Whitstable continued their climb up the table with a fifth win in their last six league matches after seeing off the challenge of Holmesdale on a windy afternoon on the Kent coast. Harvey Smith struck with an early header and Emmanuel Oloyede added a second just before the break. Holmesdale were more of a threat with the wind at their backs in the second half and Jahmal Howlett-Mundle made a good goal line clearance, then Sam Bayford missed a penalty, but Whitstable, having failed to take several good chances on the break, finally wrapped things up when Oloyede scored his second just after the 90 minute mark.

With the halfway point of the season fast approaching, Whitstable came into this game having won eleven of their last thirteen games in all competitions, with just a draw against Lydd Town and the dramatic last minute loss to Welling Town preventing a perfect record. Holmesdale were sitting thirteenth in the league, but had enjoyed double cup success in the preceding week, progressing to the last 32 of the FA Vase with a win at Eastbourne United before knocking Punjab United out of the league cup, both games being won 5-4 on penalties. Former Whitstable favourite Andy Constable, now part of the management team at Holmesdale was also named as a substitute for this return to the Belmont. Whitstable kept the same team that had started at Lordswood in the previous game. Tyler Anderson failed a fitness test before the game, so remained side-lined. A presentation was made to Will Thomas, to recognise his 100 appearance milestone recently passed, before the game got underway in dry but very blustery conditions.

Josh Williams made a promising run into the box in the opening minutes, but his shot was blocked. Whitstable suffered an early setback when Mikey Dalton was forced off with an injury and he was replaced by Liam Gillies in the 8th minute. When Whitstable won their third corner, Williams played it short to Josh Oliver and his cross from the right edge of the box was headed in at the back post by Harvey Smith who squeezed the ball just inside the post to give his team a 10th minute lead. Manny Oshinowo did manage to work a position for a shot at the other end, but it lacked power so was easily collected by Dan Eason. Oliver almost doubled the advantage when Emmanuel Oloyede knocked the ball down from a throw and his shot from 18 yards just missed the top corner.

In the 26th minute, Sam Bayford made a run from the left before testing Eason with a low strike that was pushed away by the Whitstable keeper before the ball was cleared. There were several injury delays in the half that eventually led to eight minutes being added. Whitstable were twice denied by Liam Northwood, who turned an Oliver shot just around the post, then also had to deal with a curling effort by Reece Gillies. In the 40th minute, a great ball forward by Reece Gillies picked out the run of Williams, but good defending by AJ Morrison prevented him getting a clean shot away. Just when it looked like Whitstable would have to settle for a single goal advantage at the break, they added a second in the 47th minute when Reece Gillies robbed Bayford and Williams raced forward before pulling the ball across for Oloyede who made no mistake.

Holmesdale came out with more purpose in the second half and Eason had to turn away an Oshinowo shot that was heading for the bottom left corner, then the same player curled another effort wide. Smith sent Williams clear with a clever pass, but he blasted his shot over the top from a tight angle as Northwood came out to make things difficult. After both teams made a change, a Holmesdale corner was swung in by Bayford and despite the efforts of two defenders and Eason at the near post, the ball seemed to be heading into the net until Jahmal Howlett-Mundle somehow hooked it away from under the bar and the well-positioned assistant ruled that it had not crossed the line. The visitors had a great opportunity to get themselves back into the game in the 63rd minute when the referee gave them a penalty as Williams was adjudged to have pushed Bayford in the area, but despite their recent penalty successes, Bayford lifted this one over the bar.

Williams got clear on the right, but sent the ball right across goal with no one able to apply the finish, then Eason pushed another Oshinowo shot away before more substitutions followed. Two Ronnie McClean shots missed the target and Steadman Callender was denied by Northwood. Any lingering doubts about the result were put to bed in the 91st minute when a stray pass by Michael Ikotun was collected by Williams who played in Liam Gillies and he squared the ball for the waiting Oloyede to step past the last defender and make it 3-0 with his seventh Whitstable goal.

Whitstable travel to Ashford to play Kennington on Tuesday evening, this time in the SCEFL Challenge Cup Third Round. The teams have already met twice in the league this season, with Whitstable winning 3-0 at home and 4-2 away.

Whitstable	Data	Holmesdale
6	Shots on target	5
3	Shots off target	4
2	Shots blocked	2
6	Corners	3
5	Fouls conceded	7
1	Offside	1
0	Penalties	1

Whitstable Town
Dan Eason (Josh Robson 90+2), Jake Mackenzie, George Sheminant, Mikey Dalton (Liam Gillies 8), Jahmal Howlett-Mundle, Tom Mills (c), Josh Oliver (Will Thomas 79), Reece Gillies, Emmanuel Oloyede, Harvey Smith (Steadman Callender 58), Josh Williams.
Sub (unused): Tyler Anderson
Goals: Harvey Smith 10, Emmanuel Oloyede 45+2, 90+1.
Yellow card: Jahmal Howlett-Mundle 43

Holmesdale
Liam Northwood, Junior Savane, AJ Morrison (c), Ayo Lugboso (Khavarn Neville-Williams 84), Tony Musoke, Tola Odedoyin, Ronnie McClean, Sam Bayford (Mike Ikotun 67), Manny Oshinowo, Dave Martin (Best Toke 60), Wale Odedoyin (Albie Omara 74).
Sub (unused): Andy Constable

Attendance: 318
Referee: Benjamin Marshall
Assistants: Adam Aylward & Matthew Burchett