Whitstable 2
Oliver 84 (pen); Grierson 86
Jersey Bulls 1
Lekimamati 13HT: 0-1Attendance: 367Player of the match: Harry Curtis
EMOTION is the cornerstone on which the phenomenon of football holds in thrall millions of people around the globe. There’s nothing else quite like it.
And in a wet and windy little corner of England on Saturday, 367 souls in the small town of Whitstable – famous for oysters, after which the football club derives its nickname – experienced the full range of feelings that only cup football brings.
The Bulls were chasing a spot in the last-32 of a competition they’ve increasingly warmed to over the years, facing off against an opponent lying in mid-table in the Southern Counties East League. As they say, though, form is no barometer in these knock-out scenarios.
And so it proved to be here, two late sucker-punches ultimately eliminating Elliot Powell’s side from the FA Vase, ending their fine unbeaten run to the campaign. But the manager, as he so often is, was in no mood to dwell on disappointment.
“Look, clearly there is a whole load of frustration, annoyance and anger in that changing room right now, and I get it.
“There are probably five different instances I can point to in terms of decisions from the officials which were dubious, in my opinion, but we weren’t good enough today,” he said.
“We never got into any sort of rhythm and, if truth be told, we looked tired.
“I can’t blame the boys, though. It’s an early kick-off, the longest we’ve ever travelled as a group and then when you’ve got the best part of 90 minutes on a coach before a lunchtime game, it doesn’t help.
“Credit to Whitstable, they are a good team who made it challenging. They wanted to break things up, make it a fight and they did that.
“Was it a penalty for their first goal? No, not for me, but then their second, which is a great finish, we could do better.”
The goal Powell refers to was scored by home substitute Nico Grierson, the youngster – on debut – lashing home a wonderful strike four minutes from time to settle the contest.
Just two minutes prior, Josh Oliver had drawn his side level from the penalty spot after Sam Sutcliffe was adjudged to have handled an effort which – from the stand – looked to have struck him in the chest, a view echoed by Powell.
Francis Lekimamati had put the Bulls into an early lead with a looped effort, and it was the high point of an otherwise low-key 45 minutes from the Bulls.
They were better after the break, but so were the outfit from Kent – Pierce Roche in the Bulls goal twice producing excellent stops to keep his men in the fight.
To compound their frustration, Bulls lost Sutcliffe to a red card late in the contest – Powell, to his credit, acknowledging that the referee had got the decision correct – as well as Luke Campbell and Harry Curtis to the sin bin, ultimately extinguishing any hope of extending the drama to a penalty shoot-out.
For Powell, it’s now all about promotion – and the next step in that assignment can’t come soon enough.
“It’s done and dusted now, and we’ve enjoyed this run. It’s something different, it brings the group together and lets us have a different experience, which only adds to our learning as players and coaches,” he said.
“What has always been objective number one, though, is the league.
“We’re in a great position, which we’ve worked incredibly hard to obtain, and we can throw everything into it now. I’m intrigued to see how this group handles defeat, given it is our first experience of it, but we’re at home on Saturday and I feel they’ll be bang up for it.
“And then to finish the calendar year against Fleet, a side who are flying, will be a top, top occasion. It’s only onwards for us.”
Whitstable Town: Daniel Colmer, Jerald Aboagye, Jayden Boulton, Mikey Dalton (wore 16), Jamie Coyle, Will Thomas, Josh Oliver, Adam Ramadan, Harvey Smith (c), Ashdon Ray (wore 20), Fin Cotton (wore 14). Substitutes: Ronald Sithole (for Ramadan 65), Tagan Kray (not used), Josh Robson (not used), Kai Jeffrey (not used), Nico Grierson (for Ray 79)
Jersey Bulls: Pierce Roche, Harry Curtis, James Carr, James Queree (c), Sammy Sutcliffe, Luke Watson (wore 16), Francis Lekimamati, Joe Kilshaw, Rai Dos Santos, Toby Ritzema, Karl Hinds. Substitutes: Seaney McColgan (for Lekimamati 88), Luke Campbell (for Joe Kilshaw 88), Will Yates (for Dos Santos 63), Adam Lester (not used)
