Whitstable Town (A) Match Report

Report by Whitstable:

Whitstable made a swift exit from the FA Vase for the second successive season after conceding two late goals against Lingfield. The visitors from Surrey started well, but Jack Palmby gave Whitstable an early lead against the run of play. Dan Eason had to make several saves as Lingfield continued to have the better of the first half, although Whitstable were denied a second goal when Harvey Smith put the ball into the net, only to be flagged offside. The second half was a more even affair with both teams missing chances, but some late pressure eventually led to substitute Dennis Asante curling in an equaliser. With penalties looming, deep into added time, Whitstable were penalised for handball and although Conor Wilford’s free kick struck the wall, he spectacularly volleyed the rebound into the top corner to send Lingfield through.

Whitstable were hoping to have a better run in the FA Vase, following their disappointing exit on penalties at Westside in the first round qualifying last season. This season, a bye saw Whitstable enter a round later, with their opponents Lingfield earning their place with a 4-0 away win at Tooting Bec. Lingfield are currently ground sharing at Horley Town while their own ground undergoes some maintenance and upgrades. They currently play in the Southern Combination Football League Premier Division, another Step 5 competition, where they have collected 11 points from their first 9 games. Whitstable were without the suspended Liam Gillies for this game and Tyler Anderson returned to the starting eleven in a slightly reshuffled line up. There was a return to the squad for James Brown, who re-signed for the club in the week, but Rodney Eruotor has left to join Glebe FC. A presentation was made to Tom Mills prior to the kick off by long time supporter Wally Brown in recognition of Tom recently passing 100 appearances for Whitstable.

In front of a crowd of 288, Whitstable made their customary slow start, as a throw in was laid back by Jimmy Williams for Jay Simpson to curl a shot wide. A free kick was swung into the Whitstable box and defenders managed to get in the way of shots by Luke Richardson and Simpson, then a Whitstable free kick in their own half was played short and Simpson nipped in to steal the ball and send Conor Wilford through on goal; his first shot was well saved by Dan Eason and he lifted the rebound over the bar. Whitstable won their first corner that was taken by Josh Williams on the right, Harvey Smith rose to meet the ball, which dropped to the back post where Jack Palmby was the first to react and shot into the far top corner to give Whitstable the lead in the 8th minute. Lingfield were soon back on the attack and Jimmy Williams shot just past the post after another Simpson shot had been blocked. Haydn Dickinson then sent Simpson through with just Eason to beat, but the Whitstable goalkeeper again kept the ball out.

Josh Oliver and Jake Mackenzie combined to deliver a cross that was just too high for Steadman Callender, then Whitstable thought they had scored a second in the 20th minute. Mills played a great ball down the left for Anderson whose pace took him into the box before his cross was cut out by Richardson, but the ball returned to Anderson who pulled it back for Smith to steer into the unguarded net. Smith had been behind the ball when it was crossed, but the assistant’s flag was raised and the effort wrongly ruled out. Wilford created a chance for Dickinson, but Eason saved once more. Oliver won possession and fed Josh Williams on the right who cut in but his shot was saved by Jack Webb-Olley. The dangerous Simpson had another effort blocked as did Josh Willams at the other end. Whitstable looked a threat on the break, but it was largely Lingfield in control and Eason did well to keep out a long range Dickinson shot. Just before half time, a quick break by Stephen Hodge following a Whitstable corner almost led to a goal, but Simpson shot wide. The last action of the half saw Palmby shoot past the post after winning the ball in midfield and Whitstable led 1-0 as the teams went in, with Lingfield perhaps wondering how they had failed to reply.

Whitstable began the second half with more purpose, but were temporarily reduced to ten when George Sheminant was sent to the sin bin for ten minutes for disagreeing with a decision by the assistant. Simpson and Jason Stripp both missed the target with shots, then Callender made a good run and played a one-two with Smith, but was denied by Webb-Olley. Josh Williams sprinted clear on the right, went around Webb-Olley and crossed for Smith who looked certain to score from 6 yards, but George Branton got back to deflect his shot away for a corner. The game swung end to end, but nobody could find the net. An Oliver free kick was saved, then substitute Eri Akintimehin beat his marker on the left before crossing for Anderson who headed just wide at the near post. A Josh Willams cross was then flicked towards the near post by Smith and saved by Webb-Olley.

As time ticked away, Lingfield pushed forward in search of an equaliser, but Eason and his defence had managed to preserve the slender lead until the 87th minute when Hodge played the ball inside Mackenzie for Dennis Asante who ran into the area and curled an unstoppable shot into the far top-corner beyond the reach of Eason. 6 minutes added on and the game looked destined to be settled by penalty kicks with no extra time scheduled, but when Palmby stepped in to win the ball just outside the penalty area, it rebounded off his foot and appeared to strike his arm as he tried to withdraw it. The referee nevertheless awarded a free kick and Wilford stepped forward to strike it against the defensive wall, but it rebounded towards him and he volleyed it into the top left corner to put Lingfield ahead in the 95th minute. The final whistle followed a couple of minutes later and Lingfield had booked their place in the next round where they will face a trip to Greenways.