The fixture list scheduled consecutive games between these two teams, but the intervening week saw a managerial change at Whitstable. Stansfeld had deservedly won the first game at the Belmont Ground to progress in the Kent Senior Trophy in what proved to be the last game in charge for Richard Styles. This league fixture at Foxbury was very different as new manager Marcel Nimani saw his team put in a controlled performance, with first half goals from Dean Grant and Victor Aiyelabola securing three points and offering some promise of better times ahead.

Just two weeks earlier, Whitstable had beaten Glebe 4-2 at the same venue, although that was the only positive result in a very poor run of five losses in six games. With less than a week in their new roles, Marcel Nimani and head coach Craig Coles had taken two training sessions, but any player movements had understandably been limited. Freeman Rogers and Matt Gething have departed for Lordswood and Tunbridge Wells, but Victor Aiyelabola has returned to Whitstable having most recently been playing for Lordswood. The captaincy reverted to Tom Mills, who started alongside Jake Mackenzie, Will Thomas and George Sheminant in a back four. Joe Nelder and Dominic Wynter-Stephens came into the midfield. Josh Oliver was suspended for this game. Stansfeld, who started this game in third place, six points above Whitstable having played one game more, made four changes to their starting line-up.

There were plenty of Whitstable supporters in attendance to witness the start of a new era and they saw their team enjoy the majority of possession in the first half. The game was just 5 minutes old when Whitstable scored. Aiyelabola found Kyron Lightfoot in space on the right and he carried the ball forward before testing Charlie Cottrell who spilled the ball and was unable to gather it safely before Grant followed in to score. Stephen Okoh was looking threatening on the left and fired in a couple of early shots. The home team had struggled to get into the game, but Lee Friend did find room on the left to send over a dangerous cross in the 16th minute, but there was nobody in the box. A Lightfoot free kick was deflected just wide and Nelder glanced a header past the far post from the corner. An Okoh cross was just out of the reach of a stretching Wynter-Stephens who arrived at the back post. Whitstable doubled their advantage in the 31st minute when the ball was headed out of their own penalty area and helped on by Grant to the halfway line where Aiyelabola got the better of his marker and raced down the right before firing past Cottrell. Whitstable continued to create the better openings and Dan Eason had just one save to make in the first half when a clearance dropped to Macey Malyon whose low shot was easily gathered in the 34th minute. As half time approached, there was a yellow card for Ollie Milton following a late challenge on Thomas, then Okoh shot wide after a good run. Whitstable were well worth their 2-0 lead at the break.

Muhammed Cham started the second half in place of Wynter-Stephens. Sheminant released Okoh who shot just wide and Lightfoot had a shot saved by Cottrell after a patient build up on the left. Whitstable were rarely threatened, but created fewer chances themselves as the game progressed. A number of changes were made by both managers and Eason got down well to a long shot by Ross Morley that he then gathered at the second attempt. Stansfeld collected two more yellow cards on a day when Whitstable managed to get through the game without any cards. Aiyelabola worked himself an opening in the 83rd minute, but shot into the side netting, then some good play by Cham and Sam Stace set up fellow substitute Harry O’Donnell whose low shot was cleared off the line by Billy Parkinson. There were a couple of late crosses and a corner for Eason and his defence to deal with, but Whitstable eased to the win with few alarms, to send their travelling supporters home with renewed optimism after a testing beginning to the season.

Whitstable return to action quickly with a visit to K Sports on Monday evening, before runaway league leaders Erith and Belvedere arrive at the Belmont on Saturday.

Stansfeld	Data	Whitstable
2	Shots on target	7
5	Shots off target	7
0	Shots blocked	1
3	Corners	3
18	Fouls conceded	9
2	Offside	6
0	Penalties	0

Stansfeld
Charlie Cottrell, Sam Smith (Frankie Beale 72), Joe Borland, Ezekiel Miller, Billy Parkinson (c), Ross Morley, Macey Malyon, Harry Day (Max Conor 57), Ollie Milton (Greg Summersby 76), Tommy Whitnell (Jack Keen 79), Lee Friend (Harrison English 63).
Subs (unused): none
Yellow cards: Ollie Milton 39, Ezekiel Miller 76, Greg Summersby 80.

Whitstable Town
Dan Eason, Jake Mackenzie, George Sheminant, Joe Nelder, Will Thomas, Tom Mills (c), Kyron Lightfoot (Sam Stace 84), Dominic Wynter-Stephens (Muhammed Cham 46), Dean Grant (James Jeffrey 68), Victor Aiyelabola, Stephen Okoh (Harry O’Donnell 75).
Subs (unused): none
Goals: Dean Grant 5, Victor Aiyelabola 31.

Attendance: n/a
Referee: Kieran Cox
Assistants: Daniel Davis & Daniel Wyatt