U16s leave it late to level at home to Deal

The U16s delivered another outstanding performance - this time in front of first team manager Marcel Nimani - but could only walk away at the end of the match with a draw rather than the victory they deserved. And having gone a goal ahead inside ten minutes, league leaders Deal offered little else for the remainder of an entertaining encounter with the Oyster Boys who had to rely on an equaliser in the final seven minutes to rescue a point.

It was a very different game to the reverse fixture back in December where Deal had run out comfortable 4-1 winners and today’s match started in explosive fashion as Whitstable set out their stall to get revenge. Midfielder Callum Groom and winger Sonnie Hemmings both had shots in the opening two minutes before corners from defenders Leo Cornhill and Will Knoupe led to additional opportunities.

In the fifth minute Groom nearly broke the deadlock after breaking down the right hand side and putting in a cross that moved towards the goal requiring the Deal stopper to tip it onto the crossbar and away.

But despite their forward thinking play, the U16s were undone in the eighth minute of the match as the team switched off momentarily and the ball ended up at the feet of Kaeden Jefferys - last season’s golden boot winner - who had drifted into the box unattended and finished clinically leaving goalkeeper Stan Allom no chance.

Whitstable responded well to going a goal behind, however, and two minutes later, after great work from Hemmings and striker Jake Salisbury, Groom would have equalised but for an exceptional save from the Deal keeper.

Midfielders Alfie Hill and Archie Rumball, the team’s captain, were having a great half winning back possession, making challenges and starting to get the team passing. But Deal demonstrated why they were top of the league with a strength and resilience - particularly at the back - as they snuffed out further Whitstable advances.

Whitstable defenders Ollie Bunn, Wade, Will Knoupe and Cornhill had to be on the alert at all times as Deal threatened with long balls through to their speedy front man Jefferys.

U16s winger Jamie Lartice’s influence on the game was starting to grow, illustrating his great movement and skill, as he tried to thread through passes to Salisbury and Hemmings. But Lartice also had to do his fair share of tracking back and one of his excellent blocks led to a Deal corner.

As the game passed the 20 minute mark, the Whitstable managers made some changes.

Groom was replaced by fellow central midfielder Will Derby and Lartice was replaced on the wing by Dylan Richards.

Whitstable began to crank up the pressure on Deal as they searched for an equaliser with Derby combining well with Hemmings. In one chance, Hemmings went on one of several mazy runs and, after beating two players, he appeared to be felled in the penalty area by a Deal defender. The referee waved it away however and Hemmings was left frustrated by what he thought was a clear penalty.

The U16s weren’t deterred though and both Cornhill and Richards delivered excellent crosses and Hemmings had several shots at goal. In the final few minutes of the first half, Richards created a good chance for Salisbury who was thwarted by another excellent save from the Deal keeper. He then had a chance himself but put his shot just shy of the post.

Deal had been quiet since their goal but nearly squeezed in a second - again, against the run of play - but the shot from distance fizzed wide of Allom’s upright.

Whitstable had dominated the half but as the whistle blew, they were a goal down.

Half time 0-1

The U16s began the second half in determined fashion and ended up dominating it completely with Deal only escaping their half of the pitch on rare occasions and offering no real goal threat.

And although keeper Allom wasn’t called upon to make a save, he was excellent both positionally and with his distribution playing almost like a sweeper behind the defence maintaining possession and momentum throughout the half.

In the first 20 minutes of the second half, Whitstable created numerous chances to get their leveller. Hemmings had a shot after a Will Knoupe corner had been collected by Salisbury before Hill had a chance following a Hemmings run. Hemmings continued to cause havoc with the Deal backline as he set off on one of many runs.

Cornhill continued to deliver quality corners and crosses but the Deal defence somehow managed to scramble the ball clear each time.

As the clock ticked into the final 20 minutes of the match, fresh legs were needed and soon Alfie Mantle came on to provide some added steel, Alex Brownett arrived providing strength and speed and Ioannis Gayle came on after defender Bunn was fouled. Gayle continued Cornhill’s good work on the flank by putting the Deal midfielders on the back foot.

Bunn had another impressive performance at the back alongside Wade but Mantle and Gayle slotted in effortlessly after he was replaced and kept the pressure on the Deal wingers. Captain Rumball had an excellent performance in midfield alongside Derby as the two players showed how to keep possession and move the ball quickly, commanding the midfield space and bringing the attacking players into the game.

As the pressure mounted on Deal it seemed only a matter of time before Whitstable drew level but the U16s final third pass was evading them and despite several free kicks, shots from Richards and other opportunities, Whitstable were struggling to make the Deal keeper work.

Their attitude and determination finally paid off though when, after an excellent Cornhill corner, the ball bounced around the box and ended up at the unlikely feet of defender Wade who stabbed it home to draw the game level.

In the final seven minutes of the game, Whitstable could see that Deal were there for the taking and with both Groom and Lartice re-entering the fray, the chances for the U16s to win the game increased.

Hemmings and Salisbury had good chances to secure the win and almost at the death, following excellent passing and movement from Brownett, Lartice and Salisbury, the final shot from Hemmings went agonisingly wide of the post.

But the win wasn’t to be as the referee blew the final whistle on an entertaining game and another outstanding performance from the U16s.

Full time 1-1

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

Subs:
Brownett
Derby
Mantle
Gayle
Richards