passes - but he eventually found his feet and ended the game very strongly. The back four unit was very impressive (Louis Smith acquitting himself well at right back, Steven Lloyd doing everything asked of him, and Hawkins reading the game at a level not seen before at Town). Both Lloyd and Hawkins were lucky on a couple of occasions, but apart from that, they too were spot on. Louis Smith's defensive tendencies meant that Cornhill had licence to roam forward whenever he wished without having to worry about what was behind him, and Scott Heard seems to have a free role - which worked as it was his cross from the right (when he was supposed to be playing at left wing) that found Ian Pulman at the far post, 5 yards out, to equalise, within the first 30 minutes of the game.

This was a really good game of football actually. It was a shame about the weather - cold and wet - but yet again, the visiting fans left feeling as if we should have won the game. It was end to end stuff, but there was 100% faith in the defensive unit; both Bodle and Peacock had control of the midfield, and the other four always looked like they could create something. It was no wonder that Nott made no substitutions in the game! Reassuringly, Smith did well between the sticks, with one finger-tip save, a block in a goal-mouth melee and a well-intercepted one-on-one.

I don't really know what to say except, I'm impressed by what I am seeing!

WTFC 2 Leatherhead 2 - 29.01.11

Sun, 30 Jan 2011 08:49:03 +0100

There is a buzz around the Belmont: the appointment of Peter Nott seems to have lifted everyone at the Club (except Kevin 'Wonder'-Fewell, who sadly, as decided to call it a day after his 218 appearances for The Oystermen. Cheers Kev: I'm sure you'd be welcome back any time). That buzz was transmitted into this game against Leatherhead. Whitstable's record against the visitors was not good: played 6, lost 4, conceding more than two and scoring less than one goal a game. But, the opposition stood out having been the victim of a rare Tom Parker goal last season, and Parker found himself back in the team due to GS's hamstring injury. Parker didn't last the course and was usually second best to Leatherhead's pacy and tricky right winger who caused havoc throughout the game. By the end of the 90, Gareth Cornhill ended up at left back, proving yet again, how versatile the local lad really is.

Cornhill came close to opening the scoring for Whitstable when a cross-cum-shot from the right wing was tipped onto the bar by the Tanners' keeper. But it was Ian Pulman's 11th league goal of the season that opened the Oysters' account. He dispossessed the Leatherhead keeper just outside the area and from the acutest of angles managed to squeeze the ball between the post and two advancing Leatherhead defenders.

After the goal, Whitstable actually looked in control for a good spell; but within ten or fifteen minutes, Leatherhead really started to play some football. It was as if they remembered what they were there to do. They found space, played wide, kept their shape in the midfield (and bossed it), and although Whitstable defended well, it felt as if it was only a matter of time before the equaliser would come. And Leatherhead duly obliged: a shot from around the penalty spot cannoned off the cross bar - and according to the assistant over the line: even from where I was standing (at the other end of the pitch), it did not look like a goal(!). The teams went in at half time all square.

Pullie's second goal was a shot from distance after he had been sent through (finally managing to evade the offside trap). His shot squeezed underneath the keeper, and was to an extend fortuitous. But, it was deserved for his hard working shift. Although Whitstable momentarily pressed for a third, Leatherhead then took control of the match. Whitstable defended well, but failed to keep possession: and whereas all the Leatherhead players seemed to know where to find each other when counterattacking, the players in red either were not in position, or passes were made without identifying their targets in advance. Whitstable fell into their common habit of just wanting rid of the ball - this despite some short spells earlier in the game of good possession football. I've never understood why the players feel they need to get rid of the ball as soon as they get it: they spend so much time wanting to play first team football, and when they're called, they just hoof the ball. What's that all about?

Anyway: Leatherhead scored a stunning second goal to share the points: it was one of those jaw-dropping moments that brought silence to the ground.

To be fair, I think Leatherhead deserved a share of the spoils; but this was actually a game where Whitstable could have won - and when was the last time we could say that after playing a consistently top four side?

