Whitstable gave their supporters little to cheer about on a disappointing evening at the Belmont. A few early chances for the home team were not taken and it was Kennington that eventually took the lead, after threatening to do so on several occasions, when Rajan Sahni found the space to shoot past Dan Eason. Hopes of a comeback were not helped when midfielder Joe Nelder was shown two yellow cards in the space of a few minutes just before the half time whistle. The reduced Whitstable team put in plenty of effort in the second half, but rarely looked like scoring and Kennington might have extended their advantage, but for some good saves by Dan Eason.

Following two defeats on the road and with a one game ban for Tom Mills, manager Richard Styles shuffled the team slightly and there were starts for James Huggins, Joe Nelder and Harry O’Donnell. Kennington arrived at the Belmont having won two of their opening six league matches and their defence included Tommy Penfold, who had joined Whitstable in the summer before returning to Kennington without making an appearance for the Oystermen. There was a fair midweek attendance of 258 at the Belmont to watch the game.

Whitstable began brightly enough and Matt Gething was just unable to apply a finishing touch to a good low right wing cross by Kyron Lightfoot. Tom Scorer twice tried his luck from distance at the other end, but both efforts went over the bar. Josh Oliver made a great run down the left and into the box, but chose to shoot rather than cross and blazed his effort over the top. Eason gathered a long shot at the second attempt and then saved at his near post after Liam Whiting was given too much room on the left. The closest Whitstable came to a goal was in the 26th minute when Oliver played in Lightfoot, but his shot struck the post and Gething chipped the rebound over the bar. That was as good as it got for the home team and Kennington began to find holes in the Whitstable defence. Mitchell Harman was sent clear with a neat pass, but Eason was out quickly to make the save, then Sahni twisted and turned before shooting over from 18 yards. One promising Whitstable attack created an opportunity for Lightfoot whose curling shot was saved by Joe Mant. Sahni was looking dangerous on the left and Jake Mackenzie just got back to deflect his shot for a corner, but he got free again in the 39th minute and this time beat Eason at the near post with a good finish. Penfold headed a free kick wide in the 44th minute, but either side of that, Nelder collected his two cautions and so would play no part in the second half.

Trailing by a single goal and reduced to ten, James Jeffrey replaced O’Donnell when the teams returned to the pitch. Gething was fouled on the edge of the box and George Sheminant stepped up to take the free kick, but amazingly managed to clear the roof of one of the houses some distance behind the Gasworks Stand! Jeffrey headed an Oliver free kick wide before a Sahni cross from the left was met by Harry Stow whose first time shot was tipped over the bar by Eason. Charlie Owen released Harman, but his weak shot was gathered by Eason who was soon in action again, parrying another Sahni effort. Whitstable were struggling to create much, but Will Thomas headed a Gething cross just wide in the 74th minute. Sahni got free again on the left and curled a shot just wide of the far post before both managers made further changes. Substitute Muhammed Cham almost got on the end of balls into the box on two occasions, then Eason recovered to make a good save after Harman had intercepted his clearance. A hooked shot from the edge of the box by Jeffrey was comfortably saved as the game entered stoppage time. A late run towards the Whitstable goal was ended just outside the area by Huggins, who was shown a yellow card for his challenge. The free kick was deflected behind, but Kennington had done enough to register their third win of the season.

Whitstable will want to turn things around quickly after three straight losses, but face a difficult away fixture at Glebe on Saturday, followed by a midweek return to the Belmont for former manager Scott Porter with his current club Hollands and Blair.

Whitstable	Data	Kennington
3	Shots on target	8
6	Shots off target	7
1	Shots blocked	4
2	Corners	5
13	Fouls conceded	17
3	Offside	1
0	Penalties	0

Whitstable Town
Dan Eason, Jake Mackenzie, George Sheminant, James Huggins, Freeman Rogers (c), Will Thomas, Kyron Lightfoot (Muhammed Cham 76), Joe Nelder, Matt Gething, Josh Oliver (Alfie Prior 76), Harry O’Donnell (James Jeffrey 46).
Subs (unused): Alex Kokoshi, Tom Roberts.
Yellow card: James Huggins 90+3
Red card: Joe Nelder (two yellows 41, 45+3)

Kennington
Joe Mant, Harry Stow, Liam Whiting (Matt Kirby 61), Adam Phillips, Tommy Penfold, Harry Lavender, Kundai Munyama, Tom Scorer (c), Mitchell Harman, Charlie Owen, Rajan Sahni (Liam Middleton 76).
Subs (unused): Jordan Griffin, Ed Miller, Finley Chatfield.
Goal: Rajan Sahni 39
Yellow cards: Kundai Munyama 22, Adam Phillips 49, Harry Stow 65.

Attendance: 258
Referee: Rhys Jeffery
Assistants: Chandon Chapman & Mark Roberts