Whitstable have recently found some promising form and began the final month of the season with a trip to Swanley to face Sutton Athletic whose grass pitch just managed to survive a very wet week. In a game of few clear cut chances, Whitstable took the lead late in the first half when Jefferson Aibangbee found the net after a series of saves by Joe Hyde. Their defence had looked relatively untroubled until the intervention of the man with the whistle just before the interval when a very questionable penalty was awarded and converted by Michael Fenn. The controversy continued at the start of the second half when the referee, who will surely enjoy better days, evened things up by giving Whitstable an equally baffling spot kick, which was duly dispatched by Josh Oliver. The remainder of the game was fairly uneventful with both goalkeepers having little to do, but there were two late yellow cards for Jake Mackenzie that left Whitstable to play out the last few minutes with ten men.

The two teams had only met a few weeks earlier when Whitstable had won 3-0 at the Belmont Ground. Neither was in this division last season, as Sutton Athletic were promoted and Whitstable dropped from the league above, but both sit comfortably in the top half with a few games remaining. Neil Spencer had made the switch between the two clubs in the week and started on the bench for Whitstable. Ashley Sains and Harry Gamble were suspended and Gus Barnes was unavailable, so Cameron Chamberlain was given a start alongside Tom Mills at the back with Will Thomas moving into a midfield role. Harry O’Donnell was back in the team having just re-joined from Canterbury City.

The Lower Road pitch quite wet in places, but generally in good condition given the poor weather that had caused some local postponements. There were just 83 in attendance including quite a few that had made the trip to support Whitstable. The game began slowly, as both teams tried to pass the ball around neatly. O’Donnell was the first to draw a save when Joe Hyde comfortably collected his low shot from around 25 yards. When Jefferson Aibangbee was fouled on the right edge of the box, O’Donnell’s left footed free kick was safely caught by Hyde. The home team then won a couple of corners and Conor Evans shot over the top from 20 yards. A good run by Aibangbee created an opening for Dean Grant but his shot was deflected just past the near post. Whitstable kept up the pressure and were rewarded in the 38th minute following their third corner. Josh Oliver quickly played it short to Aibangbee who went past a defender before his low cross reached Tom Mills whose shot was saved by Hyde. The rebound fell to George Sheminant and his shot was also blocked by Hyde and this time the ball came out to Thomas whose effort was again parried by the busy goalkeeper, but this time there was no escape and Aibangbee was on hand to fire into the roof of the net. Whitstable continued on the front foot and another O’Donnell corner was pushed out to Aibangbee who steered his shot wide. Grant then sent Oliver through and he lobbed over the advancing Hyde, but wide of the goal.

As half time approached, Sutton broke down the right and a cross was punched clear by Dan Eason who got there just ahead of Chamberlain and Arlie Desanges who crashed into the goalkeeper, injuring himself. Meanwhile the ball sailed out to the edge of the area where Liam Gillies and Jacob Kalonda challenged for it and the referee, after plenty of confusion and treatment for Desanges, decided he had spotted a foul and that it was in the area, although it certainly appeared any contact was just outside. Over three minutes later, Michael Fenn stepped up to send Eason the wrong way. There was still time for a penalty shout at the other end when O’Donnell went down in the box when challenged by Ash Sheppard, but the referee was in a better position this time and adjudged there was no foul.

Shortly after the restart, Aibangbee on the right played the ball into the path of the overlapping Jake Mackenzie who drove into the box and pulled the ball back before colliding with Fenn. While play continued with Whitstable trying to force the ball the ball home, the referee had blown for another penalty to the surprise of most. Oliver planted the ball into the corner to restore his team’s advantage in the 49th minute. A few minutes later, Oliver slipped the ball through for Aibangbee whose shot was well cut out by Fenn. In the 61st minute, a Sutts free kick was curled in by Kalonda but easily held by Eason. There was little goalmouth action for the remainder of the game, with Whitstable defending their lead reasonably comfortably, although offering little attacking threat themselves. There were four home corners with no end product and Sheppard struck a long range shot just over the bar. Mackenzie had been shown a yellow card in the 69th minute and then saw a second, perhaps more obvious one, in the 89th to end his afternoon a little early. Following six substitutions and a number of other delays, there were six added minutes, but a looping Desanges header was securely held by Eason and Whitstable had another three points to remain in 5th place.

Whitstable make their fourth attempt to play their away fixture at Holmesdale on Wednesday before entertaining Fisher on Saturday and travelling to Hollands and Blair on Easter Monday.

Sutton Ath	Data	Whitstable
3	Shots on target	7
3	Shots off target	2
1	Shots blocked	2
6	Corners	4
13	Fouls conceded	20
0	Offside	0
1	Penalties	1

Sutton Athletic
Joe Hyde, Harry Lawrence, Dominic Vincent-Edwards, Ashley Sheppard, Michael Fenn, Mason Simms, Harry Bradford (Merrick Simms 68), Connor Watson (Liam Spellward 84), Arlie Desanges (c), Conor Evans, Jacob Kalonda.
Subs (unused): Richie Gregory, Ross Obazee, George Wishart.
Goal: Michael Fenn (pen) 45+2
Yellow card: Harry Lawrence 84

Whitstable Town
Dan Eason, Jake Mackenzie, George Sheminant, Will Thomas, Cameron Chamberlain, Tom Mills (c), Jefferson Aibangbee (James Jeffrey 72), Liam Gillies, Dean Grant (Caoilte Deakin 90+1), Josh Oliver (Zack Jennings 90+4), Harry O’Donnell (Neil Spencer 59).
Sub (unused): Jeffrey Oredein
Goals: Jefferson Aibangbee 38, Josh Oliver (pen) 49.
Red card: Jake Mackenzie (two yellows 69, 89)

Attendance: 83
Referee: Kenny Agboola
Assistants: Matthew Pollington & Ayden Gillespie