Another solid performance from Blackman, I thought, who played some really neat one-twos with Pullie as well as holding up the ball to bring in players. The middle was pretty solid, but both Bodle and Sherman tended to lose their positional sense). Louis Smith was quietly confident at the back - a much better game than last week against Chatham. And Shaun Smith made another couple of good saves: I think he will be a fine replacement for Fewelly.

Well done Peter and the lads. I'm actually looking forward to watching us against Welling even if we get another 6-1 spanking (last time, we actually played really well, and the scoreline does not tell the whole story).

Lloydy gets the MoM shampoo

Quote of the day (from the physio whilst watching the last ten minutes): I think I'm going to have a heart attack!

WTFC 0 Dulwich Hamlet 1 - 08.01.11

Sun, 09 Jan 2011 11:45:34 +0100

To coin the aphorism: she’s a cruel mistress. The Oystermen were undone by a goal in the 92^nd minute as Dulwich returned to London with all three points and a 1-0 victory. On the balance of play, especially in the second half, it was an undeserved victory for the visitors – but you got the sense that the hosts would have been happy with a 0-0 draw in the last twenty minutes despite their sporadic yet incisive attacks. That said, the final quarter was testament to an exciting game of football as well as a heart-wrenching result that leaves Whitstable in the bottom two.

The first half was pretty scrappy and not helped by some over-fussy refereeing: a particular highlight being the yellow card to Hamlet’s left back for petulantly throwing the ball to the ground when a decision went against him (the referee failed to yellow a second Hamlet player for doing exactly the same thing in the second half. He also missed a number of penalty shouts).

Despite some neat attacking play, especially down the right hand side, there was no final product from Whitstable. It was always going to be difficult to get past Hamlet’s enormous captain at centre back and their even taller keeper. Equally, sloppy passing straight to the opposition did not help Whitstable’s cause - with Monkur being particularly culpable. TJ went off with an injury after about 20 minutes and was replaced by Jim Sherman, returning from suspension after his red card against Met Police. Sherman didn’t do much in the first half, but what he did do was an improvement on Monkur’s contribution.

Yianni was a little off-colour in the first half despite shining against Faversham earlier in the week, and it took a long time before Whitstable started using small triangular passing to get the ball forward. This was especially effective between Louis Smith (who was excellent in the first half), Cornhill, Yianni and occasionally Wisker.

On the balance of play, Whitstable just edged the first half, but it wasn’t much of a spectacle.

The second half was actually pretty exciting. It was end to end stuff with both sides forging good chances. Lloyd Blackman should have scored when one-on-one with the kepper, and came close a little later only for his shot to cannon off the keeper and up into the air following some decent pressure from the Hamlet captain.

Young Scott Heard looked tired after putting in yet another hard working shift, and he probably should have been subbed instead of Wisker (resulting in Yianni moving into the centre of the park and Morris taking up the berth at right midfield: had I made that change, I probably would have put Morris at right back and Cornhill at right midfield).

There were a number of defensive highlights: Pullie tracking back and dispossessing a Dulwich player, and an astonishing goal-line clearance from Steven Lloyd followed by him throwing himself in front of a cannon of a shot from just outside the area (by then, Louis Smith had already secured the Man of the Match award although Lloyd’s performance in the final few minutes probably just shaded that of Smith). The manager will now have a real headache for his next selection because Douglas has also been extremely impressive in recent games at centre back and it’s difficult to know what the best combination at the back is. The fairest thing to do would be to let both Smith and Lloyd keep their shirts until one of them has a bad game. And Douglas can, of course, play at right back too, which would allow Cornhill to move forward again to right midfield with Yianni either shifting into the centre of the park as an attacking midfielder or onto the left flank. Scott Heard has put in some really hard-working performances, but they have also taken their toll on him and he looks like he needs a rest.

