Whitstable managed four goals in successive away games as caretaker manager Dan Eason led the team to their twelfth away win of the season in his second game in charge. Holmesdale went close from two corners in the first couple of minutes, but that was as good as it got for the home team and Whitstable went on to complete a comfortable win. Emmanuel Oloyede scored the first on the half hour mark and Josh Oliver curled a great free kick over the wall to give Whitstable a two goal lead at half time. The contest was effectively over quite early in the second half when Cameron Reardon was sent off for bringing down Oloyede and Oliver once again found the net from the resulting free kick. Liam Gillies later added a fourth to complete the scoring.

Erith Town won in midweek to end any lingering hopes of a play-off place for Whitstable, leaving sixth place the best they could achieve. Holmesdale, managed by former Oysterman Andy Constable, were in the lower half of the table although well clear of any relegation threat. Whitstable had won 3-0 when the teams met at the Belmont in December, but were short of numbers for this return fixture due to injuries and suspension and had just three substitutes, two of whom were goalkeepers, although there were no changes to the starting eleven from the previous week. There was a sprinkling of hardy supporters there to watch Whitstable’s last away game of the season on a cool and windy afternoon in Bromley. The bumpy grass pitch and blustery conditions combined to present a few challenges for the players.

Holmesdale started on the front foot and won their only two corners of the afternoon in the opening exchanges. Callum Keeble’s inswinging delivery from the right clipped the far post before rebounding behind off a defender for another from the left and this was headed just wide by an unmarked Jonny Harris. Shortly afterwards, Alessio Akabuogu won possession and tested Jordan Perrin with a shot from outside the area. Josh Williams chased a long ball down the right and crossed to Emmanuel Oloyede whose shot was blocked, then Holmesdale had to make an early substitution as Veron Parkes limped off. Whitstable were now in the ascendancy with both Josh Oliver and Liam Gillies sending shots wide before they scored their first goal in the 30th minute. Perrin threw the ball to Williams on the right and he passed to Oliver whose low cross was finished from close range by Oloyede. Whitstable kept up the pressure and scored again in the 38th minute when Oliver was fouled by Keeble 25 yards out and curled the free kick over the wall and past Liam Northwood. There were no further goals before the interval, so the teams left the pitch with Whitstable leading 2-0.

Northwood saved an Oliver free kick at the start of the second half, then Liam Gillies, Williams and Oloyede all tried shots without success. Kieran King shot over after collecting a loose clearance in a rare effort at the other end, but Holmesdale were then reduced to ten men following a 64th minute red card. George Sheminant sent a long ball forward for Oloyede who was brought down just outside the penalty area as he was about to shoot by Cameron Reardon whose afternoon was ended early by referee Tom Nicholls. Oliver despatched the free kick into the far corner past a wrong footed Northwood to score his 24th goal of the season and make it 3-0 on 66 minutes. Another Whitstable corner caused a few problems before Jake Mackenzie hooked a shot over the bar, but the fourth goal soon followed in the 75th minute. Sheminant collected a ball from Oliver on the left and found Liam Gillies who struck a great shot from 20 yards into the net off the right post.

Former Whitstable player Dane Luchford was introduced from the bench by the home team, then another substitute, Whitstable’s Harvey Smith, shot just wide after running on to a pass by Reece Gillies who, a few minutes later, found himself through on goal, but Northwood saved. An unusual Whitstable substitution was made on 90 minutes when academy goalkeeper Josh Robson was sent on to play up front for the closing moments and he almost got his head to a Mikey Dalton corner, but was denied by Northwood. The last action might have brought a consolation for Holmesdale when Kelvin Hernandez had an effort blocked and the ball was cleared to Mo Dafallah who lifted his shot over the bar to leave the final score a rather comfortable 4-0 away win.

Whitstable remain in sixth place with just one match left to play, which is at home on Saturday to Corinthian, who have already booked their play-off spot.

Holmesdale	Data	Whitstable
1	Shots on target	7
4	Shots off target	7
2	Shots blocked	3
2	Corners	9
11	Fouls conceded	9
1	Offside	1
0	Penalties	0

Holmesdale
Liam Northwood, Theo McKenzie (Dane Luchford 79), Jonny Harris, Tony Musoke (c), Alessio Akabuogu, Cameron Reardon, Ayo Lugboso, Kieran King (Mo Dafallah 71), Veron Parkes (Ronnie McClean 13), Manny Oshinowo, Callum Keeble (Kelvin Hernandez 51).
Sub (unused): Cameron Hall
Red card: Cameron Reardon 64

Whitstable Town
Jordan Perrin, Reece Gillies, George Sheminant, Mikey Dalton, Jake Mackenzie (c), Will Thomas, Tyler Anderson, Liam Gillies, Emmanuel Oloyede (Harvey Smith 81), Josh Oliver (Josh Robson 90), Josh Williams.
Sub (unused): Dan Eason
Goals: Emmanuel Oloyede 30, Josh Oliver 38, 66, Liam Gillies 75.

Attendance: 64
Referee: Tom Nicholls
Assistants: Tom Amber & Robert Preedy