5-Star U15s in dominant display against Kennington

Whitstable Town’s U15 Kent Youth league team made it three wins on the bounce with a comfortable 5-0 win at home to Kennington just a week after beating Ramsgate by the same scoreline at the Southwood stadium. Alfie Mantle proved his prowess up front against Kennington by bagging a hat trick while goals either side of his by Michael Nkereuwem and Dylan Richards gave Whitstable a resounding home win.

Whitstable started brightly in the game following recent away wins at Ramsgate and Dover and settled into some good flowing football creating a whole host of chances as they got through on goal time after time. But for a swirling unpredictable wind, some mis-placed shots and the Kennington keeper being on top form they could have taken the lead at any time during the first 40 minutes but just couldn’t seem to find a way through. Richards, Jake Salisbury and Sonny Hemmings all had chances and shots and Alfie Hill, in his fourth game for the team, tested the keeper on several occasions. Joshua Thomas-Wright made a number of sharp runs down the line putting the Kennington left back under constant pressure and putting dangerous balls into the box.

However, for all their creativity, passing and determination to win or keep possession, somehow the ball would not go over the line. Whitstable thought they had finally made the breakthrough only to see the ball somehow hit the post instead as a little bit of frustration started to creep in to the match.

And although Kennington didn’t threaten nearly as many times as Whitstable in the first period, they proved a good passing team and put the home team’s defence under pressure at several points. Whitstable’s defence were resolute though with Oliver Bunn and Leo Cornhill showing strength, skill and great passing ability. They were complimented by Callum Groom and Alfie Mantle in the first half and then by Will Knoupe and Will Derby in the second illustrating the strength and versatility of this promising squad.

Whitstable’s keeper Stanley Allom didn’t have much to do in the first half and even less in the second although he kept his team motivated with lots of encouragement throughout the game and had to keep on the alert as the blustery conditions meant it was hard to predict where the ball might eventually end up. Communication was much improved for the U15s and the team grew in confidence as the game wore on. And although it was 0-0 at half time it seemed only a matter of time before a goal broke the deadlock.

A number of changes were made at the break with players shuffling positions. Mantle came off from centre back (he would come back on as striker later), Derby moved from centre midfield to centre back and Knoupe came on at left back for Groom. Midfielders Alex Brownett and Michael Nkereuwem entered the fray with captain Archie Rumball having some respite on the sidelines.

The changes gave the team fresh impetus but their approach and play did not waver. They kept the ball moving and created a number of good chances but a solid Kennington backline always seemed to just do enough to get it clear.

However, as the game entered the final 20 minutes, Whitstable eventually found the back of the net. The goal followed another brilliant save from the Kennington keeper (he had also managed to push a thunderous Alfie Hill shot onto the bar only moments earlier) but as the ball came down in the box Michael Nkereuwem was first to react as he netted his first goal for the team.

The impact of the goal gave Whitstable even more purpose and belief and despite the keeper’s heroics, the introduction of Mantle to the attacking line and some fabulous crosses and corners coming in from both flanks meant the scoreline moved to two nil. The second goal and the nature of Whitstable’s dominance pushed the team onto greater things and goals three, four and five were dispatched in a lethal 6 minute period soon after as Mantle completed his hat trick. The final goal of the afternoon, from the reintroduced Richards, happened just as the game moved into injury time.

Whitstable finished the afternoon back in second in the table at just over the halfway point of the season.

Team:
Allom
Bunn
Brownett
Cornhill
Derby
Groom
Hemmings
Hill
Knoupe
Mantle
Nkereuwem
Richards
Rumball (captain)
Salisbury
Thomas-Wright

Coaches:
Adam Knoupe
Steve Rumball
Michael Groom