U14s v Folkestone Invicta

Down to a bare 11 players following three late withdrawals (including our goalkeeper) due to illness and injury, the day continued on a downward trajectory. Radfall wasn't in great condition with the grass not having been cut for a month and the lines barely visible. Our opponents arrived with 9 players and thereafter the psychological die was cast!
In the first half Whitstable played some controlled passing football, shifting the ball from side to side and moving Folkestone about. However, our opponents remained disciplined in their organisation and we struggled to carve out many chances. Their one attacking strategy - a long ball down the middle to their imposing centre forward - was successful throughout. After 15 minutes Whitstable conceded a corner which led to the first goal. The first half continued with Whitstable controlling the ball without being too threatening.
In the second half Folkestone had four or five chances from the long ball which we failed to deal with near the halfway line. Goals resulted in the 38th and 58th minutes, the second of these as Whitstable were pressing for a goal not long after having lost pacy central defender Hamish Dickson to a groin strain.
Whitstable's consolation goal came in the 68th minute when Kiernan Bramley lobbed in a shot from the edge of the box and it looped over the Folkestone keeper. Unfortunately it was too little, too late in a second half where Whitstable lost control of the match and our effort and determination levels were way below where they needed to be. With two matches left we will be looking for a positive reaction (and hopefully a few recovering players!).