Bearsted 0-1 Whitstable Town

BEARSTED 0-1 WHITSTABLE TOWN
Kent Senior Trophy Final
Sunday 15^th April 2007
Stephen McCartney reports from Princes Park

A stunning 67^th minute strike from Marlon Button ensured that treble chasing Whitstable Town won the Kent Senior Trophy for the first time in six years at a sun-kissed Princes Park Stadium today.

After being played in by Michael Lane, the 30-year-old left-winger burst past his marker before unleashing a left-footed thunderbolt on the angle from 18-yards that rocketed into the top far corner.

Despite the official attendance being announced as 596, there was at least 800 people watching this enthralling match at this stunning £6.5m Stadium.

And had Bearsted, fifth in the British Energy Kent County Premier Division table, taken their  chances, then it would have been the Honey Lane side that would have taken the trophy home.

After beating Crockenhill, currently at the foot of their table, the Bears knocked out Kent League sides Slade Green and Sevenoaks Town, and on this performance you could see why.

Bearsted’s central defender Graeme Andrews fully deserved his man-of-the-match award, as he left Stuart King, the Kent League’s leading goalscorer, a frustrated man.

And with managers Tony Burman (Dartford), Keith McMahon (Thamesmead Town) and former Gravesend & Northfleet boss Andy Ford at the game, many were keen to impress.

Kent League leaders Whitstable Town were issued an early warning when Bearsted should have opened the scoring after five minutes.

Tom Brown’s first corner of the game was met by a towering header from the unmarked Simon Broadway, but from six-yards he cleared the crossbar and the ball ended up amongst the best supporters in the Kent League - the vocal Oysterboys and girls.

Bearsted goalkeeper Scott Andrews was called into action five minutes later.

Tom Parker’s up field pass was knocked down by King with his back to goal and Andy Constable drove a left-footed shot from 24-yards into the goalkeeper’s grateful arms.

And Bearsted almost stunned their higher league opponents by creating their best chance of the first half, after 18 minutes.

Lee Radford latched onto a low through ball from Tom Brown and after bursting past Gary Sayer, he poked the ball towards goal with his left-foot but he was denied by the advancing Kevin Fewell, saving with his legs.

By this time, Whitstable were starting to get frustrated, and their vocal red-shirted fans behind Fewell's goal, were stunned to silence.

A drilled long-range effort from skipper Alex Hossick rolled harmlessly wide of the far post before Constable drove an angled right-footed free-kick from nineteen-yards straight into Andrews’ grateful arms.

Another excellent Bearsted chance went begging when Steve Smith almost scored against his former club.

The striker unleashed a right-footed shot from 25-yards that took a deflection before the former Chatham Town and Sittingbourne stopper turned the ball around the post.

Had Russell McLeish controlled another excellent through ball from play-maker Brown, Bearsted might have taken the lead, but Fewell was able to smother the ball at the striker’s feet.

And from their fourth corner of the game, with nine first half minutes remaining, they squandered another chance.

Andrews’ directed his towering header over the bar, following another corner from Brown.

Bearsted midfielder Danny Lye, whose played at a higher level for Tonbridge Angels, Ashford Town and is currently on a dual registration with Dover Athletic, skied a left-footed shot from 25-yards.

And Smith went close again in the 42^nd minute when his left-footed drive from 22-yards flashed agonisingly past the foot of the far post.

Whitstable wasted a good chance of their own on the stroke of half-time but King stabbed the ball wide from 12-yards after a lay-off from strike partner Constable on the right-hand side.

And another chance went begging after five minutes of the second half when Josh Maine came up from his defensive duties to weakly head past the post from six-yards following Tommy Martin’s corner.

Graeme Andrews got his body in the way to prevent Constable scoring with a right-footed shot from eight-yards after King cut inside.

But Hossick was desperately unlucky not to break the deadlock after 55 minutes when his right-footed shot from 20-yards smacked against the top of the near post.

Then at the other end, on the hour mark, Tommy Rogers’ drilled effort smashed into the advertising boards after screaming past the foot of the near post.

By this stage Bearsted’s lack of fitness was telling and McLeish should have done better with his shot after midfield enforcer Lye flicked on a free-kick from Ricky Stevens.

But Whitstable Town wrote their name on the Kent Senior Trophy with 23 minutes remaining courtesy of another cracker from former Herne Bay winger Button.

However, it was not going to be King’s day, when he was denied by fine defensive play on three occasions from Broadway, Graeme Andrews and Jon Hogg.

But thanks to Button’s wonder strike, Hossick and suspended captain Marcos Perona were the ones that lifted the Trophy and Whitstable can now start dreaming about winning the treble.

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