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FOM BLOG: WHITSTABLE TOWN 1-0 GILLINGHAM - REARRANGED KENT SENIOR CUP SEMI FINAL FROM THE 2019 / 2020 SEASON

My Thoughts On Whitstable Town V Gillingham - Kent Senior Cup Match - 2021 / 2022 Season

Whitstable Town V Gillingham In The Semi Final Of The Kent Senior Cup was supposed to be played towards the end of The 2019 / 2020 Season, In-Fact, Dover Athletic 1-5 Gillingham was the final match I went to before lock-down happened, and in that match, Tom O’Connor, Jordan Graham, Ben Pringle, Regan Charles-Cook, John Akinde, Matty Willock and Henry Woods were all playing for Gillingham that evening, and the only two players still at Gillingham Football Club now from those players mentioned are John Akinde and Henry Woods, And Henry Woods has been sent out on loan to Dover Athletic for the first half of the season.

But for this re-arranged fixture between Whitstable Town V Gillingham, Steve Evans had already announced that none of our first team players will be playing for Gillingham in this fixture, so we knew that the team heading down to The Belmont Stadium will mostly be made up from players who play in Gillingham’s Youth Team, along first year pro’s like Harvey Lintott, Bailey Akehurst and Gerald Sithole, So it is an opportunity to see how well our young players are progressing, and hopefully, Gillingham can win against Whitstable Town and progress into the final of The Kent Senior Cup.

Once the turnstiles opened at 6.30PM, I Paid £10 for entry, and I paid £2 for A Match-Day Programme, Before queuing up to buy a small portion of chips, A Bacon Cheese-Burger And A Can Of Coca Cola For £6.60, Wycombe Wanderers were charging £7 for A Cheese-Burger which is very expensive, And I didn’t buy any food inside Adams Park On Saturday, But I was able to buy A Small Portion Of Chips, A Bacon Cheese-Burger and A Can Of Coca Cola for cheaper then the price for a burger at Wycombe Wanderers On Saturday.

Eventually, I Got A Printed Team-Sheet, Because although Gillingham’s Team News Had Appeared On Twitter, There was no full names and squad numbers, And Gillingham Lined Up As Follows,,,,,, 1. Tommy Crump 2. Harvey Lintott 3. Bailey Akehurst 14. Julien Kuhr 5. Freddie Carter 6. Alex Giles 7. Matt McCarthur 8. Ethan Smith, 9. Joseph Gbode 10. Elliott Moore 11. Gerald Sithole Substitutes: 13. Toby Samith 12. Ronald Sithole 18. Kai Garrett 16. George Hutcheon 15. Josh Woodcliffe - Bailey Akehurst was given The Captain’s Armband for Gillingham, and of course, looking at the match-day squad there are no first team players in the squad for Whitstable Town V Gillingham.

Jim mentioned that Aaron Chapman should have started in goal for Gillingham because with the exception of Football League Trophy Matches, Aaron Chapman isn’t exactly going to get a lot of game-time for Gillingham This Season, and I would like to see Gillingham put a few match reports online from the youth team so we can see who is performing well and we can find out how well the youth team are performing this season, Because many of the names listed in this match-day squad are the first time I have seen our young players mentioned, and Whitstable Town V Gillingham is the first opportunity I have had to watch our young players play as well.

Both teams lined up on the halfway line ready for kick off, and depending on which end Gillingham are kicking towards will depend on where Me, Diane, Ben and Gary will be standing inside the ground, And Gillingham are kicking towards The Main Covered Terrace, and that’s one of the advantages of going to Non League Football Grounds, you can stand or sit where-ever you want, and we will switch ends at half time, and looking around the ground there is a decent turnout inside The Belmont Stadium, It’s just a shame that Gills Debate and KFG Couldn’t make it to the match this evening, But hopefully, Gillingham can reach the final of The Kent Senior Cup with a win against Whitstable Town - COME ON THE GILLS!!!!!!!

