It may only be July, but a new SCEFL season has begun. Whitstable faced a challenging opening fixture at the Belmont against Erith Town, who last season comfortably won both games between the teams. This time, Whitstable made a promising start to their campaign, with a goal in each half enough to win a competitive match watched by 417 in attendance. Whitstable rarely looked like surrendering the advantage given to them by an early Josh Oliver penalty, until a couple of narrow escapes in added time at the end of the game before Oliver made sure of the points with almost the last kick of the afternoon.

Erith Town finished the 2022-23 season in fourth place, with Whitstable eleven points behind in fifth. Both teams have tried to strengthen during the summer, hoping to at least reach a play off spot. Steadman Callender, who scored three goals for Erith against Whitstable last season, was one of several players making their debuts for Whitstable. Jack Palmby, Tyler Anderson and Josh Williams were the other new names in the starting eleven. Goalkeeper Dan Eason and the back four were all familiar faces, having 762 appearances for the club between them. The “Dockers” have made the move to Thamesmead from the Erith Stadium during the close season.

Whitstable won two early corners, the second being flicked wide of the back post by Will Thomas. Erith then had a corner of their own that went right across goal with nobody able to get a touch. Williams and Oliver both had efforts blocked by defenders before another Williams shot was deflected wide. Whitstable scored in the 18th minute when Josh Oliver beat Mackenzie Foley from the penalty spot after a rash challenge by Tom Ash felled the pacy Anderson in the box. Thomas did well to block an Alfie Eldridge shot on the 18 yard line before Eason got down to save comfortably from James Dyer. A promising Whitstable attack led to Callender rolling the ball into the path of Oliver whose shot from 22 yards was saved by Foley. Another good Whitstable build up gave Liam Gillies the chance to line up a shot, but a deflection took the pace off the ball which was safely collected by the goalkeeper. A few minutes before the break an Oliver corner was headed just wide by Palmby, who made an impressive debut in midfield, and the score remained 1-0 at half time.

Anderson and Williams combined early in the second half, but the Erith defence snuffed out the danger. Chances were limited, but Dyer fired over the top from a tight angle. Both managers started to make changes and Eri Akintimehin replaced Anderson to make his Whitstable debut on the left wing. Gillies and Williams both had shots blocked for Whitstable, then Akintimehin cut in and lifted a shot over the top. A George Sheminant corner was headed towards goal by Palmby and Callender was just unable to hook the ball past Foley. Akintimehin was then denied by Foley after a one-two with Gillies. Whitstable created a great opportunity to seal the points in the 81st minute when Gillies and Oliver sent Akintimehin away again on the left and his low cross was steered wide of the near post by Dean Grant. Erith had not really troubled Eason in the home goal, but they went close twice after the 90 minute mark when for the first time Whitstable became a little careless in possession. Dyer chipped the ball into the box where Aaron Jeffery got clear to lob the ball over Eason, but the ball rebounded off the bar before being cleared. Shortly afterwards, Ryan Mahal curled a fierce shot towards goal, only for the ball to be deflected wide by the head of his teammate Jeffery. The outcome was settled in the 95th minute when Whitstable collected a loose pass in the centre circle and some good work by Akintimehin sent Oliver through and his shot found the net via the inside of the post. The referee blew up soon after the restart and the 2-0 win gave Whitstable three points to start the season positively.

The FA Cup begins next Saturday and Whitstable face a trip to newly relegated, former Isthmian League rivals, Haywards Heath Town in the Extra Preliminary Round.

Whitstable	Data	Erith Town
7	Shots on target	2
4	Shots off target	6
7	Shots blocked	1
6	Corners	2
16	Fouls conceded	15
1	Offside	6
1	Penalties	0

Whitstable Town
Dan Eason, Jake Mackenzie, George Sheminant, Jack Palmby, Will Thomas, Tom Mills (c), Tyler Anderson (Eri Akintimehin 58), Liam Gillies, Steadman Callender (Dean Grant 70), Josh Oliver, Josh Williams (Rodney Eruotor 70).
Subs (unused): Ed May, Harry O’Donnell.
Goals: Josh Oliver (pen) 18, 90+5.
Yellow cards: Jack Palmby 53, Will Thomas 73.

Erith Town
Mackenzie Foley, Jack Holland (Ryan Mahal 84), James Trueman, Jerome Jayaguru, Jamie Miller, Tom Ash (c), James Dyer, James Miles (Rowan Slater 63), Ladic Melconian (Joe Chalker 80), Alfie Eldridge (Ollie Milton 80), Henry Arnold (Aaron Jeffery 70).
Subs (unused): none
Yellow cards: Henry Arnold 17, Jack Holland 62, Alfie Eldridge 76, Jamie Miller 86.

Attendance: 417
Referee: Joshua Williams
Assistants: Nicholas Derrane & Bradley Godden