Whitstable made it four consecutive wins with a good performance on a very windy evening at the Belmont. Both teams did well to cope with the conditions and played some nice football at times, with the organisation, pace and energy of the home team limiting the chances for their higher league opponents. A first half goal by Aaron Millbank proved decisive, despite both teams hitting the bar.

The teams also met in a July 2019 friendly which was a very different game as Margate won 6-4 despite a late Millbank hat-trick. John Ufuah, who recently moved from Whitstable to Margate, wore the number seven shirt for the visitors. Whitstable were missing a few squad members for various reasons, but were still able to field a relatively strong team.

TJ Jadama had the first serious goal attempt for Whitstable when he turned and shot over the bar in the 14th minute. Charles Etumnu then weaved his way through several challenges before blazing the ball over the top a few minutes later. Luke Carey also failed to keep his effort down at the other end following a promising build up. On 27 minutes, a good ball in from the left almost created an opening for Whitstable, only for Margate to break quickly and Conor Evans set up Carey whose shot was smothered by Dan Eason. A Whitstable free kick on the left was swung over by Victor Aiyelabola to the back post and met by the head of Ollie Rowe, but the ball went right across the goal and just wide. After another couple of attempts by Etumnu, Whitstable scored the only goal of the night in the 39th minute. A long punt upfield by Jadama was allowed to bounce by the Margate defence and with their captain pressed by Jay Hards, the ball was collected by Millbank who took it forward and shot low past the goalkeeper into the net. Evans created a chance for Freddie Moncur to strike back, but his shot was well blocked. The last action of the half was a Whitstable corner that was headed back towards goal by Rowe and flicked over the near post by Hards, but their 1-0 half time advantage was a fair reflection of the first 45 minutes.

Both teams made changes during the interval and Whitstable were the first to threaten after the restart when the impressive Jadama got himself into a shooting position, but his effort went over the bar. After a couple of home corners, Jadama picked out Liam Gillies with a good cross from the left, but he also fired over the bar. Margate made another two substitutions and almost equalised on 56 minutes. The ball was cut back from the right for Carey, but Rowe somehow managed to clear the ball off the line, on to the underside of the bar and the follow up was lifted over the bar. Whitstable had a great chance to add a second when a great cross by a trialist was stabbed wide by Aiyelabola. Ufuah then carved out a couple of opportunities for Margate from the left wing, with one cross leading to a weak attempt that was easily collected by Eason, who then did well to push a George Wilkinson shot around the post following another ball in from the former Oysterman. The better chances for the remainder of the game fell to Whitstable. Etumnu had a shot blocked after a quick break, then a Gillies cross was headed against the bar by Rowe. There were a few more half chances, before Gillies set up the trialist in the 83rd minute and his low shot was well saved. He then had another go from just outside the box, but the ball flew just over the bar. Margate won two corners in added time, but failed to test Eason again and Whitstable finished 1-0 winners after a pleasing performance in tricky conditions that felt more like November than August.

Whitstable will be seeking their third consecutive win against Isthmian Premier League opposition when they take on Folkestone Invicta at the Belmont next Tuesday.

Whitstable	Data	Margate
2	Shots on target	4
12	Shots off target	2
5	Shots blocked	1
6	Corners	4
6	Fouls conceded	7
1	Offside	1
0	Penalties	0

Whitstable Town
Dan Eason, Leo Mazzone, James Brown, Charles Etumnu, Ollie Rowe, Tom Bryant (c), Tijan Jadama, Liam Gillies (Glen Bain 85), Aaron Millbank (Trialist 1 46), Victor Aiyelabola (Muhammed Cham 75), Jay Hards (Dean James 75).
Goal: Aaron Millbank 39

Margate
Mitchell Ware, Chris Sessegnon, Fortune Msamala, Hyde, Liam Friend, Josh Steele, John Ufuah, Freddy Moncur, Conor Evans, Luke Carey, George Stannard.
Subs: Lamb, Jay Porter, George Wilkinson, Ben Swift, Reece Prestege, Owen Kallmeier, Noel Leighton, Jack Richards.

Attendance: 176
Referee: Peter Conn
Assistants: Matt Williams & Pawel Prokopowicz