LORDSWOOD 3 WHITSTABLE TOWN 1
SCEFL Premier Division
Saturday February 11 2023 15.00

The recent run of promising results ended abruptly for Whitstable with a disappointing performance at Lordswood. The home team were more effective on a tight pitch and variable surface with former Oystermen Luke Medley and Harry Goodger both outstanding. Whitstable enjoyed a few periods of possession, but rarely troubled Tom Crump in the Lordswood goal. Medley opened the scoring late in the first half, brushing aside several challenges before finding the net. Whitstable under 18 player Archie Risdon volleyed in the second after Goodger had headed down a corner just before the hour mark. Medley scored his second from the spot after the referee spotted an offence in the penalty area. Whitstable used all five substitutes and Gus Barnes scored a late consolation before Dan Eason prevented Medley from completing his hat trick in stoppage time.

Whitstable travelled to Lordswood having won four and drawn two of their previous six league games and kept the same team that had won 6-1 at Kennington in the most recent. Their hosts however had collected just one point from their last six games, although with a recently changed management team who were familiar faces, as Matt Barman and Dan Tanner had been running Whitstable Reserves earlier in the season. Experienced players Luke Medley and Harry Goodger had both previously enjoyed spells at the Belmont and Ryan Neal and Archie Risdon had just transferred from Whitstable Reserves. There was plenty of travelling support hoping to see Whitstable continue their unbeaten run, contributing a large proportion of the 158 in attendance, which was Lordswood’s highest gate of the season.

Confidence was quite high following the last game, but this was always likely to be a different proposition on a smaller, worn grass pitch against a much changed Lordswood team. Whitstable began steadily enough, enjoying the majority of possession, although mainly in their own half. Lordswood conceded a number of early free kicks and picked up two yellow cards, but there was little goal threat. Jefferson Aibangbee looked the most likely and did find the net on 12 minutes, but was just offside when receiving the ball from Jordan Wells. A long range effort by Billy Marsh bounced awkwardly before being pushed away for a corner by Eason. Whitstable were guilty of giving the ball away too often and Gillingham loanee Julian Kuhr almost benefitted, but shot just over the bar. Aibangbee and Liam Gillies combined to create a great opportunity in the 20th minute, but Aibangbee did all the hard work only to blast his shot over the top. Lordswood tested Eason on several occasions, but he comfortably saved a Medley header and a Kuhr shot before turning away a more demanding Josh Reid attempt from the edge of the box. Aibangbee just failed to hit the target after a one-two with Rodney Eruotor before Lordswood scored in the 39th minute. Ethan Stewart nodded the ball forward to Medley in the centre circle and he set off towards goal past several weak challenges and shot across Eason into the bottom left corner. Gillies had a firm strike well blocked by Goodger, playing in the home defence, and Reid scooped over at the other end as the score remained 1-0 at the break.

Whitstable might have equalised soon after the restart when Gillies sent Dean Grant through, but his low shot went just wide of the far post. After a couple of Whitstable corners had been cleared, Victor Aiyelabola was the first substitute to be introduced. A low Reid cross to the near post was scrambled away for a Lordswood corner, which led to the second goal in the 58th minute. Marsh delivered the cross to the back post where Whitstable failed to deal with the aerial threat of Goodger who headed the ball across for Risdon to fire in from close range. Aiyelabola tried a shot that was deflected into the hands of Crump, then as Whitstable left themselves short at the back, Stewart was left with far too much space on the left, but after cutting in, shot straight at Eason. Another quick break from a Whitstable corner in the 70th minute saw Reid shoot wide. The game was over when Lordswood were awarded a debateable penalty in the 78th minute for a Jake Mackenzie challenge on the left edge of the area, which was converted by Medley, although Eason did get a hand to it. The Whitstable substitutes did try to inspire some kind of a fightback and Barnes shot just wide after running on to an Aiyelabola pass. After Medley had a shot deflected wide, Harry Gamble almost got on the end of a free kick, but Whitstable did eventually reduce the deficit in the 90th minute. Cameron Chamberlain rose to meet an Eruotor free kick and the ball dropped for Barnes whose shot bounced over Crump into the net. There was still time for Medley to force Eason into a good save to deny him a treble on the day, but Lordswood had done enough to deservedly claim a 3-1 win and maximum points.

Whitstable will try to bounce back when they entertain Sutton Athletic at the Belmont on Saturday, in their only home fixture of the month.

Lordswood
Tom Crump, Todd Brand, Lucas Mvongo, Ryan Neal, Harry Goodger, Julian Kuhr, Josh Reid (Kameiko Pope-Campbell 85), Archie Risdon, Luke Medley (c), Billy Marsh (Mason Morgan 72), Ethan Stewart (Olatomiwa Adegbulugbe 71).
Subs (unused): Callum Edwards, Elias London.
Goals: Luke Medley 39, (pen) 78, Archie Risdon 58.
Yellow cards: Ryan Neal 13, Billy Marsh 23, Lucas Mvongo 65.

Whitstable Town
Dan Eason, Jake Mackenzie, George Sheminant (Victor Aiyelabola 56), Jordan Wells (Cameron Chamberlain 81), Will Thomas, Tom Mills (c), Josh Oliver, Liam Gillies (Harry Gamble 60), Dean Grant (Gus Barnes 63), Rodney Eruotor, Jefferson Aibangbee (Sammi Takaloo 71).
Subs (unused): none
Goal: Gus Barnes 90
Yellow cards: George Sheminant 27, Josh Oliver 77, Harry Gamble 90+4.

Attendance: 158
Referee: Samuel Hall
Assistants: Steven Tunnicliffe & Paul Agyei-Tabi