WHITSTABLE TOWN 1 ASHFORD UNITED 3
The Pitching In Isthmian League South East
Saturday February 19 2022 15.00

The wait for a Whitstable win goes on, but in terrible conditions there was little between the teams for the majority of the game until a strong finish brought Ashford the goals that they needed to maintain their promotion push. Whitstable fielded three new signings and were worth their narrow lead at half time given to them by Charlie Heatley with a well-taken goal. Ashford improved after the break and Jarred Trespaderne equalised midway through the half. The game remained in the balance as Harry Goodger hit the bar and Callum Watts was denied by Damian Niemczycki, but the mounting Ashford pressure finally told when a clearance rebounded into the net off Goodger and Tashi-Jay Kwayie wrapped things up just before the end.

This was the third meeting of the season between the two teams with Ashford having won the reverse league fixture 2-0 and a young Whitstable team also lost at Homelands in the Kent Senior Cup. Whitstable were seeking a win to lift them off the foot of the league, while Ashford wanted the points to keep up their challenge at the other end of the table. Whitstable manager Keith McMahon brought in three new players in an effort to change his team’s fortunes for the remaining games. Striker Heatley joined from Barking and there were also debuts for experienced defender Mohammed Kamara and midfielder George Monger. Gus Barnes was fit to start his first game for over two months. Storm Eunice had caused some problems around the ground and although plenty of work had been done on the pitch during the week, it was very soft and with heavy rain falling accompanied by strong winds, conditions were certainly testing. A crowd of 274 braved the elements to watch.

The pace of Barnes caused early problems for Ashford and his low cross was met by Heatley in the 2nd minute, but he was unable to get a firm enough connection to beat Niemczycki. Ashford had their first chance in the 8th minute when a long ball by Liam Friend found Gary Lockyer, but he curled his shot wide. Tom Mills then made a great saving tackle when Johan Ter Horst was about to shoot after Whitstable failed to cut out a high ball. As conditions worsened, Goodger had a couple of efforts comfortably saved, then a Danny Walder free kick almost led to a fortunate goal when an attempted clearance rebounded off Junior Baker and the ball went just wide. Whitstable did have the ball in the net in the 24th minute when Barnes robbed Mamadou Diallo and his cross was turned in by Goodger at the back post, but he was flagged offside.

Whitstable felt that Baker had been fouled by Lockyer, but play was allowed to continue and the Ashford number nine shot wide with just Eason to beat. Trespaderne then had a shot saved after some good approach play on the left. An overhead attempt by Jack Steventon was tipped over by Eason before Whitstable opened the scoring in the 42nd minute. An Ashford throw was cleared by Walder to Heatley who ran clear down the left from inside his own half and Niemczycki initially slipped as he came out, but got back to his feet and with defenders running back, Heatley cut inside and slid the ball home from 18 yards to open his account. Eason saved a Ter Horst shot before Mills cleared, then on the stroke of half time, Heatley raced on to a Goodger header, knocked the ball past Friend on the left and could have been through on goal, but was brought down by the Ashford skipper, earning him a yellow card.
Half time: 1-0

The opening stages of the second half saw action at both ends, as the weather relented a little, before Ashford made an early change replacing Diallo with Daniel Hull. Jake Mackenzie threw himself in the way of a Kwayie shot and Baker blocked the subsequent effort that then looped up to Eason. Ter Horst found the net on 60 minutes after a header down by Friend who was adjudged offside. Bradley Simms began to enjoy some success on the right and one good cross found Lockyer whose diving header was very well saved. Trespaderne was booked for diving when going to ground as he played the ball past Eason in the box, but shortly afterwards in the 67th minute, he made it 1-1, firing past Eason after substitute Luke Burdon and Lockyer had both seen their attempts blocked. Whitstable nearly restored their lead when Walder played the ball through for Goodger who managed to get his shot away when challenged, but the ball hit the crossbar and went over. Eason saved from Burdon and then got down to deny Trespaderne when he shot low through the crowd following a corner. Mackenzie delivered a low cross from the left for Callum Watts at the far post, but his shot was kept out by the legs of Niemczycki.

Whitstable appealed for a foul when Baker was injured attempting a header from a corner, but when play continued a long ball forward was deflected into the path of Burdon whose shot was pushed behind by Eason. Goodger was first to the resulting corner, but the ball dropped to Watts whose clearance struck Goodger and rebounded into the net to give Ashford the lead in the 85th minute. Whitstable made two more substitutions, but almost conceded again when Burdon shot wide and it did become 3-1 and game over in the 90th minute when a clever pass by Burdon gave Kwayie the chance to shoot past Eason into the bottom corner.

It was a more promising performance by Whitstable against a good Ashford team and the search for points now continues at Three Bridges on Saturday.

Whitstable Town
Dan Eason, Gus Barnes, Jake Mackenzie (Kemo Darboe 87), Junior Baker, Mohammed Kamara (Will Thomas 77), Tom Mills (c), George Monger, Danny Walder, Harry Goodger, Charlie Heatley, Callum Watts (Montrell Deslandes 86).
Subs (unused): Jack Miles, Stephen Okoh.
Goal: Charlie Heatley 42
Yellow cards: Charlie Heatley 40, Harry Goodger 59.

Ashford United
Damian Niemczycki, Bradley Simms, Mamadou Diallo (Daniel Hull 54), Josh Wisson, Liam Friend (c), Jack Steventon, Tashi-Jay Kwayie, Jarred Trespaderne, Gary Lockyer, Jack Richards (Frannie Collin 73), Johan Ter Horst (Luke Burdon 62).
Sub (unused): Lee Hook
Goals: Jarred Trespaderne 67, Harry Goodger o.g. 85, Tashi-Jay Kwayie 90.
Yellow cards: Liam Friend 45+1, Gary Lockyer 53, Jarred Trespaderne 65.

Attendance: 274
Referee: Scott Rudd
Assistants: Tom George & David Rowland