WHITSTABLE TOWN 2 HOLLANDS AND BLAIR 3
SCEFL Premier Division
Tuesday January 14 2025 19.45

Following the postponement of their FA Vase game, Whitstable returned to action with a midweek league match against Hollands and Blair at the Primcura Healthcare Stadium and for the majority of the evening, it looked as though they would be collecting another three points, only for the game to take a dramatic turn late in the second half. Whitstable edged a relatively quiet first half, but took the lead just before the break when Will Thomas capitalised on a week clearance by goalkeeper Jack Reeves. There were several early chances to extend the lead after the interval before Harvey Smith crashed in a second. Whitstable thought they had a third goal shortly afterwards when Dean Grant tapped in a cross only to be denied by a tight offside call. Blair gambled by making all five substitutions in the space of a few minutes and it seemed to work, as the intensity from the home side dropped and the visitors started to create a few openings. Thomas Ngegba prodded the ball into the net after a goal mouth scramble and a minute later he was on hand again to score when Dan Colmer failed to gather cleanly. Even then, Whitstable had several gilt-edged chances to regain the lead, but in the very last minute a free kick was only partially cleared and Devonte West fired in to complete the turnaround.

This was the third meeting of the season between these two teams, after Whitstable comfortably won the away league fixture back in August before a single goal was enough for them to progress in the FA Vase at home in the following month. Both teams were now in search of points with Whitstable hoping to continue their push towards the top end of the table whilst Blair were looking to edge further away from the relegation places. Whitstable are currently juggling their squad across three competitions due to injuries and players being cup-tied, but for this game they were without the injured Ashdon Day and Jake McIntyre who was unavailable. There was a late change in goal for the visitors, as their captain Dan Ellis picked up an injury, so Jack Reeves took his place. It was a fine evening, although the crowd of 248 was the second lowest of the season at Whitstable.

The first goal attempt came from Whitstable when a one-two between Dean Grant and Josh Oliver saw the latter shoot wide from 20 yards. Blair then went close at the other end when Tom Walmsley headed the ball across for Sam Bailey, but Dan Colmer was out smartly to save before Will Thomas cleared the danger. Oliver then had an effort blocked before playing the ball across from the left for Liam Gillies whose low shot from just outside the box was saved by Reeves. A Jayden Boulton cross reached Oliver who shot wide before Thomas did well to prevent a Bailey shot testing Colmer. Further attempts by Boulton and Harvey Smith followed before injury forced Mikey Dalton to depart in the 36th minute and he was replaced by Ronald Sithole. Whitstable took the lead in the 43rd minute when Oliver swung in a free kick from the left and Reeves tried to clear, but only succeeded in pushing the ball down for Thomas to hook it back over his head and into the net from a few yards out. Another Oliver free kick was comfortably saved by Reeves just before the end of the half.

Buoyed by their 1-0 lead, Whitstable began the second half well and almost immediately created a great opening, but Grant was just unable to find Sithole in the box and the chance was lost. Sithole next played in Oliver whose shot was blocked, then Reeves saved another Oliver shot. Oliver was seeing plenty of action and his free kick from the left was tipped over by Reeves. It seemed only a matter of time before Whitstable scored their second goal and indeed, they did in the 54th minute. A Sithole cross from the left was only partially dealt with by the defence and the ball rebounded out to Smith on the edge of the box who powered a shot past Reeves. Blair made their first change with Joe Thomas replacing Jordan Wells, but Whitstable almost added a third when a dangerous left wing cross by Boulton was steered past Reeves by Grant, whose celebrations were cut short by an offside flag although it looked a close call.

Blair then made four more changes and that, coupled with Whitstable starting to play as though they were thinking about their forthcoming FA Vase awayday, seemed to bring a change in momentum. Whitstable still had great chances to kill the game however and Smith shot over the bar before turning provider for Grant whose shot was well saved. There was a warning when Devonte West got past Boulton and shot just past the far post. A ball through the home defence then found Ade Batula who was denied by the outstretched leg of Colmer. Vase hero Nico Grierson replaced Oliver, but the chances continued to come for the visitors as Batula and George Monger both missed the target.

A corner eventually led to the deficit being reduced in the 83rd minute when Whitstable struggled to clear and Freddy Yao's shot was cleared off the line by Boulton, but the ball was kept alive by Kian Scott and forced over the line by Thomas Ngegba. Just over a minute later, it was 2-2 when Joe Thomas beat two on the left before sending the ball across and Colmer got down but was unable to hold on and Ngegba stabbed the loose ball home. Whitstable might have been stunned, but had several good opportunities to retake the lead. Grant set up Sithole, but Emmanuel Dasho made a great interception, then after Sithole was fouled by Joe Thomas, Fin Cotton's free kick was headed back by Will Thomas for Sithole on the six yard line, but Reeves made a vital save. The clock ticked past 90 minutes, then Gillies shot over the top and an even better chance followed when Grant laid the ball back for Jerald Aboagye who poked the ball past the post with the goal gaping. Whitstable would pay dearly for not being clinical when a Monger free kick was headed away by Gillies, but only to West about 25 yards out and he drove the ball past everyone and into the net to send the away bench wild and complete a remarkable comeback.

The slightly milder weather should see a return to the FA Vase on Saturday when Whitstable make a second attempt to travel to Suffolk for a delayed Fourth Round tie against Walsham le Willows. Whitstable are seeking a place in the last 16 of the competition for only the second time in their history and, with the draw having already taken place, know that a home tie against Crawley Down Gatwick or Fleet Town would be their reward.

Whitstable Town
Dan Colmer, Jerald Aboagye, Jayden Boulton, Mikey Dalton (Ronald Sithole 36), Jamie Coyle, Will Thomas (c), Josh Oliver (Nico Grierson 76), Fin Cotton, Harvey Smith (Adem Ramadan 90+3), Dean Grant, Liam Gillies.
Subs (unused): Josh Robson, Kai Jeffrey.
Goals: Will Thomas 43, Harvey Smith 54.

Hollands and Blair
Jack Reeves, Luke Exall, Harry Brown (Kian Scott 64), Jordan Wells (c) (Joe Thomas 57), Charlie Weston, Emmanuel Dasho, Sam Bailey (Ade Batula 66), Freddy Yao, Tom Walmsley (George Monger 66), Matt Gething (Thomas Ngegba 65), Devonte West.
Subs (unused): none
Goals: Thomas Ngegba 83, 84, Devonte West 90+5.
Yellow card: Joe Thomas 88

Attendance: 248
Referee: Stuart Beadle
Assistants: Keith Stone & Kayden Abnett