There was plenty of pre-Christmas entertainment for the four figure crowd at a packed Belmont as Whitstable recovered from a two goal deficit to score a late equaliser and then almost win it right at the end. Whitstable had early chances, but it was Faversham who eventually took the lead with a well-taken Billy Bennett strike and Matt Nemman then headed in a corner just before half time to give the league leaders a two goal cushion. It was Josh Williams who gave Whitstable hope with a good run and shot midway through the second half and Josh Vincent turned a cross into his own net just after the 90 minute mark to tie things up. Whitstable nearly made it the perfect comeback when Tyler Anderson shot past Lewis Briggs shortly afterwards, but the ball hit the post as the home supporters were getting ready to celebrate.

These two local rivals are both challenging at the top of the table in a very competitive division, no doubt hoping for a promotion back to the Isthmian League. Faversham came into this game in first place, four points ahead of third placed Whitstable. Faversham had edged the August Bank Holiday fixture 2-1, when the game was decided by two long range Sam Hasler strikes after Whitstable had missed some good chances. Mikey Dalton returned after injury in an otherwise unchanged Whitstable starting eleven. The excellent attendance for this local derby was 1,112, which was the highest at the Belmont since 1,144 watched Whitstable lose 2-1 to Margate in an FA Cup tie in 2006.

There was almost an early goal for Whitstable in the 4th minute when Josh Williams ran on to a long ball forward and went past a couple of defenders, but Lewis Briggs kept the ball out with his legs and Harvey Smith then sliced the follow up wide from 12 yards. Williams went close again in the 10th minute after getting the better of Matt Parsons on the right, but his low shot was saved again by Briggs at the near post and this time Smith’s follow up attempt from 18 yards was well blocked by the defence. Faversham had their first opportunity to test Dan Eason from a free kick, but Haslers’s effort from 25 yards was parried by Eason and Tom Mills cleared the loose ball. Josh Oliver had a shot deflected wide, then a quick break by Nathan Wood following a Whitstable corner gave top scorer Stefan Payne a chance to shoot, but Eason saved. Faversham took the lead in the 22nd minute when Parsons won the ball and found Kieron Campbell on the left and he back heeled it to Billy Bennett who sent two defenders the wrong way before curling the ball over Eason into the top corner from 18 yards. Bennett then headed on a right wing cross for Campbell who shot too close to Eason at the back post. In the 37th minute, Mills sent Emmanuel Oloyede away and he dribbled the ball forward before it was poked towards goal as Josh Vincent challenged and Briggs pushed it back into the path of Oloyede who lifted it over the top. Briggs caught an Oliver shot before Faversham won a corner and Hasler’s delivery was headed in from close range by Matt Newman to make it 0-2 just into added time and that remained the score at the interval.

Whitstable came out with work to do in the second half, although it was Faversham that pushed forward in the opening minutes before Dalton found Oliver on the left, but he chose to shoot from a narrow angle and Briggs saved. Wood then tried to slip the ball through for Payne at the other end, but Eason was out quickly to deny him. Tyler Anderson was sent of for Smith as Whitstable made their first change in the 59th minute. Oloyede headed a Williams cross over the bar, but the home crowd got the goal they were hoping for in the 66th minute. A ball over the top by right back Jake Mackenzie got past Jake McIntyre who was then unable to prevent Williams racing down the right before cutting back inside and beating Briggs at the near post. Whitstable seemed to gain confidence from that and an Oliver free kick was headed over by Oloyede, who then had another looping header comfortably saved by Briggs. Faversham substitute Ashley Miller had two efforts easily caught by Eason before the referee waved away optimistic penalty appeals when Campbell failed to get past Jahmal Howlett-Mundle on the edge of the box. Hasler finally went into the book after one foul too many and there were also late cautions for Parsons and Oliver. Faversham were preparing a late substitution as the clock ticked down when Whitstable levelled in the 91st minute. A Liam Gillies free kick was only cleared to Williams who found a good pass out to Oloyede on the right and his low cross towards Howlett-Mundle at the far post was turned past Briggs by Vincent for an own goal and the large crowd erupted noisily. Things almost got even better for the home supporters in the 96th minute when a Liam Gillies pass sent Anderson through on goal and he shot low past Briggs only to see the ball hit the foot of the left post and rebound to safety as the majority of the Whitstable team held their heads or fell to the ground in frustration. There was one late Faversham corner for Whitstable to survive before the referee blew to end a memorable game with the scores level at 2-2 and the points shared.

Following a Christmas break, SCEFL football returns on Saturday when Whitstable travel to play Lydd Town and Faversham entertain Deal Town.

Whitstable	Data	Faversham
9	Shots on target	8
7	Shots off target	1
2	Shots blocked	2
3	Corners	3
5	Fouls conceded	16
1	Offside	3
0	Penalties	0

Whitstable Town
Dan Eason, Jake Mackenzie, George Sheminant, Mikey Dalton, Jahmal Howlett-Mundle, Tom Mills (c), Josh Oliver (Eniye Amgbaduba 89), Liam Gillies, Emmanuel Oloyede (Reece Gillies 90+3), Harvey Smith (Tyler Anderson 59), Josh Williams.
Sub (unused): Will Thomas, Josh Robson.
Goals: Josh Williams 66, Josh Vincent o.g. 90+1.
Yellow cards: Jahmal Howlett-Mundle 62, Josh Oliver 89.

Faversham Town
Lewis Briggs, Josh Vincent, Jake McIntyre, Matt Parsons, Connor Essam (c), Sam Hasler, Matt Newman, Nathan Wood (Ashley Miller 70), Stefan Payne (Warren Mfula 80), Billy Bennett, Kieron Campbell.
Subs (unused): Jordon Ababio, Finn O’Mara, Rahman Kareem.
Goals: Billy Bennett 22, Matt Newman 45+1.
Yellow cards: Stefan Payne 62, Matt Parsons 86, Sam Hasler 87.

Attendance: 1,112
Referee: Joshua Williams
Assistants: Mitchell Bush & Will Sanderson