Greenwich Borough 2-2 Whitstable Town. Seager: Our worse defensive display for 15 months - EXCLUSIVE

Tuesday 09th January 2007

GREENWICH BOROUGH 2-2 WHITSTABLE TOWN
Tuesday 9^th January 2007
Kent League Premier Division
Stephen McCartney reports from Harrow Meadow

Whitstable Town returned to the top of the Kent League table - but manager Marc Seager criticised his side's "shocking" defending in windy conditions at Harrow Meadow tonight.

But the point in south London helps the Oysterboys to leapfrog over Thamesmead Town to move one point clear of Keith McMahon’s men.

And Whitstable Town are guaranteed a big crowd when the two sides go head-to-head in Saturday’s showdown at the Belmont.

Greenwich Borough, however, bounced back from their last game, incidentally a 3-1 defeat at Thamesmead Town, to stun their visitors by scoring a route-one opener.

A long clearance from stocky goalkeeper Michael Holder caused hesitancy between defender Dan Tanner and his goalkeeper Kevin Fewell.

But Meshach Nugent captalised on the mix-up and coolly slotted home into the bottom right hand corner to give Phil Miles’ side the lead six minutes before the break.

Leading scorer, Dave Hassett, had earlier blazed over from 25-yards and Peter Smith squandered an excellent chance when he blazed his right-footed free-kick over Fewell’s bar from nineteen yards.

Whitstable, who attracted the largest crowd of the season to Harrow Meadow, created three good chances before Greenwich Borough broke the deadlock.

Jake Gess volleyed Stuart King’s corner over the bar after a saving tackle from Danny Tipple prevented Steve Marshall from scoring.

Then a whipped in cross from blonde haired, left-sided midfielder, Jake Gess was met by a looping header from Marshall, which bounced off the top of the crossbar and Holder was on hand to turn the ball around the post following a goal-mouth scramble.

Jimmy Strouts was desperately unlucky not to score when he met King’s far post corner with a powerful header, but Holder was on hand at his near post to block the effort.

But fourth placed Borough were to go into the break with the advantage, after Nugent joined former Tunbridge Wells striker Dave Hassett on eleven goals for the season.

Ginger haired Hassett, meanwhile, should have doubled Borough’s lead within four minutes of an enthralling second half but he poked the ball just past the foot of the right post.

Whitstable, who went into this game unbeaten in fourteen league games, levelled proceedings after 53 minutes.

Stuart King sent Holder the wrong way from the penalty spot after Steve Marshall was upended by George Jones, after the experienced striker cut inside from the left by-line.

Borough handed former Welling United midfielder Daniel Moore his debut, coming on as a 64^th minute substitute.

Moore, who played Nationwide Conference South football at Park View Road last season, has signed for the Borough on a due registration with Ryman Premier League club Ramsgate.

Borough boss, Phil Miles, explained EXCLUSIVELY to www.kentishfootball.co.uk that he was delighted that Eltham based Moore has signed for his home town club.

He said: “Basically, Danny wasn’t getting in at Ramsgate. He’s a local boy, he’s cousin is within the club anyway.

“He said he was looking to play football and we need players of that quality.

“I spoke to (Ramsgate boss) Jim (Ward) on Sunday, he didn’t really want to lose him at all so what we’ve agreed (is that) he’s kept hold of his registration for Ryman’s football, he’s transferred out of the Kent League Division Two, which he was playing for the reserves.

“He will play a big part in the sixteen, seventeen games we’ve got left.

“He’s a good player and a club like this can’t turn that down. It’s a good addition to our squad.”

The travelling contingent sang “God save our gracious King” in the tune of the National Anthem, when King scored his second goal of the game with fourteen minutes remaining.

Borough defender John Samuel, standing beside the near post, made a complete hash in trying to clear a left-footed, inswinging corner, from the right hand side by King and the ball crept over the line.

But Borough deservedly levelled proceedings when they netted a penalty just twelve seconds into stoppage time.

Whitstable defender Gary Carter stuck out an arm in a crowded penalty area from a shot from Borough substitute, Harbingi Grant.

Dartford based referee Mr Neil Baker had no option other than to point to the spot and Nugent kept his composure to find the bottom left hand corner with his right-foot, which must have delighted McMahon who was watching the match.

Following their warm-down, Borough players stormed into the dressing room, aggrieved that they had dropped two points.

Miles said: “I think anybody that watched the game, we more than held our own.

“Whitstable haven’t really created any problems to us, we’ve created our own problems.

“We’ve given away two poor goals, that you would see on a Sunday morning or in kids’ football.

“But credit to the players, they’ve come back and got a point in the end there, no more than we deserve, I think.”

Miles, whose assistant is his former Slade Green colleague Terry Malin, was delighted that his side bounced back from their “debacle” at Thamesmead Town, which they lost 3-1 last month.

He said: “Whitstable are a good side and they’re not undefeated for no reason.

“It could be two points dropped but again it’s a good point for us. It’s a good performance and that’s the most important thing for us.

“After the Thamesmead debacle, this was 125% better than that.”

But Whitstable Town manager Marc Seager admitted he hasn’t seen such a poor defensive display from his side during the 15 months as their manager.

He said EXCLUSIVELY to www.kentishfootball.co.uk: “I don’t want to swear but I’m totally disappointed. I thought we played ever so well in the first half in difficult conditions.

“We defended well but one misjudgement in a defensive area and we’re 1-0 down but we only came in 1-0 in them difficult conditions.

“I was disappointed with the goal because it was a lack of concentration but in them conditions I thought it would be difficult for them.

“We came in at half-time, told the lads exactly what we wanted and they done the exact opposite and it’s the worse defensive display I’ve seen in my fifteen months as a manager.

“I thought we was absolutely woeful in defence second half. I can’t believe we can go from defending so well in one half, the first half, to go and put on a shocking display like that.”

Seager felt the south Londoners should have been the first Kent League side to beat them.

Only Margate and Oakwood have defeated the Oysterboys this season.

He said: “Greenwich are a good side. Let’s not take anything away from them.

”If Greenwich had won tonight they would have gone within five points of us, so it was a big game for them.

“We knew it was going to be a big game and I thought first half it was a very good, solid, professional performance.

“I was happy with it but second half was below our standards and are standards that I won’t accept.

“They’ve set such high standards, I am first to praise the boys but tonight I’m not very happy at all.”

Greenwich Borough: Michael Holder, George Jones (Harbingi Grant 80), Danny Tipple, Peter Smith, John Samuels, Dave Waters, Jason Ward (Duane Moncrieff 76), Husseyin Buddah (Danny Moore 64), Dave Hassett, Meshach Nugent, Chris Hubbard.
Subs: Leroy John, Shola Oyinoye.

Goals: Meshach Nugent 39, 90 (pen)

Whitstable Town: Kevin Fewell, Gary Sayer, Gary Carter, Jackson Ohakam, Dan Tanner, Jake Gess, Alex Hossick (Marcos Perona 68), Stuart King (Tom Parker 82), Steve Marshall (Andy Constable 89), James Strouts.
Subs: Marlon Button, Rob Thomas.

Goals: Stuart King 53 (pen), 76

Attendance: 147
Referee: Mr Neil Baker (Dartford)
Assistants: Mr Malcolm McLean (Marden) & Mr Peter Gill (Bexleyheath)