Fewell's heroics break West Wickham's hearts - EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW

Bearsted embarrassed Kent League strugglers Sevenoaks Town in the other semi-final, winning 5-1 at Honey Lane and will meet Marc Seager’s side at Dartford’s Princes Park Stadium on Sunday, 15^th April.

But West Wickham boss Cotton, whose side had already dumped Kent League sides Herne Bay and Hythe Town out of the competition, felt his side did enough to progress through to the showpiece final at Dartford’s stunning £6.5m Stadium.

“The players played as well as the pitch allowed them to and we adjusted our game pretty well to the difficult conditions,” Cotton said EXCLUSIVELY to www.kentishfootball.co.uk today.

“The side is very young but they have a fair bit of experience and I expected them to cope with the situation as they play in a top quality league and they know how the club expect them to behave.

“Yes, I am very proud of them but the performance was what I anticipated so I was not surprised.

“They only played as well as we allowed them to but I know that they did not underestimate us.

“They saw our previous results against Kent League sides and, although we won the previous two games convincingly, we could have won them by even bigger scores.”

Cotton was extremely grateful for the efforts made by the ground staff to get them game played - and was delighted that his side adapted to the conditions.

He said: “Whitstable made strenuous efforts to make the pitch playable and they only just succeeded.

“It was very boggy and slippery and strength as well as footballing ability was vital.”

West Wickham could have taken an early lead when Adam Wadey’s header from Chris Rose’s corner looked a certain goal but Fewell tipped it over the bar.

Cotton said: “This was a top quality save while at the other end their centre forward made a great chance for himself and his powerful shot was destined for the top corner but Mark Owlett flew across to turn it around the post.

“We lost our powerhouse Wadey with a knee injury before half time which was a great pity because these kind of conditions suit his style of play.

“Both defences played well with Freeman, Currie and Barham outstanding for West Wickham and Jackson Ohakam marshalling the Whitstable defence very well.

“We had three more good chances to win the game but their keeper denied us. Our strength and mobility in midfield via Jon Waite, James Williams and Jay Askew kept the home side at full stretch but the game was very closely contested in all areas of the pitch.

“We made three good chances but Fewell denied Marcus Elliott and them made a superb save two minutes from the end of extra time when he tipped Ollie Waite's header over the bar.

“Prior to this Ashley Everett crashed an angled drive against their left hand post and the ball flew to safety.”

With no side able to break the deadlock, West Wickham had to endure their first ever penalty shoot-out.

Whitstable’s leading scorer Stuart King stepped up to take the first penalty, only to see Owlett save his effort and with West Wickham netting their first spot kick through Neil Currie an upset was on the cards.

But man-of-the-match Fewell had other ideas and saved Chris Rose’s effort.

Jimmy Strouts, Andy Constable, Marcos Perona and Sam Prett were all successful for Whitstable, whilst Adam Freeman, Jon Waite and Jamie Askew managed to beat Fewell so with the score at 4-4 the shoot-out went into sudden death.

Tom Parker (Whitstable) and Ashley Everett (West Wickham) kept their cool as did Alex Hossick but when Ollie Waite hit the crossbar that signalled the end of West Wickham’s dreams.

“Funnily enough, I was strangely calm during the penalty shoot out,” admitted Cotton. “We have never been involved in a shoot out before and it was down to nerve and luck.

“I certainly wouldn't have wanted to take a penalty under the circumstances as there was every chance that you could lose your footing at the vital moment.

“Fortunately this didn't happen and when Mark Owlett saved their first shot from their expert penalty taker, I felt that we might win but their keeper made a great save to deny Chris Rose and in sudden death our seventh kick hit the bar and rebounded to safety.

“We went to Whitstable confident that we would play well and I honestly expected to win despite being seen as minnows.

“We know the strengths of our team and we are a dangerous outfit but I expected Whitstable to be clear favourites because their record speaks for itself.

“All of the team were very confident so we were disappointed but not downhearted - we had a good time in the bar with the Whitstable boys and their supporters and we feel that we have made some new football friends.”

Cotton was, however, full of praise for former Chatham Town and Sittingbourne goalkeeper Fewell.

He said: “Kevin had a tremendous game his handling, in difficult conditions, was excellent and his anticipation was uncanny.

“For sure he was the busier keeper but Mark Owlett in our goal also played well as he maintained a high level of concentration - he had few shots to save because our defence played so well, but he was always aware of the possibilities of a snap shot as Stuart King is a lively attacker.”

West Wickham are not the only club to heap praise on how professionally run Whitstable Town are as a football club.

Cotton said “We were all very impressed by the Whitstable club. I spoke to several of their management team in the week about the game and I knew that they were a professionally run club.

“We received a warm welcome from their Chairman, Tony Rouse and his staff as well as Marc Seager and Simon Halsey who manage the team.

“You could see that they had made strenuous efforts to get the game played and a good crowd turned up to see the game.

“It's rare that supporters make the headlines, unless, of course, it is for bad behaviour, but West Wickham want to thank both sets of fans for their vociferous and humorous support throughout the game.

“I hope that you realise how much you added to the occasion. The banter and singing in the bar afterwards were worth the entrance fee alone.”

West Wickham return to the backwaters of the Southern Amateur League next Saturday with another semi-final, this time against London Colney based outfit Nottsborough in the Amateur Football Association Cup.

Speaking about their away trip, Cotton said: “Our season is only half way through and we have to concentrate on a very difficult semi-final next week.

“They are an excellent team and we are beset by serious injury problems, but we have already qualified for the Kent/Surrey Cup Final so at least we have achieved something this season.

“The league championship is still wide open as we still have to play the top teams but our fixtures are piling up and we will soon be playing midweek games, which is not ideal.”