Whitstable Town came from behind against Phoenix Sports to extend their lead at the top of the SCEFL Premier to eleven points following a 1-1 draw.
That said, Jamie Coyle’s side more than rode their luck against the division’s other form side, as the Sports became just the third visiting side this season after Snodland Town and Stansfeld to leave the Belmont with anything.
After a tight first half Will Efambe finished off a brilliant move to drill the ball beyond Dan Colmer in the home goal before a hugely controversial sixty seconds turned the game in the home sides favour. Khayrie Harris was felled on the edge of the home box and referee Mottram looked like he was about to give the foul before the shot fizzed over Colmer’s bar.
To the disgust of the visitors, the official ruled that as he had waved play-on, play would restart with a goal-kick. Phoenix were incensed to such a level that Harris was sent to the sin-bin and the visitors mood wasn’t helped as in the very next passage of play, Jayden Boulton crossed from the left and Joe Healy’s fine header appeared to have been magnificently clawed out by keeper Ryan McCourt only for the assistant (Mr. Jackson) to race back towards the half way line giving the goal.
For the second time in less that ninety seconds the visitors were furious and for the second time, they had a man sent to the sin-bin (this time player-boss Jake Goodman, who was outstanding at the heart of a really good defensive unit) meaning Sports actually had to play for just over nine minutes with nine players.
Much of the early stages was spent with two evenly matched sides feeling each other out. It was Phoenix who nearly struck first from a swift break and as the ball fell to Louie Downey, Finn O’Mara made a goal saving block. McCourt made a terrific low save to deny a low Boulton drive and from the resulting corner, O’Mara would have been disappointed to send his header over.
The move of the first half saw Javaun Splatt and Bradley Shaffer exchange passes on the edge of the box and as the ball fell to Shaffer, McCourt made a brilliant block with his legs to send the two sides into the break level and goalless.
The home side were nearly handed the lead moments after the break when a miscommunication saw McCourt and Paul Lee get in a horrible mess and the defender was the most relieved man at the Belmont to see hit header hit the outside of the side netting.
Phoenix then took the lead on 60 minutes – Jamarie Brissett sprinted away down the left, his ball inside found Lyle Della Verde, who perfectly weighted touch was hammered home first time by Efambe.
Whitstable were stunned and Phoenix pressed as the sixty seconds of controversy turned the game for the home side – should the foul on Harris have been given? Was Healy’s header over the line? The officials were sure and the score was level.
The leaders went looking for the win with Phoenix always dangerous on the break. Shaffer’s deflected effort was magnificently turned aside by a flying McCourt which rightly drew congratulations from team-mates and opposition alike.
The home side themselves had loud penalty appeals waved away late on as Splatt went down in the box – indeed referee Mottram showed the Whitstable man a yellow card for his efforts as the game ended in a draw.
It was a draw which because of Larkfield’s home defeat to Corinthian extends Jamie Coyle’s side lead at the tables summit to eleven points!
WHITSTABLE TOWN – Colmer, Osinfolarin, Boulton, Thompson, Currie (Cotton), Thomas, Chambers, Splatt, Shaffer, O’Mara, Healy (Dean Grant)
Subs – Peters, Robson, Fenton
PHOENIX SPORTS – McCourt, Morrison, Belford, Barnes, Lee, Goodman, Efambe, (Jensen Grant) Della-Verde (McCann), Harris (Aboagye), Downey (Shquiti), Brissett
Subs – Ezenwanne
REFEREE – Mr. Mottram