Post by oap on Apr 1, 2014 22:30:52 GMT
Whitstable Town 3 Eastbourne Town 2
Ryman Football League Division One (South)
Tuesday 1st April 2014
Whitstable Town recovered from a two-one deficit to eventually win this vital Ryman League Division One (South) fixture at home to basement club Eastbourne Town on Tuesday evening.
The hosts started off gingerly allowing Eastbourne Town too much space. However Dan Keyte had the first opportunity when he had a shot deflected for a corner after nine minutes. However the visitors took the lead from the 13th minute when Tom Howard-Bold hooked the ball over Whitstable keeper Luke Watkins into the back of the net. Two minutes later prolific scorer Billy Medlock could have doubled Eastbourne’s lead but his lob went over the cross bar. Whitstable equalised after 19 minutes when Ashley Miller got hold of the ball and placed it over keeper Joe Taylor and over the line. The Oystermen nearly took the lead after 24 minutes when Keyte shot just past the post but Eastbourne were to regain the lead when Howard- Bold unleashed a shot from 25 yards that sailed into the top corner of the Whitstable net giving Watkins no chance. Town did have one opportunity to draw level in the 36th minute when Charlie Smith fired a header wide. Eastbourne went in at half time with a deserved two one win.
Nicky Southall had some strong words at half time which seemed to breathe life into Whitstable but the first opportunity came for Eastbourne when Layton Schaaf shot wide after 52 minutes. However a minute later Whitstable were level when Charlie Smith broke into the penalty area,held onto the ball and then slid it past Taylor into the net. The hosts were now on the front foot and creating the better chances. After 55 minutes Miller again tormented the Eastbourne Town defence but this opportunity was saved by Taylor. Then two minutes later Scott Heard ran onto a loose ball but sent his shot just wide. After 68 minutes Matt Martin pulled the ball back from the by line but the ball went just behind Smith who could not get a shot away. On 73 minutes Miller shot wide and then on 76 minutes Eastbourne were reduced to ten men when goal scorer Howard-Bold was sent off for swearing at the linesman. Heard had a shot on 78 minutes which sailed just over the bar from 30 yards but Whitstable were not to be denied when Miller got the winner after 81 minutes slamming the ball into the net to give Town all three points. Despite one or two scares Whitstable held on for the three points.
All of the other teams involved in relegation battles won their games tonight leaving us even further away from safety. Redhill beat Ramsgate 1-0, Corinthians beat Herne bay 2-1,
Three Bridges beat Worthing 4-2 and Crawley Down (with their 10 new signings) beat Walton and Hersham 2-1. With yet another red card and two more yellows we are now very near the bottom of the non-league fair play league. Herne Bay and Whitstable are combining next season so maybe three teams will not be going down but it certainly looks like curtains for us. We cannot complain if we are in the County League but we must realise that it will be a helluva job getting back into the Ryman and that United might beat us to it.
Ryman Football League Division One (South)
Tuesday 1st April 2014
Whitstable Town recovered from a two-one deficit to eventually win this vital Ryman League Division One (South) fixture at home to basement club Eastbourne Town on Tuesday evening.
The hosts started off gingerly allowing Eastbourne Town too much space. However Dan Keyte had the first opportunity when he had a shot deflected for a corner after nine minutes. However the visitors took the lead from the 13th minute when Tom Howard-Bold hooked the ball over Whitstable keeper Luke Watkins into the back of the net. Two minutes later prolific scorer Billy Medlock could have doubled Eastbourne’s lead but his lob went over the cross bar. Whitstable equalised after 19 minutes when Ashley Miller got hold of the ball and placed it over keeper Joe Taylor and over the line. The Oystermen nearly took the lead after 24 minutes when Keyte shot just past the post but Eastbourne were to regain the lead when Howard- Bold unleashed a shot from 25 yards that sailed into the top corner of the Whitstable net giving Watkins no chance. Town did have one opportunity to draw level in the 36th minute when Charlie Smith fired a header wide. Eastbourne went in at half time with a deserved two one win.
Nicky Southall had some strong words at half time which seemed to breathe life into Whitstable but the first opportunity came for Eastbourne when Layton Schaaf shot wide after 52 minutes. However a minute later Whitstable were level when Charlie Smith broke into the penalty area,held onto the ball and then slid it past Taylor into the net. The hosts were now on the front foot and creating the better chances. After 55 minutes Miller again tormented the Eastbourne Town defence but this opportunity was saved by Taylor. Then two minutes later Scott Heard ran onto a loose ball but sent his shot just wide. After 68 minutes Matt Martin pulled the ball back from the by line but the ball went just behind Smith who could not get a shot away. On 73 minutes Miller shot wide and then on 76 minutes Eastbourne were reduced to ten men when goal scorer Howard-Bold was sent off for swearing at the linesman. Heard had a shot on 78 minutes which sailed just over the bar from 30 yards but Whitstable were not to be denied when Miller got the winner after 81 minutes slamming the ball into the net to give Town all three points. Despite one or two scares Whitstable held on for the three points.
All of the other teams involved in relegation battles won their games tonight leaving us even further away from safety. Redhill beat Ramsgate 1-0, Corinthians beat Herne bay 2-1,
Three Bridges beat Worthing 4-2 and Crawley Down (with their 10 new signings) beat Walton and Hersham 2-1. With yet another red card and two more yellows we are now very near the bottom of the non-league fair play league. Herne Bay and Whitstable are combining next season so maybe three teams will not be going down but it certainly looks like curtains for us. We cannot complain if we are in the County League but we must realise that it will be a helluva job getting back into the Ryman and that United might beat us to it.