FIRST HALF:

Gillingham almost took the lead after just two minutes of the match when Joseph Gbode whips in a dangerous low cross and Gerald Sithole’s shot towards goal goes just wide of the far post with Dan Eason well and truly beaten in The Whitstable Town Goal, And Gerald Sithole is involved in the action for Gillingham moments later when Gerald Sithole’s though-ball through to Joseph Gbode is just too long for Joseph Gbode to get on the end of and Dan Eason just about gets to the ball first and gathers the ball with some difficulty.

But Whitstable Town had the chance to open the scoring after the eighth minute of the match when Tom Carlton’s shot towards goal is saved and gathered at the second attempt by Tommy Crump in goal for Gillingham, And from here, Tommy Crump rolls the ball short to Julien Kuhr, And Julien Kuhr passes the ball short to Bailey Akehurst, And Bailey Akehurst passes the ball through to Gerald Sithole, And Gerald Sithole’s first touch was a heavy touch to control the ball, however, The Linesman had his flag raised for offside.

Twelve Minutes Into The Match, And Gillingham win themselves a corner kick when Joseph Gbode was almost in on goal for The Gills, and from the resulting corner kick, Bailey Akehurst’s in-swinging cross is cleared away from danger, and we are early on in this match, and Gerald Sithole and Joseph Gbode are the two players who look very likely to open the scoring for Gillingham against Whitstable Town.

Gillingham have another decent opportunity to open the scoring, and again, Gerald Sithole is involved as Gerald Sithole is running through on goal down the left side of the pitch, And Gerald Sithole whips in a dangerous low cross across the face of goal and Matt McCarthur almost gets on to the end of that cross from Gerald Sithole and Whitstable Town survive, And Gillingham continue to pile on the pressure, as defending from the front from Joseph Gbode forces Whitstable Town to concede a throw on in there own final third, and it is from this throw, in The Eighteenth Minute Of The Match, Where Gillingham almost opened the scoring, Bailey Akehurst hurls in a low dangerous throw which is partially cleared towards the edge of Whitstable Town’s Penalty Area, And Matt McArthur’s shot towards goal is saved by Dan Eason, And Gerald Sithole was almost in on goal for Gillingham as well anticipating any re-bound which might deflect his into his path.

There are a couple of nearly moments for either team, As Bailey Akehurst cannot keep Alex Giles pass in play as the ball goes out of play for A Whitstable Town Throw, Tommy Crump is off his line quickly to get on to a decent pass from Luke Griffiths through to Tom Carlton, and Tommy Crump has had little to do, but he was in the right place at the right time to get to the ball first there.

Tommy Crump then makes a decent save to prevent Luke Griffiths from opening the scoring for Whitstable Town, But from then onwards, It’s Gillingham pilling on the pressure on to Whitstable Town’s Goal, Gerald Sithole works his way into a shooting position with a few step-over’s, and from twenty yards out, Gerald Sithole’s shot towards goal flashes over the crossbar, and Gerald Sithole is involved in the next passage of play, Because Gerald Sithole’s run down the left side of the pitch and cross across towards the near post where Joseph Gbode is situated see’s Whitstable Town clear the ball out of play for A Gillingham Corner Kick.

But despite the chances created by Gillingham, Whitstable Town hit the crossbar In The Thirty Ninth Minute Of The Match, James Brown’s deep cross towards the far post goes all the way through to Tom Carlton at the back-stick, And Tom Carlton takes a touch to control the ball before smashing a fiercely driven effort towards goal which hits the under-side of the crossbar and somehow stays out and Gillingham just about survive, and although Gillingham have had there chances to open the scoring, Whitstable Town should have taken the lead with that effort on goal from Tom Carlton.

Ethan Smith’s pass out-wide to Gerald Sithole is over-hit, and the ball goes out of play for A Whitstable Town Throw, And Alex Brown tried to pick out Bailey Akehurst with a pass out-wide which is also over-hit and goes out of play, With Bailey Akehurst and Gerald Sithole down the left side of the pitch, Gillingham look much stronger down the left side of the pitch, compared down the right side that is for sure.

And the final noteworthy moment of the first half see’s Matt McCarthur in the right place at the right time to block a dangerous cross in Gillingham’s Defensive Final Third, And after one additional minute of added time, the half time score-line at The Belmont Stadium Is Whitstable Town 0-0 Gillingham.

