Margate became the first team to visit the Belmont during a pre-season programme that has been disrupted by Covid and a good crowd turned out to see Whitstable play their Isthmian Premier Division opponents. It was a closely fought game of few chances, although both teams needed their goalkeeper to make one key save. For Whitstable, it was a much improved performance after their loss against Canterbury a few days earlier.

An early Montel Agyemang corner for Margate was headed wide by Ben Swift, then Agyemang struck a free kick well over the bar after a foul on the edge of the penalty area. A few minutes later James Bessey blazed over from distance. Whitstable were forced into a change after 17 minutes when Danny Walder picked up an injury and was replaced by George McIlroy. Neither goalkeeper was seeing much action and when Whitstable lost possession Margate’s Trialist B fired a shot over the bar. In the 41st minute, there was a half chance for Jake Embery when he ran on to a long ball, but as he turned and tried to shoot he was quickly closed down and appeared to pick up an injury that led to him being substituted a couple of minutes later. Whitstable had a couple of efforts as the first half drew to a close, when a corner was headed wide by Tom Mills and then a Tom Carlton shot was also off target.

The visitors replaced Agyemang with Ben Greenhalgh at the start of the second half, which was to be followed by a number of other substitutions by both teams. Whitstable conceded two early corners and a Swift header was cleared by the home defence. Some good play on the right by Whitstable ended with a cross being hooked wide by McIlroy. Then Reece Gillies had two good attempts in quick succession, firstly running at the Margate defence and making himself space before shooting narrowly wide and then he broke into the box on the left and turned inside, but shot just past the far post. The home team had probably their best chance in the 62nd minute when Carlton delivered a great cross from the right that was met by substitute Ryan Flack, who had only been on the pitch about 90 seconds, but Owen Kallmeier reacted well to push his header over for a corner. Jake Mackenzie had a shot blocked in the box, as the defences remained in charge. Margate’s Trialist D headed a cross just wide of the post. A flurry of substitutions followed, before Muhammed Cham twisted and turned, but had his shot closed down by the Margate defence. At the other end, a corner by Ben Greenhalgh was headed just over by Reece Prestedge. Margate won a number of corners throughout the game, without really being able to test Dan Eason, who was back in goal having missed the previous game. A Whitstable free kick 25 yards out was well struck by Liam Gillies, but straight at the goalkeeper. In added time, Margate had an opportunity to claim a win when Trialist D was fouled on the left edge of the box, but Eason got across to his right to push Greenhalgh's free kick away and the game ended goalless.

Whitstable conclude their pre-season with home games against Marlow and Dover, before travelling to Chipstead.

Whitstable Town
Dan Eason, Jake Mackenzie, James Brown, Will Thomas (Ollie Gray 75), Jack Miles (Trialist 77), Tom Mills, Danny Walder (George McIlroy 17), Liam Gillies, Reece Gillies (Luke Baptiste 77), Tom Carlton (Muhammed Cham 77), Harry Stannard (Ryan Flack 61).
Unused subs: Marcus Evans, Jay Hards.

Margate
Owen Kallmeier, Mo Kamara, Trialist A (Tom Cooney 67), Montel Agyemang (Ben Greenhalgh 46), Lewis Knight, Ben Swift (c) (Jamie Coyle 78), Josh Oliver (Martial Godo 59), Sam Blackman (Reece Prestedge 73), Jake Embery (Trialist D 44), James Bessey, Trialist B (Trialist C 74).

Attendance: 330
Referee: Jak Hill
Assistants: Richard Joss & Nicholas Monkman