Vahid came on too late to make a difference. Yes, he did it a couple of games ago, but it’s not going to happen twice in short succession. Watching him at half time, he was slotting the balls into the net for fun, and I think he is hungry for games and goals. He was also smiling. Although Blackman is great at winning the ball, holding it up, and finding space, on yesterday’s performance, I also think I would have subbed him for Vahid instead of Pullie, and much earlier. Oh well, I’m not the manager, and clearly have no idea!

The Dulwich goal was route one to their lone striker who ran straight down the middle between the two best players on the night (Smith and Lloyd) only to score comfortably past Fewell (who yet again had put in some fantastic saves). With two of the three minutes of injury time gone, it was too late to salvage anything, and it was a cruel blow. But Dulwich took their chances, and we didn’t, and that’s why they won.

A difficult series of games are coming up, but if the Oystermen can take some of the positives with them (and cut out the sloppy passing) then some points will be possible. The squad is too good to be where it currently finds itself. But it’s going to be a tough few weeks.

Faversham 1 WTFC 1 - 03.01.11

Tue, 04 Jan 2011 09:08:47 +0100

Match report by yourcanterbury

By Glenn Pearson

An opportunist strike from hitman Ian Pulman 12 minutes from time earned Whitstable Town a derby point in an entertaining game with in-form Faversham Town at Salters Lane.

Supporters were still queuing to get through the turnstiles at 3pm as a Bank Holiday crowd of 330 squeezed in to watch the visitors, under caretaker boss Steve Nolan, dominate the first-half. Whitstable almost took the lead on 21 minutes when a headed clearance found TJ Moncur in space 25 yards from goal, and the midfielder hit a sweet volley that looped over the despairing Rob French before coming back off the crossbar.

Faversham, who extended their impressive unbeaten run in Ryman Division One South to nine games with this draw, tried to make an impression on the game and went close when Matt Bourne headed just over, but it was the Oystermen that continued to dominate possession and the chances.

Michael Yianni ran riot in the first-half and French had to be at his best to beat out the former Hythe, Ramsgate and Folkestone man’s effort after another mazy run down the Faversham left. French, who would later keep his side in the game with a string of fine saves, presented Ant Bodle with a belated Christmas present just before the break when his clearance went straight to the Town midfielder, but the ex-Maidstone man inexplicably slipped as he went to strike the ball at an open goal and his effort ballooned wide.

In time added on at the end of the first-half, the home side nearly broke the deadlock when a pinpoint Dale Skelton free-kick found Alex Waugh in the Whitstable box and the Town forward arrowed a header that came crashing off the post before being cleared.

After a half-time talking too, Faversham came out a different side in the second-half and began to pin Whitstable in their own half. There was a sign of what was to come when Dane Luchford had a shot well saved by Kevin Fewell shortly after the break, while the Town forward then saw a header drift just wide off the upright. Whitstable failed to heed the warning and on 59 minutes the home side took the lead. Skelton found skipper Tom Hickman in space and the Town midfielder drove at the heart of the Whitstable defence before drilling a cross-field pass to the unmarked Luchford, who controlled superbly before letting fly with a left-foot shot that took a slight deflection before nestling in the bottom corner.

To their credit, the visitors refused to buckle under the pressure and the introduction of Pulman, on as a substitute, proved to be the turning point in the game. The former Town striker, who turned down a chance to rejoin the club in the summer, picked up a loose ball on 78 minutes and with the Faversham defence backing off, he noticed French off his line and unleashed a delicious looping volley that dipped over the Town stopper and into the back of the net.

Back came Faversham though and with 10 minutes to play, they looked as though they were going to regain the lead when Bourne’s header from a Dave Botterill corner looked as though it was going in, only for it to be cleared off the line by the Whitstable defence.

French, who returned to the side after more than a month on the sidelines with injury, produced a stunning one-handed save to deny Louis Smith’s goal-bound header, before beating out Yianni’s well driven effort.

However, the home side thought the points were theirs when, with a minute to play, Luchford’s centre found Damian Abel whose header beat Fewell, but came crashing back off the underside of the bar before being cleared.