HALF TIME: WHITSTABLE TOWN 0-0 GILLINGHAM

I uploaded the following status update on to Social Media at half time, HALF TIME: WHITSTABLE TOWN 0-0 GILLINGHAM - Carlton's shot smashing the crossbar for Whitstable Town is the best chance for either side to break the deadlock. Sithole has fired two crosses low across the face of goal and Gbode almost scored either opportunity for The Gills.

Diane and Myself walked down the opposite end of the Main Stand Side Of The Pitch, Where Gillingham will be kicking towards The Bruce Smith Terrace, Which is the small covered terrace behind the goal, The seated stand was actually packed so it be interesting to hear what the attendance was going to be inside The Belmont Stadium for Whitstable Town V Gillingham In The Kent Senior Cup, I do think if this fixture was announced a few weeks ago, and there was more notice, then more supporters would have come along to this fixture, to essentially announce Whitstable Town V Gillingham On Friday Afternoon just a few days before the fixture is to be played will have caught a few people out.

Ben and Gary caught up with us after buying some cheesy chips at half time, and as for any substitutions or tactical changes, I think other then Gillingham not scoring, we can be very encouraged with that first half performance, of course, Tom Carlton has had the best goal-scoring opportunity with his effort on goal for Whitstable Town smashing against the under-side of the crossbar and somehow staying out, But Gerald Sithole has been Gillingham’s best player, and our young players can get the ball down and play, and move the ball about really well, We just need to see Gillingham turn this promising performance into goals, and Gerald Sithole looks very likely he will either score or assist for Gillingham, based from what we have seen from him in the first half of this Kent Senior Cup Tie.

SECOND HALF:

As expected, neither Craig Stone or Keith McMahon made any changes at half time, with Both Manager’s happy to stick with the starting line up’s named at the beginning of this match, For Keith McMahon, this is his first match in-charge for Whitstable Town, and he probably wants to have a good look at the players he has in his squad, to see if they can not only try and get a result for Whitstable Town against Gillingham In The Kent Senior Cup, But also, see which players can help move Whitstable Town up The Ryman Division One South Table.

And it’s Whitstable Town who have created the first goal-scoring opportunity of the second half as Danny Walder’s shot towards goal goes narrowly wide of the far left post with Tommy Crump beaten in The Gillingham Goal, And a minute later, Gillingham were awarded a free kick in a promising position on the pitch, and from the resulting free kick, Freddie Carter’s effort towards goal goes just wide of the far right post, And In The Fifty First Minute Of The Match, Joseph Gbode’s effort towards goal strikes the out-side of the far right post with Dan Eason flat-footed, And Dan Eason must have thought that Joseph Gbode’s shot towards goal was going comfortably wide of the far post.

Matt McCarthur see’s his cross charged down at the expense of conceding a corner kick, and from the resulting corner kick, Bailey Akehurst whips in a dangerous in-swinging cross which is headed behind at the expense of conceding another corner kick, and from this corner kick, Bailey Akehurst’s in-swinging cross is cleared away from danger at the expense of conceding a throw on for The Gills.

Fifty Seven Minutes Into The Match, And Gerald Sithole’s shot towards goal is deflected out of play for another Gillingham Corner Kick, and from the resulting corner kick, Bailey Akehurst whips in a dangerous in-swinging cross and Harry Goodger just about does enough at the back post to header the ball behind for another Gillingham Corner, And from the second corner kick, Bailey Akehurst whips in a dangerous in-swinging cross towards the far post which is over-hit, But Julien Kuhr manages to keep the ball in play and win Gillingham a throw on in Whitstable Town’s Defensive Final Third.

Sixty Minutes Into The Match, And Harvey Lintott is fouled by Muhammed Cham right on the edge of Whitstable Town’s Penalty Area, And Gillingham have been awarded a free kick in a very promising position on the pitch, and from the resulting free kick, Bailey Akehurst’s dangerous in-swinging cross causes chaos inside Whitstable Town’s Penalty Area, And Harvey Lintott’s shot towards goal crashes against the under-side of the crossbar and Whitstable Town survive, but both teams have hit the crossbar in this match, and we have no idea how Whitstable Town V Gillingham is still goal-less ???

