Whitstable keep their FA Cup campaign on track

The once glorious City were playing their first FA Cup game for almost 30 years offered a spirit, if some what shot shy, opposition to Seager’s side, who although dominated for most of the match were unable to play their usual passing game due in part to the rutted bouncy pitch.

Seager told www.whitstabletownfc.co.uk : “The pitch has been used throughout the summer for athletics and three weeks ago they were throwing the discus and shot putting where we played football, hardly the sort of surface we are used to at the Belmont.

“That said, they were terrific hosts, and both sides tried to play football, and although it was not a spectacle we are in the next round of the FA Cup and I am very pleased.”

With his goalkeeper Kevin Fewell not making an outright save to make throughout the game, Seager revealed: “I asked the boys to play a different way today, football that is not for the purist, on a pitch that looked good from the stands but believe me it was awful to play on.

”We wanted a result today and the lads delivered. I am very pleased that we never conceded, just look at the list of results in the papers tomorrow.  You won’t see many clean sheet’s in the FA Cup mark my words.”

Josh Maine, meanwhile, admitted he was “silly” when he charged a Guildford City player – right in front of the referee.

Maine over-reacted when he was deliberately fouled and rushed up to the offender and charged him to the ground with his shoulder right in front of the referee.

He escaped with just a yellow card and Maine added: I have apologised to Seager.  It’s a part of my game that I thought I’d moved on from.

“The management have stressed that we need to keep eleven players on the pitch and what I did was silly.  I said I was sorry to Marc and the lads hope that’s the end of it.”

The Oystermen play at another athletics stadium on Saturday, when they travel to Erith Town for a Kent League fixture.