Whitstable’s awful home record shows no sign of improving and is now the worst in the division after this seventh defeat in nine league games at the Belmont Ground. The first half was relatively evenly contested, with both teams creating opportunities, but Whitstable were unable to beat Henry Newcombe in the Deal goal and it was the visitors that led at the break when Riley Alford took advantage of the space he was allowed, to tuck a cross past Dan Eason. The home supporters, who again turned up in large numbers on a cold day, would have been disappointed that their team failed to really test Newcombe in a poor second half and a great strike by Billy Munday made sure of an away win. A very harsh, late red card for the returning Jordan Wells added to the frustration of the Whitstable bench.

New signing Rodney Eruotor came straight into the Whitstable team, starting on the right, and Gus Barnes returned to the starting eleven on the left wing. Jordan Wells, who came back to the club in the summer, was finally able to be named among the substitutes following a lengthy period out with an injury. The Deal team included former Whitstable players Macauley Murray, Aaron Millbank, Dean James and Connor Coyne, whilst goalkeeper Henry Newcombe made one appearance for the Oystermen in a pre-season game at Folkestone in 2019. They are enjoying another good run in the FA Vase this season and had scored two late goals to win the reverse fixture 2-1 back in September. The freezing temperatures had caused the postponement of a number of local games, but a healthy crowd of 486 were at the Belmont Ground to watch this match on the 3G surface.

It was Whitstable that started the better and Dean Grant managed to work his way in from the left, passing a couple of challenges, before his shot from a tight angle found the side netting and a goal kick was awarded as appeals for a corner were ignored. Whitstable did win their first corner shortly afterwards and George Sheminant’s inswinger was clawed out from under the bar by Newcombe. Liam Gillies was cautioned for a high challenge on the right touchline in the 12th minute and Penny’s free kick was glanced towards goal by the head of Tom Chapman before the ball rebounded to Munday who somehow put it wide of an open goal from close range. Deal did find the net to open the scoring in the 17th minute when Murray spread the ball out to Penny on the left and his right footed cross was met by an unmarked Alford at the near post and he diverted the ball past a stranded Eason. Whitstable might have equalised in the 20th minute when a good move on the right involving Eruotor, Grant and Harry Gamble saw Gillies leave the ball for Barnes coming in from the left, but his first time shot lacked the power to beat Newcombe. After Munday had shot wide from outside the box, Gillies released Grant on the right and his shot was parried by Newcombe, but although Whitstable kept the ball alive, with Grant trying a cheeky backheel, the danger was eventually cleared. Whitstable threatened again a few minutes later when Barnes, Gamble and Grant combined to find Eruotor on the right, but his shot was kept out by the legs of Newcombe and the ball came out to Gillies who played in Eruotor again on the edge of the box and although his shot was deflected into the net, an offside flag had already been raised. Grant had to be substituted in the 37th minute following an earlier knock and he was replaced up front by James Jeffrey. As the interval approached, both Munday and Tom Chapman sent long range shots just wide, before a foul on Eruotor gave Whitstable a set piece opportunity, but instead of putting the ball into the box, the free kick by Gillies was swept out of play on the left, much to the amusement of the away fans whose team led 1-0 at half time.

Whitstable showed some early promise in the second half, but failed to trouble Newcombe. Gamble won the ball and found Eruotor who scooped an effort over the bar, then a good run by Sheminant ended with a blocked shot on the edge of the box. Jeffrey made a good run into the box, but his shot was deflected and easily gathered by the Deal goalkeeper. Some good defending by Tom Mills prevented Millbank from getting in a shot, then Gillies sent Eruotor through at the other end, but his low cross was smothered by Newcombe. Whitstable’s chances of getting anything from the game were diminished when Deal added their second in the 64th minute, when a ball into the box from the left was cleared as far as Munday who shot firmly into the bottom left corner from around 28 yards. More substitutions took place, including the long awaited return for Wells. A Sheminant corner was just prevented from curling into the top corner by Newcombe and Whitstable had to defend three corners at the other end before Deal went close to extending their lead in the 79th minute. Penny, on the left, swung the ball over and it struck the far post before rebounding to Tom Chapman who fired it wide of the left post from 18 yards. Whitstable then had their best opportunity to give themselves a lifeline when Michael Uwezu latched onto a misplaced Alford pass and slid the ball through to Jeffrey, but he shot wide with just Newcombe to beat. Eason then comfortably saved a low Tom Chapman shot from distance. The referee mysteriously awarded Deal an indirect free kick a few yards from goal when Eason picked up the ball after it rebounded off Mills, but Penny’s effort was blocked in the crowded box. There was one more moment of controversy in added time when a Wells shot was closed down and he was then shown a straight red card following a collision as he slid in to try to block the clearance. The game had gone for Whitstable by then though and Deal had done enough to complete the double for this season.

It was another disappointing home result for Whitstable who next travel to Lordswood on Saturday, weather permitting, followed by a Christmas fixture at home to Canterbury City.

Whitstable	Data	Deal
4	Shots on target	4
4	Shots off target	9
4	Shots blocked	3
5	Corners	6
9	Fouls conceded	9
3	Offside	1
0	Penalties	0

Whitstable Town
Dan Eason, Jake Mackenzie, George Sheminant, Reiss Chandler (Jordan Wells 65), Sam FitzGerald (Michael Uwezu 71), Tom Mills (c), Rodney Eruotor, Liam Gillies (Caoilte Deakin 86), Dean Grant (James Jeffrey 37), Harry Gamble, Gus Barnes (Victor Aiyelabola 74).
Subs (unused): none
Yellow cards: Liam Gillies 12, Gus Barnes 22, James Jeffrey 69, Tom Mills 83.
Red card: Jordan Wells 90+2

Deal Town
Henry Newcombe, Joe Reeves (Liam Hark 71), Jack Penny, Alfie Foster, Alex Green, Billy Munday, Tom Chapman, Macauley Murray (c), Aaron Millbank (Connor Coyne 67), Ben Chapman, Riley Alford (Alex Smith 83).
Subs (unused): Lewis Stevens-Toomey, Dean James.
Goals: Riley Alford 17, Billy Munday 64.
Yellow card: Billy Munday 90+1

Attendance: 486
Referee: Kehinde Agboola
Assistants: Michael Skerratt & Jack Mottram