Gillingham then make there first substitution with Ronald Sithole coming on to replace Matt McCarthur, who impressed on a number of occasions in the first half, But hopefully, Ronald Sithole can provide Gillingham with some fresh legs in the final third to turn this 0-0 draw into a 1-0 win for The Gills, And just a minute after coming on as a substitute, Ronald Sithole's shot towards goal from the edge of Whitstable Town’s Penalty Area deflects into the path of Joseph Gbode, And Joseph Gbode see’s his shot towards goal saved by Dan Eason, However, Joseph Gbode was flagged for offside by The Linesman, So even if Joseph Gbode had scored for Gillingham, his goal would have been ruled out for offside.

However, Whitstable Town almost opened the scoring in The Sixty Sixth Minute, With Luke Griffiths’ fiercely driven effort towards goal from twenty five yards out having to be tipped over by Tommy Crump, and from the resulting corner kick, A Dangerous in-swinging cross is whipped in towards the near post, and Muhammed Cham’s shot towards goal looked like it was tipped around the post by Tommy Crump at the expense of conceding another corner kick, and from the resulting corner kick, a dangerous in-swinging cross was whipped into the heart of Gillingham’s Penalty Area and Harry Goodger’s glancing header across the face of goal goes narrowly just wide of the far left post - set plays looks likely how Whitstable Town will open the scoring against this very young and inexperienced Gillingham Side.

Joseph Gbode’s shot towards goal fails to hit the target by some considerable distance, when Me and Ben thought that Ronald Sithole was in a better position to receive a pass, and Tommy Crump is in the right place at the right time to save a dangerous low cross at the opposite end of the pitch, as this cup tie just starts to stretch end to end now, And it is looking increasingly likely that this match could go to a penalty shoot-out.

Whitstable Town are then penalised for a foul on Freddie Carter, and I am looking down the list of substitutes wondering if George Hutcheon or Josh Woodcliffe are strikers, Because Joseph Gbode’s performance levels for Gillingham have just started to drop compared to how well he was playing for Gillingham in the first half, and maybe a fresh attacking option will just give Gillingham something different in attack for the closing stages of this Kent Senior Cup Tie.

Eighty Minutes Into The Match, And Ronald Sithole’s shot towards goal just goes wide of the far right post, But Referee Scott Rudd points towards the corner flag, And Gillingham have the chance to open the scoring from the resulting corner kick, and that is almost precisely what happens, Because Bailey Akehurst whips in a fantastic in-swinging cross and Freddie Carter gets the faintest of touches to divert the ball goal-wards and Whitstable Town manage to clear the ball off the line and Gillingham are knocking on the door to find the goal that will not only give Gillingham the lead, but a goal this late on will surely be the goal to send Gillingham through to The Kent Senior Cup Final.

Eighty Four Minutes Into The Match, And Harry Stannard comes on to replace Gus Barnes for Whitstable Town, and the hosts have a free kick in a very promising position on the pitch, and from the resulting free kick, Luke Griffiths whips in a fantastic in-swinging cross and Tom Carlton’s glancing header goes narrowly wide of the far left post with Tommy Crump well and truly beaten, and I honestly thought that Whitstable Town had taken the lead, and having almost conceded late on, Gillingham almost won the match late on when Ronald Sithole’s effort on goal was saved by Dan Eason, and this cup tie is opening up with both sides looking to find the winner and avoid the lottery of a penalty shoot-out.

Eighty Eight Minutes Into The Match, And Gerald Sithole wins Gillingham a corner kick, and from the resulting corner kick, Bailey Akehurst whips in a dangerous low cross towards the near post which almost results in Whitstable Town scoring an own goal, and the ball goes out of play for another Gillingham Corner Kick, A Corner Kick which did unfortunately does not result in a goal-scoring opportunity for Gillingham, However, Whitstable Town do make there second substitution of the match with Montrell Deslandes coming on to replace Muhammed Chan.

