Whitstable returned from Deal without any reward for a good first half, during which they should probably have had more to show for their efforts than a single strike by Matt Gething. The missed chances and goal line clearances would later prove costly as Deal gradually grew into the game after the break and two late goals from Kane Smith and Jack Penny were enough to claim all three points in front of a good midweek attendance of 512. The goals were only a part of the story however, with a number of debateable incidents and a late red card for Tom Mills.

Games between these two teams have tended to be close affairs over the years and with both sitting towards the top of the early table, this was expected to be no different. The Deal team included a former Whitstable player Dean James, with another, Aaron Millbank, among the substitutes. Whitstable had not played since their narrow win over Rusthall ten days earlier and Freeman Rogers returned to captain the team after missing that game following his head injury.

Whitstable missed a great chance to take an early lead in the 3rd minute from a throw in when Kyron Lightfoot had a shot blocked on the line and put the rebound over the bar from close range. Deal had an opportunity from a corner in the 12th minute when the ball was headed wide at the back post by Smith, then Penny lifted a free kick over the bar from a promising position just outside the area. At the other end, a Lightfoot cross from the right was glanced wide by Gething, then Josh Oliver had an effort blocked before Gething stabbed another cross just past the post. Tom Chapman looked a threat on the Deal right and sent one effort just over. Whitstable opened the scoring in the 24th minute when Lightfoot collected the ball and played it to Gething, who turned back before shooting low just inside the post from 25 yards. Whitstable tried to increase their advantage as Henry Newcombe saved an Oliver shot at his near post and then also kept out a Lightfoot shot that bounced awkwardly in front of him. Lightfoot and Gething created another chance and when the ball rebounded to Lightfoot, his shot hit Lewis Stevens-Toomey on the line and the ball was cleared. Whitstable played out the last few minutes of the half with ten men after Will Thomas was sent to the sin bin for protesting about a challenge on Rogers. Deal won a free kick in added time when James Huggins was penalised for a challenge 22 yards out, but Penny curled the ball straight into the grateful hands of Dan Eason.

Deal won a couple of early corners in the second half, which generally started quietly, apart from another yellow card for each team to add to the three shown before the interval. Whitstable sent on Muhammed Cham for Lightfoot and Deal replaced James with Millbank on 70 minutes. The home team were now beginning to enjoy more possession in the Whitstable half and found an equaliser in the 77th minute. A curling shot from distance by Millbank was touched over the bar by Eason and Penny’s corner was turned in at the back post by Smith. Just a couple of minutes later a Huggins shot was blocked, then a loose pass gave Deal an opportunity to break and Tom Chapman’s delivery from the right was met by Penny at the far post and his diving header put Deal in front. In the 82nd minute, a long ball sent Oliver into the box where he appeared to be brought down by Stevens-Toomey, but the referee did not see it that way, much to the dismay of the Whitstable manager and assistant who were both shown yellow cards for their reaction. Things became more heated a few minutes later following a challenge and a tangle of legs in front of the away dugout that led to some pushing and shoving involving players and substitutes of both teams. The referee and assistant spoke at length and after a few visits to the two dugouts, several random cards were shown, including a second yellow to the Whitstable assistant manager, and play eventually restarted nearly four minutes later. In the 89th minute, having previously been cautioned, Mills looked a little unfortunate to be shown another yellow card for a challenge and Whitstable had to finish the game a man short. The resulting free kick was met by the head of Liam Hark, but Eason saved well. Nearly eight minutes were added, during which a Thomas shot was deflected behind, but there was no way back for Whitstable.

A visit to Erith Town is next for Whitstable, as they look to bounce back from a game that ended disappointingly despite a good first half performance.

Deal	Data	Whitstable
8	Shots on target	6
4	Shots off target	4
1	Shots blocked	4
7	Corners	4
6	Fouls conceded	12
4	Offside	1
0	Penalties	0

Deal Town
Henry Newcombe, Lewis Stevens-Toomey, Jack Penny, Liam Hark, Kane Smith (c), Alfie Foster, Tom Chapman, Billy Munday, Dean James (Aaron Millbank 70), Ben Chapman, Riley Alford (Alex Smith 90+4).
Subs (unused): Sam Taylor, John Brayne, Kieron Hollier.
Goals: Kane Smith 77, Jack Penny 79.
Yellow cards: Billy Munday 42, Dean James 64, John Brayne 87.

Whitstable Town
Dan Eason, Jake Mackenzie, George Sheminant, Tom Mills, Freeman Rogers (c), Will Thomas, Kyron Lightfoot (Muhammed Cham 66), James Huggins (Harry Stannard 88), Matt Gething, Josh Oliver, James Jeffrey (Ryan Flack 75).
Subs (unused): Harry O’Donnell, Dominic Wynter-Stephens.
Goal: Matt Gething 24
Sin bin: Will Thomas 41
Yellow cards: Kyron Lightfoot 27, James Huggins 45+1, James Jeffrey 87.
Red card: Tom Mills (two yellows 62, 89)

Attendance: 512
Referee: Tom George
Assistants: Krystian Kaczala & John Quirke