WHITES HIT FIVE TO CLAIM FIRST DIVISION VICTORY IN RADFALL THRILLER!

WHITSTABLE TOWN WHITES 5–3 BAYPOINT

After weeks of battling for their first three points, the Whites finally got their reward on Saturday, producing five goals, some outstanding football and plenty of resilience to secure a memorable victory over Baypoint at Radfall.

And what a game it was.

Baypoint arrived in fourth place, with 12 points from seven games, having already beaten Herne Bay Harriers, Ramsgate Gold and Herne Bay this season. They had also beaten Hythe 3–2 last time out.

The results suggested a team capable of beating anyone — but equally one we could cause problems for.

We started bottom of the table, but I had a feeling this could be our day.

Training had focused on defensive stability, moving as a unit and competing properly. On Wednesday, I told the players that if they showed fight and effort, we could win this game.

Before kick-off, we also observed a minute's silence for Remembrance Weekend.

GABE AND JACK U PUT WHITES TWO UP

Benji started in goal (he never stops growing!), with Joshua at centre back, Jack W and Jack B at full back.

Louie and Gabe formed a physical midfield pairing, while Jack U, George and Will Stevens provided pace and attacking threat.

For the first time this season, I think we had our entire regular forward line available together — Will, Gabe, George and Jack U.

Ellis, Joel, Jude and Will Shooter started on the bench.

The Whites started brightly.

George had an early opportunity, while Benji immediately showed his growing confidence, calling for the ball and sweeping up behind his defence.

Baypoint then threatened from a series of corners, with one particularly dangerous delivery finding an attacker who was first to the ball. Benji made a smart save.

Another corner led to an awkward moment when a Whitstable header left Benji off balance, but he somehow produced an excellent reaction stop to keep the ball out.

The game was fairly even, but the Whites struck first.

After 11 minutes, George beat his marker down the left and drove into the box. From a tight angle, his shot was tipped onto the post before rebounding into the area.

Gabe found himself on the penalty spot.

Rather than simply blasting it, he showed superb composure, dummying the defender before firing home.

1–0 WHITSTABLE.

And the Whites weren't finished.

Two minutes later, Benji claimed the ball and launched an excellent long kick forward. Jack U controlled it brilliantly, accelerated away from the defence and finished confidently into the bottom corner.

2–0 WHITSTABLE.

A goalkeeper's distribution, an excellent first touch and a clinical finish.

Changes followed, with Jude replacing Jack W, Ellis coming on for Jack B, Will Shooter replacing George and Joel coming on for Louie.

Baypoint were stunned and began to get increasingly physical.

Will Shooter took a straight arm to the face while looking away from the ball, but fair play to the Baypoint coach, who immediately removed the offending player for a chat.

The Whites also had strong claims for a penalty when Jack U was brought down in the box and again when Gabe was crunched from behind.

The referee played advantage on the latter, with the ball falling to Will Stevens, whose shot was smothered at the near post.

The final ten minutes of the half became something of a battle.

Gabe was particularly impressive, competing fiercely, protecting the ball and helping launch our attacks.

Joshua was excellent at the back, showing exactly the composure and reading of the game we had wanted from him, while Ellis and Jude also did well to get in the way and frustrate Baypoint.

It was getting scrappy, but the Whites were holding firm.

HALF-TIME: WHITSTABLE TOWN WHITES 2–0 BAYPOINT.

WILL STEVENS STRIKES — GEORGE PRODUCES MAGIC

The half-time message was simple.

Keep playing our football.

Don't get dragged into the battle.

The second half started with Will Shooter at left back, Joshua continuing centrally and Jack B returning to right back.

Joel moved to the right wing, George remained on the left and Will Stevens led the line, with Ellis and Louie in midfield.

And it didn't take long for the Whites to extend their lead.

George was causing problems down the left and found Will Stevens with a lovely pass.

Will took it beautifully and finished superbly from the edge of the box.

3–0 WHITSTABLE.

A brilliant goal.

