A Trip to the Coast awaits in the FA Vase – Match Preview
Fleet Town make the trip to the coast this weekend as we prepare for our history making FA Vase Fifth Round tie (Last 16) against Whitstable Town this Saturday. A place in the quarter finals is up for grabs and it’s sure to be a fantastic game of football between two good sides.
The Blues head into Saturdays match after a strong 3-1 victory at home against Abbey Rangers in the Combined Counties Premier Division South, thanks to an incredible solo run and finish from Jack Dean, and a brace from Dan Bone who was back in the goals. Fleet Town’s run in this years FA Vase has already been a great success and created some amazing memories, as well as setting a historic run in the competition as we compete in the fifth round of the competition for the first time ever. The Blues have surpassed any previous Vase campaign and have gone three rounds further more than any of our previous twenty one FA Vase campaigns.
Fleet Town kicked off their 2024/25 FA Vase campaign in the second qualifying round against Hamworthy United, defeating the Hammers in a thumping 6-2 victory with Dean Rule scoring a fine hat-trick on the day. In the First Round Proper, the Blues were drawn away to Sutton Athletic and after a 1-1 draw in normal time the game was decided by penalties where the Blues came out on top to progress to the Second Round. Up next in the second round was a trip to back to Kent against Rochester United, an early own goal from the opposition gave Fleet the lead and the Blues were able to hold out to progress in the third round, winning 1-0.
After moving on to the third round of the competition, the furthest the cub had ever been, another tough match away from home against Tring Athletic was up next. The Blues thought they had won it after being 2-1 up in the dying minutes of the game but Tring managed to grab a late equaliser and take it to penalties. After some penalty heroics from Finlay Purcell and faultless spot kicks from the Blues players, Fleet were through to the next round against Crawley Down Gatwick.
The Blues travelled to Crawley in what was set up to be a fantastic FA Vase Fourth Round Tie with a place in the Fifth Round up for grabs for the first time for both sides. The game started with Fleet controlling most of the ball and creating the chances, Chike Kandi went down in the box after being one on one with the goalie, but the referee waved play on. After this Crawley Down started to put their mark on the game and did so just before half time and took the lead going into the break. After coming back out in the second half the Blues skipper, Liam Pestle, stepped up and slammed home an equaliser ten minutes into the second half. It was Tane Caubo who scored the winner with around 25 minutes to go in the tie to complete the comeback and send the Blues into the FA Vase Fifth Round. All eyes now set on Saturdays match as Fleet Town travel to the coast against Whitstable Town to see if the run will continue in this year’s competition.
Now time for a bit about our hosts this weekend, Whitstable Town FC currently sit 12th on 28 points in the Southern Counties East Football League Premier Division. The same division in which Sutton Athletic play in, who we faced in the first round of the competition. Their top scorer is Joshua Oliver who has found the back of the net 13 times this season in 24 appearances in all competitions. In their last 6 matches the Oysters have won three, drawn one and lost two. Fleet Town have faced Whitstable before, most recently when both sides were in the Isthmian Division at step four during the 2010/11 season where we came out 3-2 winners in both matches.
Whitstable Town started their FA Vase journey against Corinthian Casuals where they came out 4-1 winners against our fellow Combined Counties Premier Division South side. Then the Oysters took on Hollands & Blair where they were 1-0 victors at the Primcura Healthcare Stadium. In the first round of the competition they defeated Virginia Water 1-0 once again, at home, moving onto the second round where they would face Lydd Town. In this round the Oysters came out on top once again at the Primcura Healthcare Stadium, winning 2-1. Moving on to the third round of the competition, Whitstable Town were drawn at home to Jersey Bulls. In this tie they came out 2-1 winners once again thanks to two late goals to comeback from one nil down. In their fourth round tie, Whitstable travelled to Walsham Le Willows where they progressed via penalties setting up this Saturdays fifth round match against the Blues at the Primcura Healthcare Stadium.
We look forward to seeing you all that are travelling whether that is on the coach or travelling to the game by any other means, let’s hope we make it a day to remember and your support is going to be needed to cheer the lads on.
Heads up to supporters travelling on the team coach; the coach will now be leaving from the club at 10:30 AM, please try and arrive early!
Come on you Blues!