It would have been harsh on a Whitstable side that are showing signs they have the stomach for a relegation fight, while Faversham continue their strong run of form that has seen them move into the division’s top 10.

WTFC 1 Ramsgate 0 - 27.12.10

Tue, 28 Dec 2010 10:23:56 +0100

On a bobbly pitch, manfully cleared by the committee for the occasion, Whitstable finally secured all three points at home against a surprisingly lacklustre Ramsgate side. What is more, the victory was deserved. The Oystermen could have won by more but for some heroic goalkeeping by the visitors' stopper. Ramsgate's captain (and Whitstable's former captain and favourite, Liam Quinn) also ensured that the scoreline remained more respectable for the Rams.

Caretaker manager Steve Nolan picked a slightly different-looking side: Cornhill was back in a slightly more comfortable-looking right back position although his first touch let him down on a number of occasions in the first half; GS was at left back and they book-ended Adam Douglas and Louis Smith at centre half. The whole back line had a solid game and GS made some very threatening runs from the back that caused Ramsgate problems. It's good to see GS returning to good form after his recent absence. There was a completely new central midfield pairing of TJ Monkur and Ant Bodle with Scott Heard and Mike Yianni patrolling the wings (occasionally swapping sides). Up front Pulman and Blackman continued their growing relationship.

Blackman won a (slightly soft) penalty which Pulman failed to convert after a poor penalty bounced off the keeper who also managed to keep out the rebound on 23 minutes. But a few minutes later the bar denied Pulman what would have been a spectacular looped goal. The Ramsgate keeper also managed to push certain goals out in quick succession on the half hour mark. At the other end, Fewell managed to keep out a goalward-bound ball with his trailing foot to equal his opposite number's heroics.

The sides went in at half time more or less sharing the spoils and 0-0 was a fair reflection of the game so far.

In the second half, Scott Heard made most of the attacking play helped out by GS. It was difficult for the front men to break through the Ramsgate back line as Quinn was outstanding. He somehow managed to keep both Pullie and Blackman quiet. Wisker's introduction at the expense of Monkur raised the attacking aspects a little, but Wisker was hit and miss.

It fell to Stuart Vahid to wrap up the points having been given about five minutes to do so. It was felt that his introduction was on the late side, but perhaps realising that he did not have much time to change anything, Vahid showed his instinct for goal by following up and scoring from a few yards in the second minute of extra time. He actually deserved his goal for the five minute shift he had put in before then.

Whoever the manager will be, he now has a real luxury problem up front.

You Reds!

WTFC 1 Walton & Hersham 1 - 13.11.10

Mon, 15 Nov 2010 09:54:07 +0100

The team is going through a transformation of personnel: new signing Lloyd Blackman partnered Pulman up front; Gooding played on the right hand side of midfield, and put in a good shift with Yianni on the opposite flank; Sherman captained the side playing slightly deeper than Wisker and in front of loan signing Groombridge and new signing TJ Monkur in centre of defence; Morris played at right back and Cornhill at left back and Fewell was back between the sticks despite Smith's man of the match performance against Sittingbourne in mid-week.

There has been some grumbling about the flurry of recent signings on the forum, but in my view, the signings are not only a statement of intent, but also much needed given recent results (although to be fair, some of the results do not reflect the way Whitstable have played of late).

Whitstable started the brightest and created a hat-full of chances with the best attacking movement coming down the right hand side (perhaps not that surprising given that both players on the left were right-footed). Pulman and Blackman seemed to have developed a pretty instantaneous understanding, and they constantly swapped positions. Pulman earned himself an early penalty within the first quarter of an hour and converted it himself with a well-taken spot kick into the top right hand corner, well beyond the keeper's reach.

At the other end, Kevin Fewell made a couple of fantastic saves tipping the ball over the bar and around the post when called upon. The defence also looked very solid on both sides of the pitch, but actually improved when Douglas replaced Morris (who suffered what looked like a hamstring injury).

