Kentish Gazette Canterbury & District
Double strike earns Town derby delight
SCEL round-up
Whitstable claimed the local bragging rights on Tuesday night with a 2-0 win at home to Canterbury City.
In a first half of few chances, Canterbury went closest to scoring when Gary Mickelborough failed to hit the target after Dan Eason had pushed a long shot into his path.
The home side took control with two quick goals just after the hour.
Stuart West broke the deadlock and Danny Williams made sure of the points as the Oystermen climbed to second in the Southern Counties East League, Premier Division.
Scott Porter’s side put five goals past Corinthian without reply in the Kent Senior Trophy on Saturday.
Williams scored a hat-trick, the first of his goals coming in the 14th minute when he ran onto a pass and finished well.
Williams doubled his tally eight minutes before half-time, spreading play to Louis Sprosen and firing the return pass beyond a couple of covering defenders and the goalkeeper.
Whitstable could have added to their lead before half-time but Williams did complete his treble two minutes into the second half.
Craig Cloke’s free-kick from halfway was headed down by West and there was Williams to finish from close range.
Williams then fed Shaun Welford, who in turn set up James Morrish for a long-range strike which the keeper spilt into the net.
Welford was also involved in Town’s fifth goal, winning the ball and laying the ball back for Ricky Freeman to score.
Canterbury came from a goal down on Saturday to knock out Division 1 side Punjab United in Gravesend.
The home side led 1- 0 at half-time thanks to a 30th-minute strike from Joe Loft.
Perry Cray had City level five minutes after the restart, hitting the back of the net from 25 yards.
Canterbury hit the bar and had an effort scrambled off the line but with the scores level at 90 minutes, the tie went into extra time.
Just before the end of the first extra period, City were awarded a penalty and Dave Pilcher stepped up to score from the spot.