Tunbridge Wells comfortably claimed the points as they scored three goals without reply at the Culverden Stadium against a Whitstable team that struggled to make any real impact on the game. Festos Kamara opened the scoring with a well-taken goal shortly after Luke Glover had made an important save to prevent Whitstable taking the lead. Trevor McCreadie added a second on the half hour mark and the game was all but over when he scored from the penalty spot early in the second half. The well organised home team fully deserved their win, working harder than Whitstable who looked short on confidence following several mixed performances.

Tunbridge Wells started the game one point above Whitstable in the early table, having played two more matches, with both teams searching for more consistency in their results. Steadman Callender had picked up an injury in midweek, so missed out, but Ben Cheklit returned from his injury and Liam Gillies was back after serving a one game ban. There were 341 in attendance on a pleasant, late September afternoon.

Whitstable were again slow to get going and Dan Eason was called into action in the 2nd minute, pushing away a Trevor McCreadie shot following a quick break. Tunbridge Wells continued to look for an early breakthrough and an unmarked McCreadie headed a right wing cross wide, then had another effort deflected behind for a corner. Whitstable created a promising opening in the 12th minute when a Josh Williams pass sent Tyler Anderson through on goal, but Luke Glover made a good save. The home goalkeeper also got across to his left to keep out a low Cheklit free kick shortly afterwards. The first goal was scored in the 16th minute when Rory Ward cut out an attempted pass on the edge of his own box before finding Jack Walder and his long ball forward sent Festos Kamara away on the left. The winger went past Jake Mackenzie, Will Thomas and Tom Mills as he cut into the box before shooting past Eason.

Tunbridge Wells made better use of the wide areas than Whitstable with Regan Corke on the right and Kamara on the left a constant threat and Whitstable somehow survived falling further behind in the 22nd minute as the ball pinged backwards and forwards in their penalty area, with an attempted clearance by Gillies cannoning off Eason before the goalkeeper recovered to block a Corke shot with Billy Lewins then lifting the rebound into the crowd behind the goal. Whitstable were misplacing too many passes as they tried to thread their way through a determined Tunbridge Wells midfield, but they did force Glover to make a couple more saves, firstly from a long range shot by Williams, then he held on to a Cheklit free kick that found its way through the box before bouncing awkwardly towards the far corner. Tunbridge Wells scored their second goal on 30 minutes following a good move down their right involving Corke and Lewins and when Corke crossed to the far post, McCreadie was in space to apply the finish. In the last few minutes of the half, McCreadie fired over when Whitstable failed to clear and Cheklit’s shot was also too high when he met Anderson’s cross.

The hosts were well worth their 2-0 half time lead and the Whitstable manager’s reaction was to replace the hard working Jack Palmby with Josh Oliver for the second half and he was soon in the action, but shot well over the bar. Lewins went closer at the other end, shooting just wide, but some more casual play by Whitstable led to the concession of a penalty. The ball was headed out of the Whitstable box and Luke Leppard showed the most desire to win possession, sending it back for Lewins to run towards goal before going down under pressure from a couple of defenders and McCreadie found the right corner with his spot kick to make it 3-0 in the 51st minute. A Kamara cross was headed wide by McCreadie, then Harvey Smith shot just past the far post after receiving a pass from Gillies. Eason managed to deny Kamara his second when he got down to save at his near post.

Eri Akintimehin was introduced for Whitstable and he caused a few problems for the home defence with some threatening runs from the left wing. The lively Oliver had two efforts blocked before Kamara curled a shot wide. After a couple of home substitutions, Lewins broke free once more, but Eason saved well. In the 78th minute, Smith headed an Akintimehin cross just wide, then a few minutes later saw his shot deflected for a corner. The last chance fell to Whitstable, who finished the game better than they had started it, when Anderson was fouled just outside the area and Oliver’s low free kick was touched onto the post by the diving Glover. The referee called a halt after 140 seconds of added time, confirming a comfortable home win.

Whitstable have now slipped to 15th in the table and will hope to bounce back when they entertain Bearsted on Saturday evening, in a game that forms part of the SCEFL Groundhop 2023.

Tunbridge Wells	Data	Whitstable
7	Shots on target	5
9	Shots off target	4
2	Shots blocked	5
3	Corners	3
10	Fouls conceded	12
1	Offside	1
1	Penalties	0

Tunbridge Wells
Luke Glover, Dan Tear, Jack Walder (c) (Frank Griffin 72), Rory Ward, Tommy Smith, Siji Akinlusi, Regan Corke (Johnny Phillips 80), Luke Leppard, Trevor McCreadie, Billy Lewins, Festos Kamara (Alfa Dada 66).
Subs (unused): James White, Ben Martin-Coward.
Goals: Festos Kamara 16, Trevor McCreadie 30, (pen) 51.
Yellow cards: Siji Akinlusi 45+2.

Whitstable Town
Dan Eason, Jake Mackenzie (James Brown 90+1), George Sheminant, Jack Palmby (Josh Oliver 46), Will Thomas, Tom Mills (c), Tyler Anderson, Liam Gillies, Harvey Smith, Ben Cheklit (Eri Akintimehin 60), Josh Williams.
Subs (unused): Josh Robson, Gus Barnes.
Yellow card: Tyler Anderson 83

Attendance: 341
Referee: Matthew Pollington
Assistants: William Levett & Alan Budden