The two teams relegated from the Isthmian League last season served up a fascinating encounter that provided a fitting end to first team football at the Belmont for this season. Phoenix Sports had the better of the early exchanges and Francis Babalola bundled in the opening goal. Whitstable fought back, creating some good openings, but had to wait until just before the interval for any reward when Jefferson Aibangbee equalised and he added a second early in the second half. The visitors then gave their all to get something from the game and aid their promotion ambitions, but failed to test Dan Eason in the home goal until Mikey Dalton buried a cross late in the game. There was a very late twist that sent the majority of the crowd home happy when substitute James Jeffrey scored the winner deep into added time.

Second placed Phoenix arrived on a seventeen match unbeaten run that included a 2-1 win against Whitstable in late February. They were six points below long time leaders Erith and Belvedere with three games to play, so still with a slim chance of becoming champions, but more realistically one point ahead of Deal Town and Erith Town, with a game in hand of both, in the chase for the sole play off spot. Whitstable had just pride to play for, but also needing three points from their last two games to be sure of finishing fifth and indeed to maintain some momentum for next season’s campaign. George Sheminant and Josh Oliver were both available again after missing the two Easter games. This was the designated Sponsors’ Day at Whitstable which helped to produce this season’s highest attendance of 751, beating the previous best of 627 against Canterbury City at Christmas.

An energetic Phoenix pushed Whitstable back in the early stages of the game, played in pleasant sunshine, with Tashi-Jay Kwayie having a shot blocked. Whitstable struggled to get forward, although Harry Gamble tried a shot following one good passage of play. A careless pass led to a Phoenix corner from which they scored in the 14th minute. The delivery from Ryan Hayes was headed back towards goal by Matt Bourne and forced over the line by Francis Babalola, although there were plenty of protests that it was his arm that got the vital touch. That setback seemed to change things a little and Whitstable should have levelled the scores a couple of minutes later when a good move saw Jefferson Aibangbee send over a low cross from the right for the unmarked Liam Gillies who timed his run perfectly only to lift his shot high over the bar. Aibangbee was beginning to cause some problems for Henry Douglas who went into the book for a foul.

Whitstable suffered a blow when their influential skipper Tom Mills picked up a head injury and, although he tried to continue after attention, had to be replaced shortly afterwards. Will Thomas moved back into defence and Oliver came on and was soon in the action when Dean Grant sent him through, but he was denied by veteran goalkeeper Andy Walker. At the other end, Kwayie had a shot saved by Dan Eason and stabbed another effort wide, but Whitstable continued to threaten and Lee Bird was cautioned for a pull back then a great Aibangbee run down the left ended when he went down under another Douglas challenge; fortunately for the Phoenix player, the referee waved away appeals for a foul that would have probably meant a second yellow card. In the 45th minute, another Oliver shot squeezed past Walker before being cleared off the line by Ryan Sawyer. Whitstable had a corner that Ashley Sains rose to meet and the ball dropped for Aibangbee to fire through the crowded box into the net. That proved to be the last action of a competitive half that ended 1-1.

The opening minutes of the second half saw both teams try their luck with a few attempts without finding their target. Grant had two efforts for Whitstable, while Thomas blocked a Hayes shot and Babalola fired wide from 25 yards. It was the home side that were successful in the 57th minute when Sheminant sent the ball forward and Oliver won an aerial duel with Sawyer to nod the ball on for Grant who instantly sent Aibangbee away and he got past the attentions of Douglas and produced a left footed finish low past Walker. Oliver put a shot wide before a fierce Hayes shot was deflected away for a Phoenix corner. Both managers made changes, with Harry O’Donnell being replaced by Jeffrey Oredein shortly after being cautioned. Hayes volleyed over the top, Babalola had another shot deflected to safety and it looked like Whitstable might keep their slender advantage.

This rollercoaster game turned again in the 82nd minute and it was Babalola who created the chance with a good run to the right of the area before crossing to the far post where Mikey Dalton arrived unchallenged to tie things up at 2-2. Tom O’Connor was the last to be cautioned and further substitutions took place and it was one of those late introductions that would have the final word in the fifth added minute. Whitstable broke quickly down the left from a goal kick and Oliver raced into the box before finding James Jeffrey who collected the ball at the near post and lifted his shot over Walker to win the game. It was a great finish and the “super sub” had his sixth goal as a substitute this season and sparked joyous scenes around the ground. The final whistle blew as the game restarted and the contrasting emotions around the packed Belmont were there for all to see.

The game had been a great advert for Non-league Step 5 football with both teams playing their full part. The result left Erith and Belvedere needing just one point from three games to claim the title, but Phoenix are still well placed to finish second which would earn them a shot at a quick return to the Isthmian League via a playoff. Whitstable will finish fifth, but have one game to play next Saturday at Welling Town, who may need something from the game to avoid relegation, should Canterbury win their last game.

Whitstable	Data	Phoenix Sp
6	Shots on target	3
4	Shots off target	10
1	Shots blocked	7
4	Corners	10
10	Fouls conceded	15
7	Offside	0
0	Penalties	0

Whitstable Town
Dan Eason, Jake Mackenzie, George Sheminant, Will Thomas, Ashley Sains, Tom Mills (c) (Josh Oliver 29), Harry O’Donnell (Jeffrey Oredein 65), Liam Gillies, Dean Grant, Harry Gamble, Jefferson Aibangbee (James Jeffrey 89).
Subs (unused): Neil Spencer, Gus Barnes.
Goals: Jefferson Aibangbee 45+2, 57, James Jeffrey 90+5.
Yellow card: Harry O’Donnell 65

Phoenix Sports
Andy Walker, Henry Douglas (Tom O’Connor 75), Lewis Clark (Tom Cousins 67), Matt Bourne, Ryan Sawyer, Mikey Dalton, Ryan Hayes (c) (Dan Birch 86), Lee Bird, Francis Babalola, Tashi-Jay Kwayie, Alfie Evans.
Subs (unused): Harrison Pont, Kieran King.
Goals: Francis Babalola 14, Mikey Dalton 82.
Yellow cards: Henry Douglas 19, Lee Bird 37, Tom O’Connor 84.

Attendance: 751
Referee: Ashley Rodi
Assistants: David Simmons & Ryan Cole