Harry faces competition

Whitstable’s Harry Stannard completed a weekend hat-trick with a pinpoint free-kick in the FA Cup thrashing of Alford and boss Lloyd Blackman admits there is quite a clamour to be on set-pieces.

Stannard hit the woodwork from a free-kick the week before in a league game against Sevenoaks and will be keen to remain the go-to man in a dead ball situation but others will want a piece of it.

Speaking about Stannard’s 77th-minute strike, Blackman said: “He was a hair’s width away the week before so he was probably due a bit of luck, this week it was postage stamp top corner.

“Harry has done a few of those for us over the last two years, but Danny Walder is the same, Tom Carlton is decent as well, as are one or two others including Aaron Millbank.

“He has the hump that he is fourth choice but he got three or four goals last year from setpieces and has been pushed down the pecking order. It is another weapon to add to our arsenal.”

Blackman was just as thrilled with Stannard’s first goal, after seven minutes, one that eased them into a game against lower-league Alford. Their opponents knocked league rivals East Grinstead out in the previous round so Whitstable were on guard. They dealt with the challenge well, however, winning 5-0.

Blackman said: “Harry took his first goal really well. The composure and the technical way of finishing was probably more impressive than it first appeared and that set Harry on his way. He got his hat-trick and from a team perspective that put us on the right path and we were able to build on that.

“We made sure we set ourselves up so we were aggressive in what we did, we made sure we didn’t give Alford the opportunity to grow in confidence. We had to stamp our authority on the game early and we did it.

“In the end it was quite a comfortable day’s work but due to the fact that we applied ourselves professionally first hour, it was a thoroughly enjoyable afternoon.”

Tom Mills and Millbank also netted in the win at The Belmont. Whitstable have drawn Isthmian Premier Leatherhead at home in the FA Cup first qualifying round, a tie that will be played on Saturday, September 4.

Prior to that they have busy weekend of Isthmian League South East action. They travel to East Grinstead on Saturday before welcoming Herne Bay for a derby on Bank Holiday Monday (3pm).

Blackman said: “If we can perform like we did on Saturday, and even the week before against Sevenoaks (which they lost 2-1), then we will be going in a confident mood.

“We are playing well, we will always demand more, there are certain things the players recognise we can improve on, but the fitness is improving, their recovery has been good, injury wise we have not been too bad and we have started positively with our performances.”