THREE BRIDGES 2 WHITSTABLE TOWN 3
The Pitching In Isthmian League South East
Tuesday October 6 2020 19.45

It was an incident packed night that ended with Whitstable collecting their second win in Sussex in the space of four days. They left it very late though, scoring two goals in the ten and a half minutes of added time. Three Bridges had the better of large parts of the first half and found themselves two goals ahead as a result of a somewhat fortunate penalty and a well worked second. Whitstable found a way back into the game with the final action of an increasingly heated half when Aaron Millbank blasted a free kick through the wall and into the net. Whitstable were the better team after the break as the hosts seemed more focussed on breaking up play and taking time out of the game. The goals eventually arrived to ensure the points returned to the Kent coast and make the journey home for the team and travelling support more satisfying.

Three Bridges had conceded four goals in both of their opening league fixtures so were looking to start climbing the table whereas Whitstable had collected their first win in their third game a few days earlier. Former Whitstable golden boot winner Steve Smith was in the home team playing as a centre back. Whitstable were forced to make two changes to the team that had won at Haywards Heath with Tom Bryant and James Brown returning to the starting eleven in place of the unavailable Luke Girt and Ollie Gray.

There was an early booking for Brannon O’Neill when he caught Tijan Jadama and this set the tone for a physical encounter. Three Bridges had the first attempt on goal in the 9th minute when Curtis Gayler sent a long range shot just wide of the left post. Alex Barbary volleyed a cross over the bar and Smith sent a shot into the side netting following a corner. Whitstable had a couple of half chances from corners that both fell to Luke Medley who was unable to test Kieron Thorp in the home goal. Three Bridges were awarded a penalty when a deep cross by Dean Lovegrove bounced awkwardly for an off balance Bryant with the ball appearing to rebound off his leg onto his arm and the referee pointed to the spot. O’Neill stepped forward to drill the ball into the bottom right corner to give his team a 23rd minute lead. Jadama became the first Whitstable player into the book following a spot of wrestling as he tried to free himself from the arm of Callum Donaghey. It was Jadama who almost equalised in the 34th minute following a spell of good possession for Whitstable that led to Reece Gillies releasing him one on one with Thorp, but the goalkeeper made a good save and Donaghey was able to clear the danger before Medley could tap in the rebound. Medley then tried a long shot that went past the post.

Three Bridges were still passing the ball around quite confidently however and doubled their advantage in the 38th minute when Jordan Wilson played a clever ball into the box for Tom Tolfrey and although Dan Eason blocked his first attempt, he was able to follow in to score. Eason had to be alert again shortly afterwards, pushing a shot behind when a good cross had picked out Barbary at the back post and from the resulting corner O’Neill headed a decent chance over the top. Ollie Rowe was then shown a yellow card for halting Luke Leppard’s run down the left touchline. Just before the interval, Reece Gillies set Medley free on the left and after his shot was blocked, Jadama was brought down just outside the penalty area. Whilst the Whitstable player was on the ground Smith, who had an excellent game at the back, seemed to kick him, leading to some angry protests from the Whitstable players and bench. After a delay, the referee decided only to show Smith a yellow card and Reece Gillies and Millbank followed him into the notebook. The free kick was eventually taken in the fourth added minute and Millbank powered the ball straight through the large, but rather flimsy, wall into the net and Whitstable only trailed 2-1 when the half ended immediately afterwards.

Whitstable came out for the second half with much more purpose and largely dominated the remainder of the game, but found it hard to create many clear cut chances. Bryant knocked the ball just wide from a corner and a great low cross was missed by everyone in the box. Both teams made changes with Liam Gillies replacing Reece in the 66th minute for Whitstable. There were a number of lengthy delays with players going down awaiting treatment and the game became somewhat disjointed as Three Bridges looked happy to wind the clock down. Their best chances to increase their lead both fell to substitute Kyle Woolven, but Eason was able to deny him on each occasion. Whitstable continued to press forward and won a succession of corners. Medley and Liam Gillies combined to create an opening for Millbank, but he was unable to get enough power behind his shot to trouble Thorp.

In the 90th minute Liam Gillies tried his luck from a long way out and Thorp did well to tip the shot over the bar. Just as the referee announced a minimum of seven additional minutes there was another delay as Woolven required treatment and Whitstable sent on Muhammed Cham in place of Leo Mazzone. When play restarted Liam Gillies picked up a loose ball in his own half and threaded a great pass through for Millbank to run on to before shooting past Thorp to make it 2-2. Whitstable went looking for a winner and Victor Aiyelabola shot over, then Millbank set up Jadama whose shot was blocked by a defender. There was still time for a dramatic winner though and in the 98th minute a throw in by the right corner flag was sent back to Rowe who clipped the ball in to the edge of the box and it was met perfectly on the half volley by the academy striker Cham who found the top corner of the net to the delight of his teammates and the Whitstable bench. The final whistle came about three minutes later to confirm a hard fought 3-2 away win.

Whitstable return to the Belmont Ground on Saturday for a home league fixture against Burgess Hill Town.

Three Bridges
Kieron Thorp, Troy Williams (c), Luke Leppard, Callum Donaghey, Steve Smith, Dean Lovegrove, Curtis Gayler (Harry Docherty 87), Brannon O’Neill, Alex Barbary, Jordan Wilson (Hayden Skerry 62), Tom Tolfrey (Kyle Woolven 71).
Subs (unused): Will Robinson, John Lansdale.
Goals: Brannon O’Neill (pen) 23, Tom Tolfrey 38.
Yellow cards: Brannon O’Neill 3, Steve Smith 45+1, Luke Leppard 73.

Whitstable Town
Dan Eason, Simon Kabamba, Tom Mills, James Brown (Victor Aiyelabola 80), Ollie Rowe (c), Tom Bryant, Leo Mazzone (Muhammed Cham 90+1), Reece Gillies (Liam Gillies 66), Aaron Millbank, Tijan Jadama, Luke Medley.
Subs (unused): George Stannard, Lewis Mitchell.
Goals: Aaron Millbank 45+4, 90+3, Muhammed Cham 90+8.
Yellow cards: Tijan Jadama 29, Ollie Rowe 41, Reece Gillies 45+2, Aaron Millbank 45+3.

Attendance: 91
Referee: Barrie Small
Assistants: Nick Blogg & Dane Johnston