Whitstable edged out their Isthmian South Central visitors thanks to a well taken second half goal by Jake Mackenzie. The game started in warm sunshine, but the second half saw torrential rain showers, accompanied by thunder and lightning. There was little between the two Step 4 teams as they both prepare for the forthcoming season.

There was an early sight of goal for Marlow when a long ball sent their no. 9 down the left and he cut inside before shooting low, but Dan Eason got down to make a comfortable save at the near post. There were few other early chances, but the dangerous Marlow no. 11 tried a low shot from distance that Eason was able to save. Dan Walder had the first attempt for the home team, but saw his long range effort go just wide. Marlow won a free kick around 25 yards out, but their no.4 could only fire the ball into the defensive wall. There were a few smiles around the ground shortly afterwards when the same player went down theatrically when challenged by Mackenzie. In the 31st minute, a good ball over the top by Tom Carlton created an opportunity for Walder, but he was unable to beat the goalkeeper. There was a brief break for drinks in the first half, although there would soon be plenty of water falling from above! The Marlow no. 11 struck a free kick over the bar before some good play by Whitstable on the left pressurised the Marlow defence and when the ball came out to Ryan Flack, he lifted a first time effort over the top. There was just time for the Marlow no. 11 to shoot wide from a tight angle before the teams went in with the score 0-0 at the break.

In the early second half exchanges, Flack tried a long shot with the Marlow goalkeeper out of position, but the ball was cleared. An attempted clearance at the other end struck a Marlow player and the ball rebounded into the hands of a grateful Eason on his line. Then the heavens opened and the wet conditions seemed to liven things up on the pitch. The Marlow no.11 sprinted into the box, but was denied by a great tackle by Tom Mills, then their no.18 hit a long shot that skidded off the wet surface and Eason did well to save. Mackenzie then sent Flack away on the right and his low cross was stabbed just wide by a stretching Carlton at the far post. The decisive goal came in the 60th minute when the Marlow goalkeeper rolled the ball out and a defender tried a short pass that was intercepted by Mackenzie, who took a touch before lobbing the ball over the stranded goalkeeper from 20 yards out and into the net. Marlow pressed to find an equaliser, as both teams made changes. Eason pushed away one attempt before the ball was headed wide from a corner, then Ollie Gray did well to clear after another brief spell of pressure. Carlton shot over when a free kick was partially cleared, then Marlow failed to make the most of a promising position when two players seemed to get in each other’s way. Into the final few minutes, a Mills pass found Harry Stannard, who beat his marker and tried to chip the advancing goalkeeper who was just able to deflect the ball over the bar. There were a couple of late chances for Marlow as one shot was blocked and from the resulting corner a shot on the turn went straight to Eason and Whitstable held on to win 1-0.

The Whitstable manager would have been pleased with a second clean sheet of the week against good opposition and some promising individual performances. Whitstable next face National League Dover Athletic at the Belmont Ground on Tuesday evening.

Whitstable Town
Dan Eason, Jake Mackenzie, James Brown, Will Thomas (Trialist A 80), Jack Miles, Tom Mills, Dan Walder (Reece Gillies 73), Ollie Gray (Gus Barnes 80), Aaron Millbank (Muhammed Cham 73), Tom Carlton (Trialist B 80), Ryan Flack (Harry Stannard 62).
Unused subs: Jay Hards, Ben Harding, Alex Hardman.
Goal: Jake Mackenzie 60

Marlow
Phil Brown, Curtis Chapple, Ayo Majekodunmi, Adam Richards, Louis Rogers, Junaid Bell, Chris Ovenden, Kameron English, Devontae Romeo, Nnamdi Nwachuku, Marcus Mealing.
Subs: N/A

Attendance: 150
Referee: Kirsty Dowle
Assistants: Simon Cutler & George Head