A new era began for the football club as the team played their first game at the “new” Belmont with its recently installed 3G pitch. The game attracted a crowd of just under 500 to witness the occasion, but the majority would have been disappointed with the result as the visitors Welling Town left with the three points. Whitstable began well and took an early lead through a Matt Gething header, but Ryan Styles fired in an equaliser shortly afterwards when Whitstable failed to deal with a corner. Welling scored twice more before half time, as a long distance strike by Liam Spellward and a Sam Bailey effort left the home team a mountain to climb in the second half. Whitstable did have plenty of opportunities to get something from the game, including a penalty that was saved by goalkeeper Charlie Martin, but it was not to be their day, despite much optimism off the pitch.

After several years of planning and much hard work, this was the long-awaited day when Whitstable played their first league game on the new 3G pitch. There is still some ongoing work around the ground, but football is back. Unsurprisingly, manager Richard Styles kept faith with the team that had beaten Canterbury on Wednesday evening. Welling Town, with four points from their first four games, were new opponents for Whitstable, as the teams were meeting for the first time.

Whitstable pushed forward from the start and had plenty of possession in the opening stages, with Kyron Lightfoot having the first goal attempt in the 5th minute, but Martin saved his shot at the near post. The same player tried again shortly afterwards when his deflected shot was comfortably gathered by Martin. Ryan Flack then set up Gething, but he was also denied by the goalkeeper at the expense of a corner. The threatened breakthrough came in the 9th minute when another Lightfoot shot was cleared away, but the ball was collected by Jake Mackenzie who sent over a cross from the right and Gething got in front of Martin to glance a header over him into the net. The game changed two minutes later when Welling won a corner on the right and an under pressure Dan Eason got a hand to the ball before an attempted clearance only reached Styles who fired the ball through the crowded box into the net to equalise. Whitstable then struggled to regain their earlier control, frequently leaving Welling the space to attack, and Bailey dragged a shot wide from 20 yards after a quick break. In the 24th minute, another swift break down the left brought a second Welling goal after the ball was played in to Spellward who curled a great left footed shot into the top right corner from 25 yards. Whitstable went searching for a way back and won three quick corners in a spell of pressure that saw Tom Mills, Harry O’Donnell and Joe Nelder all have shots blocked as Welling defended well. Things got worse for the home team in the 30th minute following some good play by Mo Alaka on the left of the penalty area when he got around the defence and forced Eason to make two good saves, but the ball was kept alive and Vinnie Medhurst pulled it back for Bailey to find the net. A few minutes later, Eason did well to push another Bailey shot away for a corner. Whitstable created a few chances as half time approached; Freeman Rogers had a header saved, Flack had a shot blocked and Lightfoot missed the target with a free kick after George Whitelock had been booked for a foul just outside the box. Welling led 3-1 at the interval.

The Whitstable manager changed things around for the second half, with Richard Atkins coming on up front at the expense of midfielder Nelder. Whitstable won a couple of early corners, Flack and Rogers had attempts blocked before Will Thomas shot wide. At the other end, Whitstable kept a Bailey shot out and the Welling striker rolled the rebound wide. In the 56th minute, Whitstable were caught short at the back again as Abi Davies raced clear, only to shoot wide with just Eason to beat. Then, another good run by Bailey drew a good save from Eason. Whitstable earned another succession of corners – they had fifteen in total during the game. Lightfoot shot into the side netting and Gething’s header was nodded off the line by Alaka. Whitstable had their best chance to get back into the game in the 71st minute when Atkins earned a penalty after being brought down by Alaka, but his kick was saved and substitute Josh Oliver was penalised for encroaching into the area as he tried to follow up. A series of substitutions followed. Mackenzie surged forward but his shot was charged down and Welling substitute Femi Orenuga went close with a curling shot that was tipped away by Eason. Whitstable kept trying, but were unable to find a way through and after Mills had headed a late corner wide, James Jeffrey was sent through by Gething in added time, but shot the wrong side of the post to sum up his team’s afternoon.

Despite the result, it was a good day for the club and great to have so many at the ground to see the improved facilities. Whitstable will be hoping to get back to winning ways however when they visit Holmesdale on Saturday.

Whitstable	Data	Welling T
7	Shots on target	7
8	Shots off target	4
8	Shots blocked	2
15	Corners	4
8	Fouls conceded	13
1	Offside	3
1	Penalties	0

Whitstable Town
Dan Eason, Jake Mackenzie, Tom Mills, James Huggins, Freeman Rogers (c), Will Thomas, Kyron Lightfoot (James Jeffrey 76), Joe Nelder (Richard Atkins 46), Matt Gething, Ryan Flack (George Sheminant 76), Harry O’Donnell (Josh Oliver 54).
Sub (unused): Joe Jarvis
Goal: Matt Gething 9

Welling Town
Charlie Martin, Vinnie Medhurst (Michael Fenn 85), Mo Alaka, Conrad Lee, Ryan Styles, Reggie Yembra, Ollie Andrews (c), Liam Spellward (Dami Oni 80), Sam Bailey (Dami Olusesi 84), George Whitelock (Kweku Ansah 60), Abi Davies (Femi Orenuga 72).
Subs (unused): none
Goals: Ollie Andrews 11, Liam Spellward 24, Sam Bailey 30.
Yellow cards: George Whitelock 45+1, Mo Alaka 65.

Attendance: 489
Referee: Jack Owen
Assistants: Ben Wright & Daniel Payton