Kentish Gazette Canterbury & District
Town let two-goal lead slip in semi
Whitstable Town conceded twice in three minutes to draw 2-2 in their Macron Southern Counties East League Challenge Cup, semi-final, first leg tie at Sheppey United on Tuesday.
They scored just before and after half-time to lead 2-0, only for things to take a dramatic turn.
The return leg at Belmont is scheduled to take place on Tuesday, March 28.
The winners meet either Sevenoaks Town or Ashford United.
Connor Hood put the Oystermen in front three minutes before half-time, with Tom Bryant adding the second eight minutes after the restart.
An own-goal gave the Islanders a hold in the game before striker Richard Atkins fired the home side level almost immediately.
Striker Frankie Sawyer made his debut for Town after signing from Ryman League Division 1 South promotion hopefuls Hythe.
Kane Rowland had scored twice in Town’s 3-1 league win over struggling Beckenham at Belmont on Saturday.
He and Charlie Smith netted twice in a minute early on, before the pair combined for Town’s third eight minutes after half-time.
Beckenham pulled one back through Lekan Bakare 18 minutes from time but were reduced to 10 men soon after when Hassan Oshilaja was sent-off after a second yellow card.
Dave Pilcher completed Canterbury City’s third hat-trick in four games – including two penalties – as they made it six wins in a row, beating Tunbridge Wells 5-0 at Homelands on Saturday.
City have now scored 21 goals and conceded only two in an impressive run of form, with Wells’ dismal day completed by striker Ryan Crandley dislocating his knee.
Pilcher’s first-time finish put City ahead after 11 minutes before keeper Daren Hawkes pulled off a fine save, on his way to a third successive clean-sheet, following his return to the side after injury.
Pilcher made it 2-0 from the spot nine minutes later, after Gary Mickelborough was fouled in the box.
Max Carbune’s handball then gifted City their second penalty, Pilcher again relying on power over placement to complete his treble in only 17 minutes.
Matt Martin curled home City’s fourth, following a pass from the impressive Alfie Nunn, before Pilcher made the fifth scored six minutes from time by skipper Laurence Harvey with a low header into the roof of the net.