Seager’s Kentish Pride as underdogs bite "disrespectful" Bromley

WHITSTABLE TOWN boss Marc Seager slammed Bromley for “their total lack of respect” after his heroic side made history tonight, writes Stephen McCartney.

The Oystermen reached the final of the Kent Senior Cup for the very first time in their proud history - in only their second year playing in the competition - with a 3-2 win over the Blue Square South side at Hayes Lane tonight.

Whitstable Town may still be threatened with relegation from Ryman League Division One South, but they produced their third giant-killing to book a surprise place in this year’s final.

They will meet another Blue Square South side in Welling United, and as Seager lost the coin-toss following tonight’s game, the final will be played at Park View Road on Thursday, 16^th April (7:45pm).

Seager’s heroes took the lead, against the run of play, after just eleven minutes, when Ian Pulman stunned the expectant Hayes Lane faithful.

Jake Gess then headed Whitstable into a two-goal lead, before Gess unleashed a curling deflected shot from thirty-yards, which sailed over Gareth Williams on the half-hour mark.

Bromley, who missed some good chances throughout, could have gone further behind, had Jerome Sobers’ foul on Pulman resulted in a penalty.

But stunned Bromley fought back and after Ashley Robinson’s free-kick struck the underside of the bar, Ryan Hall headed past Kevin Fewell on 70 minutes, before Adrian Stone made it interesting just nine minutes later with another header.

Bromley almost snatched a late equaliser, but thankfully for Whitstable, Stone’s effort hit the post.

Whitstable have knocked Tonbridge Angels (Ryman Premier League), holders Ebbsfleet United (a full-time Blue Square Premier outfit) and now Bromley out of the competition and hopes are high of bringing the silverware to The Belmont for the very first time.

“What a great achievement for the football club,” beamed boss Seager, when speaking to www.kentishfootball.co.uk following his side’s third cup upset.

“I can’t put into words how proud I am of the players, it really is a fantastic achievement.

“Lets not get carried away, we deserve to be in the final. We’ve beaten a full strength Tonbridge side, we beat a very strong and current holders Ebbsfleet and now we’ve beaten a full strength Bromley side, so we’ve earned the right to be in the final and the lads should be proud of themselves.”

But Seager was quick to blast Bromley over their attitude towards his side.

“They’re a good side and one thing I will be is, I will be a little bit more respectful than they were towards us tonight,” he fumed.

“We came in 3-0 and I thought we deserved our 3-0. They had nothing to lose second half and we knew they would come at us, but the lads dug in.

"Yes, they had lots of possession, but it really didn’t hurt us and then we started to get a little bit tired.

“People should remember we played an hour with ten-men at Kingstonian on Saturday so it took a lot out of us, but we dug in.

“I know they scored two goals and hit the woodwork at the death, but we had chances to extend our lead as well.

"We should have had a penalty that would have made it four, but all in all, yes, they came at us, we knew they were going to do that as they’re a very, very good side. That’s why I am proud of the boys.”

Seager added, “We’ve beaten a very, very good side to reach the final.”

That final will be on Welling United’s patch, and Seager warned Wings boss Andy Ford that the Oystermen are not just going to make up the numbers.

“We will be underdogs again at Welling,” admitted Seager, who guided the Belmont Road club to Kent Senior Trophy glory during their Kent League double season three years ago.

“Like I said on the (Whitstable Town) website after Saturday’s game (a 1-1 draw at Kingstonian), if they show us a lack of disrespect or if there’s any complacency, they could get hurt, and that’s what happened tonight.

“To be honest with you, I thought they showed us a total lack of disrespect right from the off and I said to the lads before the game, you will earn their respect with your performance and we’ve done that.

“It’s a shame a good side like Bromley didn’t have that respect from the first whistle because then you never know it might have been a different outcome.

“We punished their complacency and their lack of respect and we’ve come away with a good win -  we’ve come away with a well deserved victory as well.”

Beating the three sides that Whitstable Town have en-route to Park View Road, Seager admits his side will enjoy their night in Welling, but don’t fear their opponents.

“We’ve earned the right to be there in the final and we’re going to go there to enjoy it,” he promised.

“We’re massive underdogs and Welling are a very good side, they’re chasing the play-off’s and it’s going to be tough for us.

“We’ll go up there, there’s no pressure, everyone expects Welling to beat us in the final.

“They’re a Conference South side and it’s going to be difficult for us, but we’ll give it our best shot.

“On our day we can beat anyone, we really can beat anyone who is put in front of us. You never know, cup football has a habit of chucking up surprises.

“Who would have thought - if someone said you’re going to play Tonbridge, Ebbsfleet and Bromley to reach the final, who would have thought Whitstable would reach the final?

“But we’ve done it! It will be a great way to finish the story if we can go up there and put in a good performance. We want to give it a good go on the night.

“They’ve done the hard work, the hard work was getting to the final. There’s no pressure, we’re going to go up there as underdogs, and who knows? It’s a funny old game, football.”

Visit Whitstable Town’s website: www.whitstabletownfc.co.uk