Unfortunately, the game then became increasingly stop-start as the referee appeared to change his interpretation of foul throws and minor contact.

Baypoint began to gain some control in midfield, particularly after Gabe came off.

And we paid for it.

A Baypoint player produced a tremendous strike from outside the box, finding the bottom corner.

Nothing Benji could do about that one.

3–1.

Almost immediately, a disputed free kick was awarded. The Whites felt it was a clean tackle, but Baypoint swung the ball into the box and headed home.

3–2.

Suddenly, we were looking nervous.

The momentum had shifted.

Joel didn't quite make it to 15 minutes before Jack U came on slightly earlier than planned. Gabe and Jude also returned, replacing Louie and Jack B, while Jack W remained off as a precaution with his calf.

And then came the moment that changed everything.

Will Stevens found George on the left.

George jinked inside.

And instead of trying to beat another defender, he unleashed an absolute beauty.

A curling strike straight into the top corner.

4–2 WHITSTABLE.

A contender for goal of the season.

The substitutes, managers and supporters went absolutely wild.

What a strike!

And what an important goal.

Baypoint had been building momentum, but George's brilliance restored our two-goal cushion.

The Whites were back in control.

Joshua continued to organise superbly at the back, with Ellis and Gabe protecting the defence and helping frustrate Baypoint's attacks.

Will Shooter was once again in the wars, unceremoniously dumped off the pitch.

At the other end, a very soft free kick was awarded to Whitstable, much to Baypoint's frustration, with one of their players booked for dissent.

Jack U and George continued to threaten from the wings.

And then came another moment of drama.

Gabe fed Jack U through on goal, leaving him one-on-one with the goalkeeper. The keeper did well to force him wide, and Jack hurdled him as the ball ran away.

Somehow, the referee pointed to the spot.

We don't get much luck, but that wasn't a penalty!

Nevertheless, Jack U dusted himself off and calmly slotted the ball into the bottom-right corner.

5–2 WHITSTABLE.

With nine minutes remaining, we could finally start to believe.

The first three points of the season were within touching distance.

Baypoint, though, weren't finished.

With five minutes remaining, another tremendous long-range strike reduced the deficit.

5–3.

Louie returned in central midfield, with Ellis moving across to the right, and we decided against further changes.

Joel and Jack W were injured, while Jack B was keen to return, but we wanted to keep things solid and see the game out.

And finally, the whistle blew.

FULL-TIME: WHITSTABLE TOWN WHITES 5–3 BAYPOINT.

There was still a little drama after the final whistle, when a Baypoint player threw the ball at Will Shooter, hitting him in the face.

The referee decided he'd seen enough and produced a red card.

Not quite the ending we had planned!

FINALLY — OUR FIRST DIVISION ONE WIN!

Eight goals.

A red card.

So much drama.

And, most importantly, our first three points of the season.

I told the players on Wednesday we could win this game.

I told them before kick-off we could win it.

And while we certainly scrapped and fought, we also produced some brilliant football and some outstanding goals.

The defensive organisation was better, the midfield competed hard and our attacking players showed the pace, quality and composure we know they possess.

Baypoint made life difficult, particularly when they pulled the score back to 3–2, but the response was excellent.

George's goal was a huge moment.

Jack U's penalty put the result beyond doubt.

And the players kept working right until the end.

⭐ PLAYER OF THE MATCH

This one cost me three medals!

BENJI — A superb reaction save at 0–0, excellent communication and outstanding distribution, including the assist for Jack U's goal.

JOSHUA — Excellent interceptions, reading of the game and organisation. He gave us composure at the back, helped us retain possession and consistently looked to play forward.

GABE — A brilliant opening goal, outstanding physicality and excellent work winning and progressing the ball. He also refused to get drawn into the rough treatment and kept his focus on the football.

All three could easily have taken it.

But today, the biggest prize belongs to the whole team.

Everybody played their part.

I'm incredibly proud of them.

We started the day bottom of the table.

We finished it with our first Division One victory.

Well done, boys. ❤️??⚽