Gess' stunning strike helps Whitstable beat Bedfont

Monday 04th September 2006

A stunning strike from Jake Gess earned Kent League side Whitstable Town a place in the FA Cup first qualifying round following their 1-0 win at Bedfont on Saturday.

A moment of magic from Gess, after winning the ball on the halfway line, saw him brush aside one challenge took a quick look and just as another challenge was coming in hit the sweetest of shots from fully 35-yards and into the far corner of the net.

Jubilant Whitstable players to a man then ran and engulfed both Gess and manager Marc Seager, who the goalscorer had run over to.

“The game was never going to be a spectacle,” Seager admitted to www.whitstabletownfc.co.uk

“I have tried to install in the lads that at times we need to grind out a result. Today was one of those days.

“We had to battle in difficult conditions, at times it was route one football which is not the way we like to play and it took a special bit of skill from Jake Gess to settle the game, but yet again it’s another clean sheet for our defence.

“I like the way we defended from the front both Steve Marshall and Stuart King and the other lads worked hard when they did not have the ball.

“Kingy’ was beating himself up at the final whistle because he did not score but I will settle for that. If you have striker who moans when he’s not scoring that means hunger and that’s what we want, players who are hungry for success.”

The Oystermen welcome Ryman League Division One South outfit Croydon Athletic to the Belmont in the next round on 16 September.