Whitstable produced one of their better away performances to date and eased to a 3-0 win against a Hollands and Blair team that struggled to get into the game. Whitstable had already created several good chances before a Josh Oliver penalty put them ahead after Jake Mackenzie had been fouled. Josh Williams raced clear to double the advantage before half time and then set up Oliver to score another, early in the second half. There were a few further opportunities at both ends, but none were taken and the game drifted to its inevitable conclusion.

This fixture saw Whitstable travel to face their former manager Scott Porter in the home dugout, assisted by Mark Lane, and there were also some familiar faces among the coaching staff, as well as five players who have previously played for the Oystermen: Harry Brown, Rob Gillman, Alfie Giles, Sam Stace and Dean Grant, who has been in good goalscoring form since his recent switch. There was one change to the Whitstable starting eleven from the weekend’s 2-1 win against Bearsted, with Tyler Anderson returning in place of Ben Cheklit. Midfielder Reece Gillies, who re-joined the club in the week was on the bench. Whitstable started the game in 11th place, 5 spots and 2 points above their hosts who had played one game more. There were 168 people in attendance at the Star Meadow Sports Ground which has seen more recent ground improvements following the 3G pitch installation last season.

The game started quietly, but Whitstable almost took the lead in the 12th minute when Josh Oliver passed the ball to Tyler Anderson deep inside his own half and he made a great run down the left wing leaving several Blair players trailing, but with Harvey Smith arriving for a tap in and the goal open he poked the ball across from a tight angle and it went between Smith and the far post and out for a goal kick. Anderson then headed an Oliver free kick well wide after a mistimed challenge by Brown on Jack Palmby. Whitstable’s pace continued to create openings and Oliver put a shot wide before they took the lead from the penalty spot in the 18th minute. Jake Mackenzie started a move on the right and then made a forward run into the box to get on the end of a Josh Williams chip and after nodding the ball past Augusto Chiari, he was taken out by the young defender and the referee had no hesitation in awarding the penalty. Oliver struck the ball firmly and although Dan Ellis got a hand to it, he was unable to keep it out of the net. Blair won a succession of corners, with former Whitstable centre back Rob Gillman having a back post header deflected behind off Dan Eason, but it became 2-0 in the 33rd minute when Palmby won the ball in his own half and Liam Gillies took it forward before splitting the home defence with a pass that Williams raced on to and he went past Ellis to roll the ball into the net. Smith turned and shot past the far post from the edge of the box and, just before the break, more good work by Anderson on the left gave him the chance to send a low cross into the middle, but it was cleared and Whitstable went in at half time well worth their two goal lead.

Soon after the restart a left wing cross by Anderson was headed in by Smith, but it was ruled out by an offside flag. Whitstable just about wrapped up the points in the 53rd minute when Williams collected a pass on the right and made a run towards the penalty area before reversing a pass to Oliver on his right and he powered the ball past Ellis just inside the near post to make it 3-0. Blair manager Scott Porter had seen enough and immediately made a triple substitution. One of these introductions, Louis Valencia, did at least force Dan Eason to get down to save a low shot from 20 yards. Whitstable then also began to make changes and the game became a little more even, although Whitstable’s lead was never really under threat. Chiari shot over, then Ellis collected a deflected Williams shot. More team changes followed and Blair had probably their best chance in the 84th minute when a cross from the right found an unmarked Harvey Welford in the middle, but he planted his header wide from a few yards out. In added time, Tom Mills cut out a low cross at the expense of a corner that was met by Welford who headed the ball down and as it bounced towards goal, Eason did well to push it away from under the bar before it was eventually cleared. The final whistle blew after six added minutes and Whitstable can be well satisfied with their night’s work.

Next up on Saturday, Tunbridge Wells visit the Belmont for a Kent Senior Trophy tie and Whitstable will be looking for a better performance than in their recent league defeat at Culverden.

Hollands & Blair	Data	Whitstable
3	Shots on target	4
5	Shots off target	5
2	Shots blocked	1
5	Corners	2
14	Fouls conceded	16
2	Offside	4
0	Penalties	1

Hollands and Blair
Dan Ellis (c), Billy Horley, Harry Brown (James Nurden 55), Lewis Allan (Louis Valencia 55), Augusto Chiari, Rob Gillman, Alfie Giles (Jack Simon 55), Sam Stace, Dean Grant, Harvey Welford, Kene Ukatu (Bronum Reynolds 75).
Sub (unused): Aaron Lee-Wharton

Whitstable Town
Dan Eason, Jake Mackenzie, George Sheminant, Jack Palmby (Reece Gillies 63), Will Thomas (Ed May 78), Tom Mills (c), Tyler Anderson (James Brown 84), Liam Gillies, Harvey Smith (Ben Cheklit 75), Josh Oliver, Josh Williams (Eri Akintimehin 70).
Subs (unused): none
Goals: Josh Oliver (pen) 18, 53, Josh Williams 33.
Yellow cards: Tom Mills 63, Josh Oliver 79.

Attendance: 168
Referee: Tom Nicholls
Assistants: Simon Cuthbert & Jamie Gray