However, just as we enter second half stoppage time, Tom Carlton manages to open the scoring for Whitstable Town, as Tom Carlton opens the scoring with a well placed finish in the bottom corner of the net, could Tommy Crump have done better with that effort on goal ??? I think it’s more of a decent finish from Tom Carlton, But that goal was such a devastating blow late on and the players reaction to Whitstable Town scoring suggests that there is no coming back for Gillingham.

Whitstable Town make there third and final substitution with Ollie Gray coming on to replace Harry Goodger, and Whitstable Town are looking to held out for the win, and after three additional minutes of added time, And Gillingham did go long in the closing stages of the match, It’s Whitstable Town who have progressed into the final of The 2019 / 2020 Kent Senior Cup.

FULL TIME: WHITSTABLE TOWN 1-0 GILLINGHAM

I posted the following on to social media after the full time whistle,,,,,,, FULL TIME: WHITSTABLE TOWN 1-0 GILLINGHAM - Whitstable Town progress into the final of The 2019 / 2020 Kent Senior Cup Final, with Tom Carlton scoring a late winning goal for Whitstable Town against a very youthful Gillingham Side Tonight. Gillingham had there chances to get themselves on the score-sheet, Gbode's effort on goal early in the second half hit the out-side of the post, Carter's shot towards goal took a big looping deflection, And Carter's shot towards goal deflected wide for A Gillingham Corner Kick. Akehurst's curling free kick caused problems for Whitstable Town and it was Harvey Lintott's effort at goal from close range which crashed against the crossbar. Whitstable almost scored when Griffiths Volleyed effort towards goal had to be tipped over by Crump in goal for Gills. Goodger's glancing header went wide and Ronald Sithole could have won the match late on for Gillingham, But Ronald Sithole's Shot towards goal deflected wide for A Corner Kick As Gillingham pushed for a late winner. Carlton headed wide as Whitstable looked strong from set plays. Disappointing to see Gillingham lose late on against Whitstable Town, But there were some encouraging performances from our young players this evening (especially Sithole), But it would have been great to see Gillingham progress into The Kent Senior Cup Final with a win tonight.

I thought Harvey Lintott, Bailey Akehurst and Gerald Sithole all put in decent performances, and you can tell that all three players are playing and training with Gillingham’s First Team because they did look a step above in quality compared to the rest of our young players who were playing against Whitstable Town, But other players also put in creditable performances for The Gills, Smith and Carter were both very good at times, and Gbode started the match really well, But I thought he was fading in the second half, and maybe should have come off, especially if George Hutcheon and Josh Woodcliffe are strikers.

But if you are looking for negatives, then our young players have just lost to A Whitstable Town Side who are struggling in The Ryman Division One South, and you can see some supporters making the case that Gillingham’s Young Players should not be losing against Whitstable Town and we should not be losing to local non league opposition if our young players are going to make it as first team professional players playing for The Gills.

However, I think it is important to realise that the likes of Tommy Crump, Ronald Sithole, Ethan Smith, Freddie Carter, Joseph Gbode, and Elliott Moore are so much younger compared to the likes of Tom Hadler, Finn O’Mara, Ryan Huckle, Aaron Simpson, Ben Chapman, Darren Oldaker, Bradley Stevenson, Roman Campbell and Noel Mbo, and all nine players mentioned here had made appearances for Gillingham’s First Team, and those nine players were first year pro’s with The Gills as well.

I do think that our young players are going to develop better and they are going to gain so much more experience playing in a meaningful match like A Kent Senior Cup Semi Final Against Whitstable Town compared to playing In The Youth Alliance League On A Saturday Morning, And I just wished that our youth team had more meaningful matches like this to aid there development, Because your playing against strong non league opposition in Whitstable Town, they were clearly up for the match because Keith McMahon was managing his first match in-charge as Whitstable Town Manager and the players are clearly going to be competing for a spot in the first team, and winning against Gillingham’s Young Players to progress to the final of The Kent Senior Cup is going to leave an impression on Keith McMahon.

