Kentish Gazette Canterbury & District
Extra special thriller goes Whitstable’s way
SCEFL
Whitstable Town edged an 11-goal thriller on Saturday to reach the first round proper of the FA Vase.
They beat Lancing 6-5 after extra time at the Belmont, the second qualifying round tie having been level at 4- 4 after 90 minutes.
Whitstable took the lead on five minutes when Lancing keeper Tyler D’cruz failed to collect a corner and Danny Williams headed home.
George Rudwick crossed for Lewis Finney to equalise seven minutes later but Shaun Welford restored Town’s lead when he latched onto Louis Sprosen’s pass.
Another mistake by D’cruz gifted Williams his second goal midway through the first half, a header from close range.
Lancing were then awarded a penalty and although Dan Eason saved Finney’s spot-kick, he tucked away the rebound.
It was 3-3 before half-time when Alex Fair headed past Eason from Finney’s free-kick.
Welford had a penalty saved and the visitors went in front for the first time when Finney hit the bar and Alex Bygraves headed in.
Williams equalised from the penalty spot after Sprosen’s shot was blocked by a hand and no one could win the tie in normal time.
Welford converted a Ricky Freeman corner to make it 5- 4 and then won the tie with another header after Fair had levelled things up with a 35-yard strike.
Whitstable have been drawn away to Saltdean in the next round, while Canterbury City will host Kent rivals K Sports after they beat Uckfield 3- 0.
Joe Nelder sent Matt Martin clear to open the scoring on 21 minutes and David Pilcher made it 2- 0 from the spot at the end of the half after the ball struck an arm.
The home side scored an excellent third nine minutes from time, Darren Marsden’s pass met by Sam Conlon, who headed back across keeper Matt Dann.