At half time, the feeling was that a goal would not be enough; and that feeling was confirmed when Walton & Hersham clawed one back following a lucky (and sloppy) goal after a cross eluded everyone including the Whitstable keeper. And after the goal, it did not look like Whitstable would re-take the lead as Walton & Hersham took control of the game. This pattern has been repeating itself of late, and is an aspect of the game that needs ironing out.

Vahid replaced Blackman and Callander (returning to the club for a second spell) also came on towards the end of the game. But despite playing with three attackers, Whitstable didn't have enough in the tank to secure all three points. But we were unlucky here. A second goal probably would have killed off the game because Walton & Hersham initially played as if they did not know what had hit them; but after the second goal failed to materialise, the Swans sensed that they could get back into the game, and they duly did.

Blackman picked up the bottle for the supporter's man of the match - a nice debut. And he's got goals in him, so this signing looks inspired. It will also provide much needed competition up front, particularly with the addition of Callender. I think it will work wonders for Vahid who looked inspired by the need to prove himself (despite recent good performances). There are some interesting attacking options now, but the midfield needs to start picking up some goals as there is an over-reliance on the front two.

Onwards and upwards. You Reds!

WTFC 2 Fleet Town 3 - 06.11.10

Mon, 08 Nov 2010 10:00:10 +0100

The red men started the game in blistering form, playing some really decent passing football and were rewarded within the first five minutes as Stuart Vahid dinked a lovely ball onto the far post and in for the home side's opener. The goal came so quickly and unexpectedly that I failed to get a picture (and I was enjoying a nice pint of Guiness). The back line looked assured on the ball, and the loan signing, Groombridge, marshalled the back four with a good use of his voice. The Oystermen soaked up whatever was thrown at them and created a series of good chances - some of which should have been converted, but alas, it was not to be.

The visitors equalised at the start of the second half following a defensive error, but Whitstable went ahead again after Pulman converted the penalty he won. The fans were chanting for a red card after the keeper blatantly fouled the onrushing Pullie, but as the picture shows, the keeper wasn't the last man.

But it was clear that Fleet were hungrier for the fight and refused to lie down. They scored again after yet another defensive error and took all three points after winning a penalty for a hand ball in the area in the dying minutes. Fewell came close to saving, but the ball was just out of reach.

The substitutions came too late and the fans were left wondering why Scott Heard remained on the bench given his much needed engine. Vahid had an outstanding and unselfish game setting up his teammates on more than one occasion. Pullie should have scored a hatrick, but it was just one of those days where concentration levels dropped too early in the game. Whitstable arguably should have had another couple of penalties, but referees tend to see Pullie's falls as too theatrical. The Oystermen were also outdone by a whole host of dodgy-looking offside rulings which frustrated the players, and probably affected their concentration.

Whitstable find themselves in the relegation zone yet again, but their goal difference is fairly healthy relatively speaking - and we're scoring goals (although not enough by non-strikers). Sherman had a good game whilst donning the captain's armband on his 6th appearance for the club. So concentration remains the watchword.

WTFC 1 Burgess Hill Town 1 - 23.10.10

Thu, 28 Oct 2010 07:16:07 +0100

Report by The Native.

A decent enough performance against a team in the top six...

Not too much goalmouth action in the first half, although we had a couple of good chances, but the opponents got on top for a spell in the middle period.

After the break, more chances came and went and we should have been awarded a penalty when Vahid was knocked over as he was about to shoot. Eventually Pulman ran on to a through ball and rounded the keeper to give us the lead with 10 minutes to play. We looked like holding on without too many alarms until a cross from the right was fired home in the 92nd minute. The referee managed to find another 3 minutes, during which Pulman got through once more, but shot wide and the points were shared.

All in all, probably a fair result, but we certainly had enough chances to take all of the points and to concede so late is always disappointing. A number of good performances, but Douglas, Cornhill and Lloyd deserve a mention for defending well throughout against a dangerous side.

Also worth a comment - it was the third gate of 200 or more from the first 5 home games!