I have to mention the attendance of 407 at Belmont Stadium, a decent turnout for this Kent Senior Cup Tie, I do think the attendance would have been over 500 had this fixture not been announced just a few days in advance, I think more Gillingham Supporters would have gone to the game if there was more notice, and the ground is so easy to get to from the train station as well, And if you compare the walk from Whitstable Town’s Ground To Whitstable Train Station, and Kearsney Train Station to Dover Athletic, the walk from Whitstable Town’s Ground to the football stadium is a five minute walk, where as, the walk from Kearsney to Dover Athletic is like a twenty five minute walk.

All in all, I am encouraged by quite a few performances from our young players, And I like to see a few of them in the first team squad for The Football League Trophy Game against West Ham U21’s, However, I am disappointed with the result, Because Gillingham should be looking to win The Kent Senior Cup every other year, And I really do believe that Gillingham should be hosting The Kent Senior Cup Final At Priestfield Stadium regardless if we are in the final or not, It not only strengthen’s the relationship between Gillingham and The Kent FA, But also, gives our young players a great incentive to try and reach the final.

I do think that for the first round, second round, quarter final and semi final of The Kent Senior Cup that Gillingham should continue to play every match away from home, because it brings in much needed revenue for Kent Non League Teams, and it’s good to go to Kent Non League Sides either in pre-season and The Kent Senior Cup, Because Gillingham did miss out on Non League Matches against Dartford, Ebbsfleet United, Margate and Tunbridge Wells because Gillingham had to postpone quite a pre-season friendly matches because of the virus.

As the match was approaching full time, Me, Diane, Ben and Gary were hoping that this match didn’t go to a penalty shoot-out and Gillingham could win late on, and when Whitstable Town scored, we were hoping that Gillingham could score and take this match to a penalty shoot-out, The youth team liked to get the ball down and play, and at times our passing and movement was very good and Bailey Akehurst showed sign’s in his performance that he should start at Left Back for Gillingham against Sunderland at the weekend.

Diane would have liked to have seen one or two first team players who were not involved against Wycombe Wanderers to start for Gillingham against Whitstable Town, like Charlie Kelman or Olly Lee, But Steve Evans was very clear in his Sunday Afternoon Gaffer Article, and from his comments on Monday that no First Team Players will be playing for Gillingham against Whitstable Town In The Kent Senior Cup, It is also important to note that players like Bradley Dack, Jake Hessenthaler, Jack Tucker, Darren Oldaker, Elliott List, and Tom Hadler have all played for Gillingham in The Kent Senior Cup and all six have played for Gillingham’s First Team, So there could be a few players who played for Gillingham against Whitstable Town who will make it as first year pro’s in a few years time.

But many of the young players playing for Gillingham have probably not played in-front of over 400 supporters before, many young players playing for Gillingham against Whitstable Town have experienced playing against older and more experienced players for the first time in there career, and an interesting point has been raised about Gillingham bringing back Reserve Team Football, Because if The Gills do have young players who are proving to be too good for the youth team, but not quite ready for the first team, then our only option is to send young players on A Youth Loan To A Kent Non League Side, which of course is better then no option at all, But Reserve Team Football and having the option to play in The Combination Reserve League will give Steve Evans the option to play Ryan Jackson for an hour, and also have a look at any young player who is recommended by Craig Stone to have an option to prove themselves playing and training with the first team.

Encouraging performance, disappointing result, and finally, I would like to see Gillingham post youth team match reports on The Official Website so we can find out how well the youth team are doing, Because prior to kick off, other then Ronald Sithole, Gerald Sithole, Tommy Crump, Bailey Akehurst and Harvey Lintott, I had no idea who the other youth team players were going to be in the squad for Whitstable Town V Gillingham, It would be good to track there progress and see how well the youth team are doing throughout the season, and finally, My Man Of The Match For Gillingham was Gerald Sithole, he was a constant pest for Whitstable Town to deal with and all that was missing from his performance was a goal for Gillingham, And I like to see Gerald Sithole make an appearance from the bench for Gillingham against Sunderland as well.

#Gillingham #WhitstableTown #KentSeniorCup #NonLeagueFootball

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