WTFC U16s KYL
Matches
Sun 02 Oct 2022
Sheppey United Youth U16
1
3
Whitstable Town Football Club
WTFC U16s KYL
J Salisbury (15'), (53'), J Lartice (18')
U16s overcome the Ites at Holm Park

U16s overcome the Ites at Holm Park

Joel Derby2 Oct 2022 - 14:11
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https://www.whitstabletownfc.c

Away day victory for the Oyster boys in lively encounter at Sheppey

A brace from striker Jake Salisbury and a smart finish from winger Jamie Lartice meant a second away victory of the league campaign for the U16s. And fellow winger Sonnie Hemmings could have grabbed a brace himself if not for two spectacular saves by the home side’s goalkeeper.

The U16s came into the game full of confidence after last week’s rout in the cup against King’s Hill but despite starting today’s game in excellent fashion and having an early Hemmings strike ruled out for offside, the Oyster boys went behind completely against the run of play. The goal came in the 10th minute after a defensive header from Sheppey’s first corner of the game landed at the feet of their player just outside the box. He took one touch and then finished superbly into the top corner of Stanley Allom’s net. It was simply unstoppable and meant the U16s had work to do.

But rather than spur on the home side to greater heights, it was Whitstable who responded better to the opening goal and began to turn up the pressure on the Ites. Free kicks from Harrison Wade and Leo Cornhill and shots from Lartice and midfielder Alfie Hill began to rain in on the Sheppey keeper and it wasn’t long before the U16s found their equaliser. It came from a Hemmings cross into the box that was met by Salisbury rising highest to head home beyond the Sheppey keeper.

And with the game back on an even footing, the U16s continued to press with further corners and crosses from Cornhill and Hemmings. Whitstable were starting to earn a series of free kicks outside the box as well as some poorly timed Sheppey challenges, pushes and shirt pulls caught the attention of the referee. One great opportunity came after Salisbury was hauled to the ground just outside the box. The Sheppey player then kicked Salisbury while he was on the ground in full view of the referee but somehow only received a yellow card.

Whitstable kept on pressing and only three minutes after they had equalised, they took the lead. Lartice received the ball and with a positive and powerful run into the box he evaded one player, got a little but of luck with a deflection as he took on a second before finishing brilliantly from close range somehow squeezing the ball between the stretching goalkeeper and his near post.

There were no further goals in the first period of the game but the U16s had to show their determination and needed to call upon the services of centre back Ollie Bunn and then Lartice to clear their lines when Sheppey attacked. In midfield, captain Archie Rumball and fellow midfield generals Will Derby and Hill were kept busy snuffing out Sheppey’s forward players and then helping to build chances through periods of intricate passing.

Sheppey started to grow into the game however and had several opportunities to get back on level terms but somehow missed every one. One header from a corner was straight at Allom while another ball flew across the face of the Whitstable goal but the Sheppey striker contrived to put it wide. Goalkeeper Allom hardly had to make a save for the remainder of the game although he and his defence had to be alert as Sheppey broke quickly and had further chances to score before the half was up.

Whitstable had a couple of chances to extend their lead further before the half was out as they used the pace of Joshua Thomas-Wright who had come on a few minutes before the half time whistle blew.

Half time 1-2

The second half saw the further introductions of Alex Brownett and Callum Groom and they were immediately put to the test as Sheppey started strongly and went close to getting a goal back. They had 5 or 6 excellent chances in the first ten minutes of the half with Whitstable’s keeper Allom making a wonderful save to help his team hold onto their lead.

The U16s showed their resolution with stout defending from Wade, Bunn and Cornhill and an excellent performance from Will Knoupe who impressed down the left hand side in the first half. Groom was also impressive in the same position in the second period as he defended and created in equal measure. Midfielder Alex Brownett also put in another good showing breaking up the Sheppey play and moving the ball around the park as Whitstable enjoyed several periods of extended possession.

The U16s conjured several of their own chances despite Sheppey’s dominance in the opening minutes of the half through Lartice and Thomas-Wright. And although the home team had started the second half strongly, it was Whistable who scored the next and decisive goal.

Again it was striker Salisbury, making a nuisance of himself up front, who finished excellently from a low cross that was sent invitingly across the face of the goal. Salisbury raced for the ball getting in front of the Sheppey defenders and their keeper to put the game beyond doubt. He’d already been running their backline ragged and with Hemmings and Lartice attacking on the wings Whitstable could have scored a couple more goals in the game.

The frustration of some of the players started to boil over as a series of reckless challenges went in that saw two further bookings for Sheppey and one for the U16s’ Hill.

The oyster boys then took control of the game for the last 25 minutes with a series of free kicks after poor Sheppey challenges. Hemmings was then thwarted for the second time in the game by the Sheppey keeper who pulled off a sensational stop low to the ground just as Hemmings was about to wheel off and celebrate.

The final 10 minutes of the game were a bit scrappy as the number of fouls, bookings (including one for the U16s Thomas-Wright) and substitutions ramped up before the referee finally called time on the game.

It was another impressive performance from the U16s who have opened their league account with two victories from two games - both away from home. Next week the U16s are at home in the cup against Dulwich Village.

Full time 1-3

Team:
Allom
Bunn
Wade
Cornhill
Knoupe
Hill
Derby
Rumball (c)
Hemmings
Lartice
Salisbury

Subs:
Brownett
Thomas-Wright
Groom

Match details

Match date

Sun 02 Oct 2022

Kickoff

10:00

Meet time

09:00

Instructions

Yellow kit please. Address: HOLM PARK 3G, Total Power Stadium, Holm Farm Lane (off Queenborough Rd), Minster on Sea, Sheerness ME12 3DF. Sheppey FC ground.
Team overview
Further reading