Penalties End Vase Hopes

WESTSIDE 1 WHITSTABLE TOWN 1 (after 90 minutes – no extra time)
Westside won 4-3 on penalties
The Isuzu FA Vase First Round Qualifying
Saturday August 27 2022 15.00

Whitstable travelled to the ground of Colliers Wood FC in Wimbledon to play Combined Counties League Division One members Westside in the FA Vase. A dominant first half performance had the travelling supporters in the very sparse crowd hoping for a straightforward passage through to the next round. Whitstable forced the home goalkeeper into several good saves, hit the bar and had an effort harshly ruled out for offside, but a Freeman Rogers header was their only reward at the half time interval. The second half was more even, with the home team having much more possession and an equaliser began to look more likely. Substitute Adrian Francisco eventually beat Whitstable goalkeeper Dan Eason with a great strike from distance to take the tie to a penalty shootout. Whitstable were the favourites when they led 3-2 with one kick each remaining, but failed to score with their next two and Westside were through to face Sporting Bengal in the next round.

This was Whitstable’s first game in the FA Vase for a few years and Westside were new opponents. Recent signings Reece Gillies and George Sheminant both started for Whitstable. Striker Fjord Rogers has joined Margate on dual registration, but Matt Gething was available again and returned up front. Westside play one level below Whitstable and had collected five points from their first five league games. Whitstable have still only played twice in the league, collecting maximum points on the road.

Whitstable pressed forward for much of the opening period, winning six corners in the first quarter of the game. The first real goal threat came in the 12th minute when Kyron Lightfoot played a one-two with Josh Oliver before striking the cross bar from the right of the area. Sheminant, playing wide on the left, cut in and had an effort blocked, then Oliver tried a shot from 25 yards that was turned behind by goalkeeper Luka Ziger. There had been no threat at the other end until Whitstable lost possession and Tom Mills had to make a timely tackle to half a dangerous break in the 20th minute. Oliver then had another long range shot saved before James Huggins was fouled on the edge of the area when about to shoot, earning a yellow card for Kristian Campbell, but the free kick was wasted as the referee spotted a push in the box by a Whitstable player. Mills glanced a header wide from another free kick, then Oliver got his head to a good cross by Sheminant and Ziger made a good stop. Whitstable finally managed to take a deserved lead in the 36th minute as their seventh corner, taken by Lightfoot, was headed in by Rogers. Almost from the restart, Eason was called into action for the first time, gathering a shot by Luke Fenlon at the second attempt. Whitstable thought they had extended their lead in added time, when Gething headed a free kick back across goal where Rogers arrived to nod the ball over Ziger into the net, only for an offside flag to be raised. Another look at the incident suggested that the goal should have been given, but Whitstable led just 1-0 at the break.

Westside introduced Tevon Webster for the second half and began well, as Whitstable struggled to gain any controlled possession. Lightfoot did send in a testing low cross from the right, but there was nobody to apply the finish. Webster was played in by El Azouan, but Eason was able to block his shot. A Westside free kick was deflected behind for their only corner of the game in the 56th minute, which Eason punched clear. Rogers then got his head to another Whitstable corner, but this time the ball went over the bar. On the hour mark, Eason kept his team in front with a great double save after Webster met a right wing cross and saw his close range header saved, then the Whitstable goalkeeper recovered quickly to block the follow up. Mills sent a couple of headers over the bar from set pieces at the other end, but the threat was growing and it was 1-1 in the 79th minute when Francisco intercepted a clearance by Jake Mackenzie about 25 yards out and curled the ball into the top corner. Whitstable almost restored their lead immediately, as Sheminant set up Oliver, but Ziger parried his shot at the near post and Huggins blasted the rebound over the bar. Huggins, who had already been cautioned, was replaced by Richard Atkins shortly after being given a final warning by the referee. Francisco then made himself room on the left, but failed to keep his shot down. In the 89th minute, Campbell was shown a second yellow card for a pull back and Westside had to play out the remaining time with ten men. Substitute James Jeffrey had a low shot saved, but there were no more chances and the game finished 1-1.

With no extra time or replays in the FA Vase, the tie went straight to penalties. The first four were all successful, then Webster hit the bar and Gething blazed over the top. Eason saved the next from El Azouan and Oliver converted to put Whitstable 3-2 ahead. Francisco levelled it up, leaving Jeffrey the chance to send Whitstable through, but his kick was saved, leaving the score was 3-3 after the first five penalties. Alex Foord put Westside back in front, so when Mackenzie hit the post, Whitstable were out.

Overall, it was a disappointing performance by Whitstable, despite some first half promise, but their lower league opponents deserve credit for the way they fought back into the game and kept their composure in the penalty lottery. Whitstable have now departed both FA competitions at the first hurdle, but will have the chance to maintain their 100% record in the league when they travel to play Canterbury City on Wednesday evening. The long awaited first home game on the new 3G pitch then follows on Saturday with a visit from Welling Town.

Westside
Luka Ziger, Luke Fenlon (c) (Adrian Francisco 63), Alex Lever, Nick Pavlou (Alex Foord 77), Mohamed El Azouan, Johann Kirsten, Joshua Walters, Kristian Campbell, Dariush Heravi, Kevin Osei (Tevon Webster 46), Shaeen Fernandes.
Subs (unused): not known
Goal: Adrian Francisco 79
Red card: Kristian Campbell (two yellows 24, 89)

Whitstable Town
Dan Eason, Jake Mackenzie, Tom Mills, James Huggins (Richard Atkins 85), Freeman Rogers (c), Will Thomas, Kyron Lightfoot (Ryan Flack 90+4), Reece Gillies (James Jeffrey 83), Matt Gething, Josh Oliver, George Sheminant.
Subs (unused): Joe Jarvis, Harry O’Donnell, Tom Penfold, Joe Nelder.
Goal: Freeman Rogers 36
Yellow cards: Kyron Lightfoot 31, James Huggins 62.

Attendance: 52
Referee: Marcin Indyk
Assistants: Vincent Kennedy & Rob Wyatt