With both sides suffering from a lack of first team players, this game was unlikely to become a spectacle. Neither was it much of a pre-season 'friendly' as both sides put in their fair share of crunching tackles. 

Bay looked the sharper of the two sides for most of the first half: first to the ball and more intelligent in their build-up play. Former Whitstable player Dan Lawrence was the stand-out performer with the Turner twins showing willing and guile. Former Bay and ex-Whitstable, Steven Lloyd, donning the red jersey for the second time in his career gave away a soft penalty on 6 minutes which was easily converted by the Herne Bay player. 

Steven Lloyd challenges 

In the absence of Jack Tanner, Cornhill deputised at right midfield 

Wisker looked the most threatening for Whitstable and forced a good stop from the Herne Bay keeper on the quarter hour mark and this was soon followed by a penalty shout as Vahid was brought down in the box. It was unclear why the referee - who had a pretty decent game - denied it.

Wisker

Dan Lawrence shot low but wide on 37 minutes and that was pretty much that for the first half. Whitstable had little to be proud of as they returned to the changing room.

Batten is second-best to the ball 

The Oystermen came out for the second half with more purpose about them. Dan Tanner and Jake Gess in particular stood out.

Dan Tanner drives forward from the left back position 

Within minutes, Batten fired a low cross across the area, but Vahid failed to connect. Ten minutes later, however, Vahid did find the net with his head, but he was adjudged fairly to have been offside.

Vahid heads home but is offside

On the hour mark, Jake Gess finally levelled the scores as he shot through a crowd of players from distance and kissed the badge in celebration. It was a deserved goal on his performance in the middle of the park.

Jake Gess scores

and is slowly becoming a Whitstable legend! 

With a minute of normal time to go, Herne Bay won a free kick just outside the area. The kick was well-taken, swerving around the wall, but McVicker - on for Fewell - saved it well low to his left.

McVicker saves a well-taken free-kick 

Elmes is second best to the ball

Dan Tanner keeps the ball in play 

But soon thereafter, McVicker spilled the ball, injuring himself in the process. The referee allowed the game to proceed and Lloyd made two goal-line clearances in quick succession.

The game went to penalties: McVicker saved the first, GS scored a very nice one, but ultimately, the Bay triumphed to retain the Bruce Smith shield for the second season in succession. On balance, they deserved it even if it hurts to say so! 

Whitstable score

But Herne Bay celebrate!

And retain the Shield...

Until next year! 

Whitstable started much better than they finished. This may have been a function of the fact that two different teams played the two halves. I wasn’t convinced that the first half team represents the first eleven, though, and I understand that Munday will make his decision on his 16 sooner rather than later. I can think I can name 14 of the 16 which means two slots remain up for grabs…

The visit of Thamesmead saw the return of AC, Marcos Perona and James Campbell. It was perhaps inevitable that Thamesmead would score courtesy of ex-Whitstable players: so AC netted from a Perona assist twenty minutes from the end. It was a fairly decent game although for long periods, especially in the second half, the ball spent too much time in the air. Thee was also a tendency in the second half for the team to lose shape as players seemed to swap positions at regular intervals.

         

Whitstable had most of the first five minutes, practically camping in the Thamesmead final third. But Thamesmead soon exploited their right wing, perhaps detecting that GS didn’t have the best of games at left back. As GS pushed forward (and far too frequently and uncharacteristically gave possession away) he left acres of space behind him – time and again, Thamesmead just lofted it over for their runners. Fortunately, most of their ensuing shots went over. Smith, at right back, had a bad day at the office as well, so Whitstable were always going to be vulnerable to wing-play.

Ten minutes later, AC flicked the ball onto their No.9 who was clean through and only denied by a quick-thinking Fewell rushing off his line.

Whitstable’s best move came shortly before the end of the first half as Vahid back-heeled to Gooding who failed to capitalise from just outside the area.

Parker blasted over four minutes before the end of the half, and three minutes later, he missed a 50/50 but Fewell again came to the rescue.

There were wholesale changes at half time and Whitstable’s play became quite disjointed. Marco played up front with Wisker. Wisker had a pretty decent run-out, but Marco didn’t really get enough service to show what he is capable of.

Andy Constable should have scored within three minutes of the re-start after the stand-in keeper (whose name I did not catch) inexplicably dropped a ball, but the keeper redeemed himself by blocking AC’s tame effort against a seemingly open goal.

There then followed ten minutes of scrappy football and Thamesmead continued to threaten down their right. Thamesmead scored a well-taken goal some twenty minutes from the end as Perona’s weighted pass found an unmarked AC who blasted it past a stationary keeper. On the second half performance, it was a deserved goal as Whitstable only made it into the Thamesmead final third about twice in 45 minutes. On one of those occasions, Marco hurdled the keeper and from an acute angle should have scored – but he took a bit too long, enough time for two Thamesmead defenders to block the incoming ball. On the second occasion, Gess started the move from well inside the Whitstable half, passing to Wisker who passed to Nick Bagley. His shot was blocked and the rebound fell to Gess who shot wildly wide.