Whitstable manager Marcel Nimani wants to give supporters a performance their backing deserves when they host Phoenix Sports in final home game of the season
Published: 05:00, 14 April 2023
Whitstable boss Marcel Nimani hopes their fans get the performance they deserve this Saturday when promotion-chasing Phoenix Sports come to town.
The Oystermen’s final home Southern Counties East League game of the season will be a huge one for second-placed Sports - but Nimani wants his men to go out on a high in front of their own supporters.
Town won an enjoyable game at Hollands & Blair on Monday 3-2 thanks to a late Harry Gamble penalty, bouncing back from a 2-1 home defeat against Fisher last Saturday after missing a penalty in the latter stages of that game.
Nimani said: “Saturday is our last home game and I would encourage all supporters to turn up.
“It will be a huge game for Phoenix and just as huge for us. We will wake up on Saturday morning with the same attitude for three points as we would do for any other game.
“They are a great side, and we were a little gutted that we lost last time around to them. We went on their turf and played some really good football and some decisions didn’t go our way that should have gone our way.
“That had a huge impact on the result. We feel we need to give it back to them.
“Our ambition is to continue our momentum, give our supporters a performance to be proud of.
“Our supporters have not stopped coming, despite the fact we can’t get promoted, we need to make sure that they get a performance they deserve.
“Fisher was disappointing, in terms of the result. We didn’t play too badly, but we missed senior players and that showed on Monday when we got them back.”
Nimani’s side had a few good chances early on against Blair but the hosts scored first to lead at the break. Whitstable winger Jefferson Aibangbee then produced a couple of crosses to turn the game on its head, with Harry O’Donnell equalising at the back post and then an own goal turning it around.
Town missed some good chances to extend the lead and looked to have been made to pay when Ben Brown levelled for the hosts but when Gamble was fouled he stepped up to convert an 88th-minute winner.
Those missed chances were a frustration for the Town boss. “It was a bit disappointing in terms of the finishing,” he said.
“Second half we hit the post twice, the crossbar and missed two empty goals which was disappointing at that end but I was extremely pleased with the productivity in possession.
“I felt that tactically we got the patterns of movement correct with the opposition.
“I was very pleased with the overall performance, effort and character - all the attributes that we wanted were there - just a bit disappointed with the finishing.
“Harry Gamble showed a lot of character [from the penalty spot] and we should have had another penalty two minutes later, that was even more clear, but I am not going to criticise the referee.
“I don’t want to big him up too much because I don’t want other leagues to take him, but I felt the referee’s performance was one of the best I’ve seen in this league. He was outstanding.
“He was extremely competent, composed in every decision, very accurate in his decisions, he explained himself, he calmed the game down and dealt with every scenario correctly.”
Whitstable had Leighton Fanshawe in goal on Monday after Dan Eason picked up an injury in the game against Fisher.
Nimani said: “We had planned ahead, we signed Leighton on deadline day and he came to hand.
“Leighton’s a good goalkeeper with a good background. He’s not played much with us but he did really well and didn’t deserve to concede two goals.”
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Luke Cawdell