As the two beaten semi-finalists from last season’s SCEFL Premier Play Offs met on opening day, it was Whitstable Town who edged out Punjab United at the Belmont to secure the first win of a new season.
The FA Vase winners were playing in their first competitive game since winning at Wembley raced into a two goal lead through two Javaun Splatt headers (the second being helped over the line by a combination of Jake McIntyre and a Punjab defender) before Jack Hopkins accepted a defensive gift to pull a goal back before the break.
In the second period, despite the probing of James Miles on debut in midfield, United pushed the home side back further and further. But with Finn O’Mara in fine form alongside McIntyre, the home side held firm and took the points.
The home side nearly made the perfect start as in the opening minute, Ashdon Day got in behind the Punjab defence, and as he nodded the bouncing ball over the advancing Owen Bushell, the Whitstable man couldn’t convert and fired the wrong side of the post.
It proved to be just a warning however from a wonderful Fin Cotton free-kick, Splat rose unopposed to power home a header into the top corner for the first SCEFL goal of the new season.
The goal forces the visitors onto the front foot and William Johnson-Cole was denied from a tight angle, Roman Campbell fired over, and Ethan Okechuckwu was denied by a smart save from Dan Colmer’s boot.
With the visitors on top, the second home goal came slightly against the run of play as Splat flicked a long flat throw towards Bushell’s goal, and McIntyre sliding in with a defender applied the final touch. Who’s goal? Certainly, one for the dubious goals panel but the home fans didn’t care!
They started to get wary though on the half hour as Hopkins pulled a goal back for Punjab although Colmer certainly won’t want to see it again as the midfielder’s header somehow squirmed away from his grasp.
On the stroke of half-time, Splatt almost netted with an outrageous cross shot which Bushell did really well to claw the ball away.
The second half became the cagey contest that many expected beforehand with clear chances few and far between. Bushell brilliantly denied Brad Schafer as he raced onto a perfect Miles through ball and a few moments later, Dean Grant raced onto another defence splitting pass from Miles only to be crowded out as he went to shoot!
Whitstable continued to enjoy the upper hand and McIntyre curled a free kick onto the roof of the net, before Punjab passed up a glorious opportunity to level – Chris Edwards provided a super cross and Hopkins, arriving late, just couldn’t keep his header down.
Punjab continued to probe and push the home side back leaving themselves open to the pace of the Oystermen’s front line. McIntyre had a second attempt from a free kick really well held by Bushell, and Schafer fired over after a good pull back whilst O’Mara and McIntyre repelled everything that the visitors had and after a nervy period of stoppage time, the points stayed at the Belmont.
WHITSTABLE TOWN – Colmer, Boulton, Thompson, Holden (Grant), Splatt, Schafer, Cotton, O’Mara, McIntyre, Day (Peters), Miles
Subs – Thomas, Jadama, Healy
PUNJAB UNITED – Bushell, Edwards, Ratcliff, Barry, Curtis, Hopkins (Cheema), Okechuckwu (Scudder), Jordan Campbell, Roman Campbell, SIngh (Suman), Johnson-Cole (Moynes)
Sub – Probets
REFEREE – Mr. Kaczala