This intriguing game between Southern Counties & Ryman League ended in a stalemate but Tunbridge Wells maybe should have won & may rue the fact they go to The Belmont Tuesday.
The game started very slowly as both sides got used to the hot conditions & the first half chance came for Whitstable in the 10th minute when Peter Huggens received the ball & moved to his right before shooting but it went wide.
Whitstable thought they had taken the lead when a free kick into the area was headed in by Gary Cook but he was given offside & there were no protests from Whitstable but relief for Wells.
Four minutes later a cross into the area saw Chris Oladogba fumble it & in the melee that followed was cleared for a corner. Tunbridge Wells had there first chance in the 36th minute when a free kick 25 yards out saw Brett Ince’s low shot go just past the post.
A minute later Whitstable nearly scored when a corner into the penalty area saw John Guest’s header cleared of the line by his own team mate Jordan Wells & in a counter attack Jack Harris moving forward passed out to Josh Stanford whose low cross found Carl Cornell whose shot came back off the post but it wouldn’t have counted as the flag went up for offside.
The second half started with Wells on the front foot as in the 50th minute Harris was put through & from 18 yards on the angle his shot was deflected into the mid drift of Luke Watkins.
A minute later Stanford to Harris in the area when John Guest tugged at him & a penalty was given, up stepped Joe Fuller & his shot into the bottom right hand corner was superbly pushed away by Watkins.
Tunbridge continued to dominate but Whitstable were dangerous on the counter attack & in the 75th minute Huggens in the area headed forward for Adam Hooper but his shot went high & wide.
Another half chance came Wells way when in a counter attack Stanford passed to Harris who ran into the area before blasting his shot over the bar.
The last chance of the game came in the 89th minute when a superb ball from Craig McGuire for Scott Heard who ran into the area before shooting across the goal with no one up with him.
The final whistle went & both defences were solid to off to Whitstable it is for the chance to play Eastbourne Town.
TUNBRIDGE WELLS LINE UP: 1.C.OLADOGBA 2. J.BOURNE 3. L.RADFORD 4. SEAN JOHNSON 5. S.WHIBLEY 6. P.SPACKMAN 7. B.INCE (15. J PILBEAM 61) 8. J.FULLER 9. J.HARRIS 10. C.CORNELL(17. R SINDEN 84) 11. J STANFORD (16. B LARGE 81)
SUBS NOT USED: 12. A.BOYLE 13. A.HUMPHRIES 14. K. MOONEY 18. M.CZANNER
BOOKED: J.BOURNE (68) P.SPACKMAN (87)
WHITSTABLE TOWN LINE UP: 1. L.WATKINS 2. C.McGUIRE 3. A.HOOPER 4. D.WELLS (16. B COBB 88) 5. J.GUEST 6. G.COOK 7. S.HEARD 8. J.MORRISH 9. L.HARVEY(19. C SMITH 71) 10. J.WELLS (12. J McKENZIE 56) 11. P.HUGGENS
SUBS NOT USED: 14. M.TAKALOO 15. J.KANE 17. S HAFNER 18. E.IZOKAN
BOOKED: S.HEARD (52)
Referee : Mr K.WALSH
Assistants: Mr S.FINNIGAN & Mr J.D’ARCY
Attendance: 414
Nicky Southall after the game was pleased to still be in the F.A Cup & stated that they had signed Mark Murrison from Lordswood & he could be available on Tuesday, he also stated that both keepers did not have much to do except his saving the penalty & that he was pleased with the fitness levels his team showed.
Martin Larkin after the game was glad to still be in the cup but thought his team should have won especially there second half performance.