⚽️ WHITSTABLE TOWN WHITES U13 ⚽️

? Division 1 – Matchday 1
Whitstable Town Whites 3–3 Hythe

WELCOME TO DIVISION 1!
And so it begins...
After an incredible season last year, winning Division 4 and earning promotion THREE divisions to Division 1, we finally got to see what the new season would bring.

And what a first game to start with...
Hythe – last season's Division 3 champions.

We had beaten them 4–3 in a pre-season game last season, but we knew this would be a different level and our preparation had been focused on a few key things.
- Moving to receive.
- Offering options.
- Giving the player on the ball more choices.

Because at this level there will be less time and space, and more physicality.
So... let's see how we got on!

THE STARTING XI
Benji in goal.
A back three of Jack W, Jude and Ellis, with Jack H at CDM and Joshua at CM.
Jack U and Will Shooter on the wings, with Gabe up front.
George, Joel and Jack B started on the bench.

FIRST HALF
Both teams started brightly and within 90 seconds Benji was called into action, making a good save.

Two minutes later Joshua went over the bar with an opportunity.

Then, on four minutes...

GOAL! 1–0 WHITSTABLE! ⚽️
Gabe and Jack U combined down the right, with Jack U getting his shot away. The initial effort was blocked, but Jack U reacted quickest to the rebound and fired home.
Great start.

Hythe responded with a bit of pressure and Benji was called upon again from a corner.

Gabe then played a great through ball into Jack U, but the Hythe keeper made the save.

At 15 minutes we made three changes:
- George for Will Shooter
- Joel for Jack U
- Jack B for Jude

Hythe were having a good spell and putting us under pressure, particularly from corners.

Jack H was doing a great job in front of the back three, particularly when our defenders were progressing with the ball. He was recognising when to sit in and give us that extra bit of security.

On the right, there was some really nice interplay between Joel, Joshua and Gabe, with some sharp combinations.
Gabe was getting himself into some good positions and having a few opportunities. He probably could have got the shot away a little quicker on a couple of occasions, but there was some really good football being played.

Jack U looked sharp, Joshua was passing the ball really well.
Gabe was a handful.

Half time: Whitstable 1–0 Hythe

SECOND HALF

For the second half, Gabe stayed up front, with Joshua partnered by Joel.
George moved to the left and Jack U came back on the right.
The back three were now Will Shooter, Jude and Jack B.
Ellis, Jack H and Jack W went to the bench.

Will Shooter almost got us off to a perfect start, bringing the ball down on his chest before volleying just wide.

Then...
2–0! ⚽️

Jack U recovered the ball and played an inch-perfect pass into Gabe.

Gabe showed great composure, rolling the ball under his foot and rounding the keeper.
2–0 Whitstable!

Hythe came back at us and managed to get a goal after a breakaway where we left a long ball unchallenged led to 3 attackers up against Benji, and not a defender in sight.
2–1.

Benji then produced a brilliant save into the top corner to keep us ahead.

We continued to play some really good football with Josh, Joel, Jack U, George and Gabe combining well.

Then....Joel had a shot saved and Jack U reacted first to the rebound, controlling it and volleying home.
3–1! ⚽️

A brace for Jack U to go with his assist.

And we were looking in a really good position.

We then brought Ellis on at right back, Jack H at CDM and Jack W at left back, with Joel, Will Shooter and Jack B coming off.

Then Hythe's physical approach took it's toll.
Jack U was getting some pretty heavy treatment. He was pulled by the neck, sandwiched between three players and kicked a few times, before another challenge caught his ankle.

He had to come off.

... back to the football.

Jude was making some excellent interceptions as Hythe continued to push.

Benji made another fantastic save at full stretch and then another block shortly afterwards.

Hythe's striker then put one over.

Josh had a volley which went over, before Benji made another excellent one-on-one save.

But Hythe kept coming.

A great free kick from range found the net this time.
3–2.
We were wobbling.... and Then came the equaliser.

The ball bobbled around the area and after several attempts to clear it weren't successful, Hythe eventually got the ball in.
3–3. A scrappy goal to concede.

Having been 3–1 up, we had let a two-goal lead disappear.l and we could have folded but we kept battling.

Jack U came back on for Will Shooter and
Jack B replaced Jude.

We had a corner but couldn't quite get the connection and we started to get back on top.

George went just wide.

Jack U then found Gabe, whose shot went just over.

Jack U then played George through and George found the net...
Flag up.
Offside.

Joel came on for Jack H, with Joshua moving to right back for the final five minutes.

We had the better of the exchanges late on.

The keeper just managed to catch a through ball inches before Gabe could get there.

There was also a possible penalty when Gabe went down in the area, but nothing was given.

And right at the death, the Hythe keeper made another save
.
FULL TIME: WHITSTABLE 3–3 HYTHE

THE VERDICT
So...
Having twice been two goals ahead, you could certainly look at it as two points dropped...

But equally, given this was our first game in Division 1 against last season's Division 3 champions, it was a really positive start.
And I am super proud of the team.

Benji was fantastic today — probably his best game for us. Some excellent saves, good distribution and really good positioning.
Jude was excellent.
Jack H was brilliant with his positional play.
Joshua gave us control and quality on the ball and then did a great job moving to right back late on.
Jack U was a menace all afternoon — two goals and an assist, as well as doing plenty of defensive work.
And Gabe showed some great physicality and composure up front, as well as scoring and assisting.

There is obviously plenty we can improve on. We gave away a two-goal lead and there were moments where we could have made better decisions.

But that's exactly what this season is about.
Learning. Improving. Competing.

And after stepping up three divisions, I think the boys showed today that they are more than capable of doing exactly that.

So, as I say...
Whether it's 2 points dropped or a point gained....
I am super proud of the team.
Well done boys. ?⚽️
Next week.... we go again! ?