Oystermen survive shelling (02.10.04)

UNITED’S injury ravaged squad were denied a seemingly simple victory over Kent Premier Leaguers Whitstable Town on Saturday, as the spirited Oystermen held on to earn a deserved replay.
With a minimal midfield available, and a heavily depleted defence, Magpies manager John Dreyer opted for an attack-minded 4-3-3 formation.
And the early signs were pretty promising, with Brendan Gallen’s bullet header drawing a stunning reaction save from the home keeper Gary Arterton with just three minutes on the clock.
Unfortunately, it was the first and last time Arterton was tested before half-time, as the determined and spirited Whitstable side closed ranks and denied United the space they craved.
In fact it was the hosts who began to look the more dangerous, particularly on the break, with Brian Connor and Gallen both called upon to make last-ditch interceptions to deny the impressive Lee Jones and then Arron Knight.
At the other end, United’s three-pronged attack produced just one scuffed shot and one cleanly struck effort straight at the keeper from Craig O’Connor, and a woefully wayward strike from Richard Harris.
It was all pretty disappointing fare for the York Road faithful, who had made the long 220-mile round trip in hope of witnessing a classic cup tie.
Their patience was partially rewarded in a very one-sided second-half, however, as United finally began to fire on two – sometimes three – cylinders.
O’Connor (twice) and Lawrence Yaku both shot marginally wide from good positions early in the half, while Harris overran a sublime cross from Cook, which really deserved a better finish.
Harris was again the culprit on 67 minutes, when he failed to make good contact with another good cross from the left.
However, United finally hit the target on 78 minutes, when Gallen surged forward and fed Harris, who turned and fired the ball goalwards. A shout went up from the travelling fans, but Arterton threw himself to his left and somehow scrambled the ball round the post for a corner.
The chances kept flowing for the Magpies, but continued to drain away down the plughole.
On 81 minutes, O’Connor blasted a shot over the bar from six yards out, then got underneath a decent cross from Chris Elsegood and sent the ball ballooning into the trees behind the goal.
Elsegood got another good cross to the far post a minute later, but this time Harris missed the mark from all of four yards.
Almost inevitably, the hosts won a corner in the dying minutes and United’s fans sensed another smash and grab defeat was in the offing.
Thankfully, the defence stood firm, forcing a Tuesday night replay at York Road.