Whitstable Away!

[shoutymark]

Always a highlight of any season.
The short trip down to the Belmont to see our noisy neighbours the Oysters.
And this year all the more special because if things don't pick up for Whitstable pretty darn quick, then it'll be a good year or two before we get to do it again.

With real momentum building over the past few weeks, we've now got both a realistic prospect of a play-off place and the bonus of a cup semifinal to follow on Tuesday night.

So let's head down the coast for a right royal knees up.

Yes, they may well try to drown us out with their practiced virtuouso singing and well-honed repertoire of seafood-based ditties - but I, for one, am bringing my shouty voice with me, and I plan to use it! 

And who knows, maybe a hatful of goals too!

COME ON YOU WHITES !!

[FAV Army]

Sounds like a good result today.

So, with 10 games to go, we have 64 points.

If we continue to average two points a game, we will end on 84 points.

I think we would be ridiculously unlucky if that wasn't enough to get a Play-off place.

FAV Army!

[statesidelilywhite]

Formula for a great Saturday ...Lilywhite win...beer...nap

[dave]

Whitstable Town 0-4 Faversham Town

Starting line up:

William Godmon,
Ryan Cooper, Jamie Maxted, Matthew Bourne, John Scarborough,
Josh Stanford, Daniel Carrington, George Monger, Charley Robertson,
Luke Harvey, Liam King.

a) bloody cold.
b) no beating about the bush, not the greatest playing surface.
c) a big local derby - and as we know, always an added "something" to those.
Put that lot in the mix and we end up with..., well, as convincing a victory as you could wish for.

If the Whitstable plan was to frustrate and stay in the game, well, it didn't quite work for them.
We press early, Luke Harvey makes progress into the area. Brought down by a clumsy challenge. We were in almost direct line, as clear a penalty as you could wish to see. Referee agrees. 40 seconds on the clock.Charley Robertson steps up, drills it low and hard into the bottom right hand corner, sending the keeper the wrong way for good measure, A George Monger inswinging corner from the right, Liam King collects, tripped inside the area, no intervention from the referee, still in the area, Jamie Maxted collects, going away from goal, scythed down by a defence seemingly intent on conceding penalties. Referee points to the spot. Again, easy decision. Charley Robertson steps up, bottom corner, out of reach of a keeper going the right way. 0-2 after 10. Luke Harvey in the area, left, gets a low cross into the near post, Matthew Bourne meets, the connection sends it the wrong side of the post. On 30, Whitstable spread the ball wide right, a shot from outside of the box is across our keeper and wide. On 40, a George Monger free-kick, deep and high to the far post, headed back in/off the keeper/a combination,
I wasn't sure, but by whatever sequence of events, into the path of Luke Harvey who does the necessary from 2/3 yards. 0-3.

0-3 at H-T.

On 60, a Whitstable goal-kick, picked up by our midfield (missed by whom, apologies), swept out to Liam king on the right, picks out Charley Roberton's run into the box, slotted home with aplomb. A cracking goal and hat-trick. Which was really handy because, with the possibility of said hat-trick, we had been debating the last player to score a hat-trick for Faversham Town. Answer, Charley Robertson. 0-4. A triple substitution, David Botterill, Kieron Cambell and Jack Sellens on for George Monger, Jamie Maxted and Luke Harvey. A long goal-kick, David Botterill gets a head on, into the path of Josh Stanford, the shot is across goal and passed the right hand post. The Whitsable 8 receives a straight red for reacting after being fouled by Daniel Carrington. Kieron Cambell does well down the left, gets a low cross into the box, met by
David Boterill, the strike is saved low down by the Whitstable keeper. Kieron Cambell down the right, simple pass to David Botterill, deep cross to the back stick, Josh Stanford's header is comfortably saved. And then with the clock running down, Charley Robertson, right midfield, finds an exquisite cross field ball to release Josh Stanford, bearing down on goal, shoots, across the keeper, just passed the right hand post.

0-4 at F-T.

Straight to reasons to be cheerful:

a) 0-4 in a local derby. Can't ask for more than that.
b) Goals. 8 in 3 now.
c) Important to back up the 2 previous big results. Job done.
d) Charley Robertson hat-trick. Fantastic.

Full on team performance today. Sets us up very nicely for Sittingbourne on Tueday.
Cup semi-final, how good does that sound, Can't wait. COYW.

See you there.

[shoutymark]

Comprehensive.
Never in doubt.
Efficient.
Effective.
Totally dominant.

Pick any of the above. Mix liberally. And you'll have a summary of this afternoon's performance.

Throw in ploughed field, biting wind, penalties, hattrick, and an opposition down to 10 men. And you get an end result of a four nil victory which never really felt like it was going any other way.

A few words about Whitstable.
Not so much about the team - they struggled to cope with the onslaught and having conceded two (indisputable) penalties in the first 10 minutes were backs against the (very muddy) wall all afternoon. But did keep going in spite of it all.
No. My thoughts go to the Whitstable fans. Yet again this was a creditable turnout. A big crowd who have been subjected to loss after loss - but still show up.
And particularly the Oysterboys behind the goal.
This club has seen managers, board members and players come and go all season. Where are they now? All over the place (but mostly Ramsgate).
Yet the Oysterboys and the wider Whitstable support - who have witnessed this carnage - are loyal to the end. Singing songs in the face of inevitable relegation. They remain true. And they deserve more than they have had to put up with this season.

So, yes, of course I'm grinning from ear to ear that we came away with a convincing victory. Crucial points and a boost to the goal difference. Onwards to Tuesday.

But I hope that it won't be too long before someone sorts out the mess at the Belmont, & it's not too long before they're back in the Ryman.

[CJK]

Link to match video . . . youtu.be/GJpX8oH04P8

Unfortunately, I had to cut the sound from all but one clip of the video. Whilst the Whitstable viewing tower offers a great vantage point, it was very windy up there and consequently much wind distortion on the video sound. It was such a cold, windy day, I can't remember the last time my hands were that cold!

[shoutymark]

Last Faversham player to score a hattrick?
(Before Charley Robertson)

Look no further than last November away at Hastings when a certain Mr Stuart King did just that in the 4-1 victory.

[4500x]

Off the top of my very bald head ... one before that one could be Jack Harris getting four away at Three Bridges late 2014?