Kent League title dual: It's Whitstable's to lose now, says Frost - EXCLUSIVE

Gate-crashers VCD Athletic have already started the mind games as they denied Whitstable Town winning the Kent League championship - and promotion into the Ryman League - yesterday, writes Stephen McCartney.

Whitstable Town needed to win their last home game of the season to clinch their first ever Kent League title, and in front of a crowd of 450 at The Belmont, VCD Athletic spoilt the party.

After Steve Marshall gave the hosts the lead after 58 minutes, Leroy Huggins levelled in less than a minute, firing home from 12-yards following Mark Greatorex low cross from the right.

And another Greatorex cross, which sailed over Kevin Fewell’s head, was bundled over the line by Huggins at the far post from a yard out, to stun a sun-kissed Belmont.

Whitstable had two goals ruled out for offside during the game, with Tommy Martin’s eleventh minute header ruled out, and with the score at 1-1, Marshall was thwarted by an offside flag with 23 minutes of this tense clash left.

Whitstable now need to collect four points from their last two games, away to Sevenoaks Town (Tuesday) and at fourth placed side Thamesmead Town to clinch the title.

But third placed Vickers travel to second-from-bottom side Tunbridge Wells on Wednesday night, before welcoming Deal Town to Oakwood on the final day of the season.

And just like 12 months ago when Maidstone United pipped long-term leaders Beckenham Town to the title on the last day of the season, Vickers hope history repeats itself and they win their first ever Kent League title next Saturday.

“Well, it’s not gate-crashing, it’s putting ourselves back in the frame basically,” Dean Frost, VCD Athletic’s caretaker manager explained in an EXCLUSIVE interview with www.kentishfootball.co.uk  after yesterday’s win.

“We knew to stay in it, we knew what was required, and that was a win.

“It’s not gate-crashing, it’s trying to put ourselves a little bit back in the frame and give us a chance going down the final straight on the last week of the season.”

Frost takes his side to Culverden Stadium on Wednesday, knowing what challengers Whitstable Town achieved at Greatness Park 24 hours earlier.

“On an ideal scenario, we’d like to play on the same night, but that’s not the case,” said Frost, 30.

“We’ve played there (Sevenoaks) six games ago and that’s one hell of a hard place to go and get a result.

“The pitch is not the greatest, it will be a great leveller but at the same time, Sevenoaks are a very good side.

“They’ve improved no end from the start of the season to what we’ve played six games ago and they aint going to be easy.

“That’s going to be a very tough game and at the same time we’ve got a tough game against Tunbridge Wells and their pitch is going to be a great leveller and we have just to apply ourselves properly and see where it takes us.”

Frost paid tribute to two-goal hero Huggins, who was brought to the club by former boss Martin Ford last September, for helping the Crayford based club have a major say in where the championship will be heading in the final seven days of the season.

“He’s a revelation,” said Frost. “He’s a great signing for the club. When we signed Leroy, Martin signed Leroy in September, he’s record is, I think, one of the top in the league now.

“I think he’s scored 23 goals in 29 appearances (and) at a any level, it doesn’t matter what level you play at, that’s a good record.

“He’s pulled it out of the bag for us today and we’re more than grateful.

“But it was a great team performance it’s not just about Leroy, it’s everyone.

“It was a great character performance because on Thursday, we went 2-1 down against Beckenham, we go 1-0 down against Whitstable and we come back (in) both, so it shows the club and the team especially has got a tremendous amount of spirit and character.

“We’re just glad to be hanging in there for the final week, and (with) both going down to the final two games of the season, the only thing I can say, it’s still Whitstable’s to lose!”

www.kentishfootball.co.uk will be covering the games at Greatness Park and Culverden Stadium this week.

Visit club websites:

www.tunbridgewellsfc.co.uk

www.vcd-athletic.co.uk

Tunbridge Wells v VCD Athletic
Kent League Premier Division
Wednesday 25^th April 2007
Kick Off 7:45pm
At Culverden Stadium, Culverden Down, Tunbridge Wells