WTFC U16s KYL
Matches
Sun 16 Oct 2022
Whitstable Town Football Club
WTFC U16s KYL
0
0
Herne Bay FC U16
U16s left frustrated by stubborn Herne Bay backline

U16s left frustrated by stubborn Herne Bay backline

Joel Derby16 Oct 2022 - 17:16
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https://www.whitstabletownfc.c

Whitstable draw a blank against local rivals at The Belmont

Whitstable’s U16 KYL side were left frustrated on Sunday afternoon as they failed to make the most of their chances against local rivals Herne Bay in a nil nil draw. And although the U16s created enough chances to win the game, the Herne Bay keeper only had to make one save as his defenders performed resolutely and restricted the amount of times he needed to be called upon. At the other end, Whitstable’s keeper Stanley Allom didn’t have a save to make such was the U16s dominance (particularly in the second half). But the Oyster boys weren’t quite clinical enough when they did get through Bay’s back line to secure a winner.

After a delay to kick off due to the preceding fixture over running, the game started in fine fashion with Whitstable thinking they had earned a penalty only seconds into the game as the Bay keeper saved from winger Jamie Lartice and then looked as if he bundled him to the ground as the ball ricocheted around the box. But the referee waved the appeals away and let the game go on. It proved ominous for the official who would end up having a busy game issuing Herne Bay with three yellow cards in the first half and then two for Whitstable in the second.

The first half of today’s game proved to be a scrappy affair with Whitstable in the driving seat but not creating enough chances to test the visiting keeper. Shots and headers came from Lartice, midfielder Alfie Hill and striker Jake Salisbury as right back Leo Cornhill rained in his regular and reliable free kicks, corners and crosses.

Alfie Mantle, who returned to the side in the centre of defence, was in the thick of the action in the first half to cut out the Herne Bay long balls. Bay had a few opportunities to break through with a couple of corners and the odd free kick but they never really troubled the U16s defence throughout the game. Mantle’s fellow defender Ollie Bunn was more than a match for them and left back Callum Groom was tireless in both his tracking and forward play.

Midfielder Will Derby also returned to the side after missing last week’s cup game and worked hard to get the team passing the ball and creating alongside captain Archie Rumball and Hill. And mid-way through the first half frustrations got the better of Herne Bay as three of their players went into the book in quick succession for late challenges. Surprisingly though, the nastiest challenge of the half - which was on Cornhill as he was hacked down from behind after winning the ball - didn’t lead to a caution despite a long lecture from the official to the offending Bay player.

Winger Dylan Richards had a solid first half on the right hand side for the U16s as he took on the Bay left back again and again. In one opportunity he put in a lovely cross for Salisbury but the keeper came quickly to claim it. Lartice was also starting to get some joy down the left hand side but when the chance to shoot came, the Bay defence were out quickly to stamp out the danger.

The U16s had several more chances before the half was out with a Mantle free kick being met by Hill and then Lartice shooting from distance but each time the Herne Bay keeper collected the ball. Herne Bay were trying their luck on the break when they had the chance and Groom had to be alert to clear the ball from the area after a rare corner kick for the visitors and then, from a cross a couple of minutes later, Herne Bay headed over.

Half time 0-0

Winger Sonnie Hemmings came on for Richards at the start of the second half with defenders Ioannis Gayle and Harrison Wade coming on to the pitch a few minutes later as the U16s coaches freshened up the side. And the changes and half time talk certainly got the team going with the second period of the game being much more positive and the chances and shots coming thick and fast from the home side.

Lartice had a couple of chances early in the second period with one effort blocked and another just going wide. He also played in Salisbury with a lovely pass but the striker was given offside before he got the chance to shoot. The U16s also had opportunities from free kicks with Lartice putting some good balls into the box but not quite finding the connecting Whitstable head to tuck it away.

With all the pressure on the Herne Bay goal it meant that when the visitors did manage to get the ball away they broke fast. This led to a couple of bookings for the Oyster Boys as Lartice and Hill were punished for tactical fouls as they raced back to stop the on-rushing Herne Bay attackers. Gayle also showed he was willing to battle for the ball in the right back position although after a bad foul on him went unpunished, he could have been cautioned himself as he put a bit too much into one of his tackles.

15 minutes into the second half Derby was replaced by Alex Brownett and left back Will Knoupe replaced Groom. Brownett showed he still had a keen eye for goal after last week’s cup win but his early attempt was blocked and it deflected out for a corner. At the back Bunn and Wade had to remain focused to deal with the visitors when they advanced into the U16s half.

As the second half wore on, it was the home side creating all the chances and pressure on the Herne Bay back line was building. Hemmings again proved a menace weaving his way across the pitch and delivering excellent free kicks and corners. Both Lartice and Salisbury then thought they had won it but their shots went wide as they broke into the box. Defender Bunn raced up and connected with a Lartice corner but the keeper collected it calmly.

And following another Whitstable corner it looked like the break through had finally come as the ball ended up at the feet of captain Rumball who connected excellently but the keeper was well positioned and managed to parry it away before his defenders cleared. Left back Knoupe was pivotal as the home team kranked up the pressure and he spent most of his time in the attacking half with his trade mark throws and balls towards the forward players.

Mantle came back on to the pitch for the final 10 minutes replacing the tireless Salisbury as the U16s tried to find a winner. But it was Lartice who went closest when his shot was deflected out for another in a series of corners. Herne Bay were working hard for their point and despite the mounting pressure, they somehow found a way to clear their lines each time.

And it was Herne Bay, who had picked up a good win over Sheppey the previous week, who were the happier team when the referee brought the game to an end.

Next up for Whitstable’s U16s is a cup game against Chatham in two weeks’ time at The Belmont.

Full time 0-0

Team:
Allom
Mantle
Bunn
Groom
Cornhill
Derby
Hill
Rumball (c)
Richards
Lartice
Salisbury

Subs:
Brownett
Knoupe
Gayle
Hemmings
Wade

Match details

Match date

Sun 16 Oct 2022

Kickoff

14:30

Meet time

13:30

Instructions

Red home kit please.
Team overview
Further reading