Kentish Gazette Canterbury & District
Perfect start ends with away defeat
Whitstable
Whitstable’s perfect start to the Southern Counties East League Premier Division season came to a halt with a 2-1 defeat at Deal on Tuesday night.
Deal’s Sam Wilson broke the deadlock just five minutes in, slotting low into the corner past Dan Eason after being played through the Whitstable defence by Steve Butcher.
It was 2- 0 10 minutes later when Wilson got his second – his eighth in as many games after joining the club from local football – when he pounced to turn in the loose ball after Eason could only parry a free-kick from Andy Miller.
Further chances were wasted before the break but Craig Cloke’s first goal for Town halved the deficit two minutes into the second half, heading home a deep corner from Harry Brown at the far post.
The visitors piled forward but were unable to find an equaliser with Deal keeper James Tonkin denying Shaun Welford and Ricky Freeman while Welford also hit the bar before the close.
It was the third time in four games that Deal had beaten the side sitting top of the table.
Whitstable had gone top on Saturday night after their 2-1 success at Bearsted made it four straight wins to start the season.
Welford put the visitors in front from the penalty spot after Freeman was brought down in the box after only three minutes.
Any thoughts of a comfortable win were ended though when Reece Collins equalised for the home side with a good finish six minutes later.
Whitstable found it hard to break through again, despite pressing forward and having the majority of the chances.
They saw two goals ruled out and goalkeeper Scott Andrews was called upon to make a few saves. It was eventually another Welford penalty that restored the lead 12 minutes from time after his shot had struck the hand of Rob Lyall.
Eason had been a virtual spectator until Bearsted had a couple of late corners but Whitstable held on to claim the points.