The first league fixture of the 2024-25 season ended in frustration for Whitstable as two stoppage time goals earned a point for Sutton Athletic, but it was a game that Whitstable should have won comfortably. The home team began brightly and were rewarded when Danny Powell stabbed in an early goal, but the rest of the half was relatively quiet as Sutton tried to protect their advantage and countless delays and stoppages followed. Whitstable finally found a reply with the last action of the half when Jerson Dos Santos headed in a corner. The second half was dominated by Whitstable and Harvey Smith soon put them ahead and then added another from the penalty spot. Numerous chances to increase the lead were missed before a controversial penalty gave Eli Ahmed the chance to pull one back deep into added time. Whitstable’s game management let them down and Ahmed was given another sight of goal and finished well to earn his side an unlikely point.

Another early start to league fixtures on a warm July afternoon saw Whitstable make the journey to the rural setting of Sutton Athletic’s ground in Hextable. The team that travelled looked very different to that which ended the last campaign in sixth place, with 12 new faces in the 16 player squad and just Will Thomas, Harvey Smith, Reece Gillies and Josh Robson remained from last season. Sutton Athletic who finished just one place above the sole relegation spot last time around are now managed by Ryan Huckle and also fielded a number of new players. There were a few absences for Whitstable, as Mikey Dalton and Josh Oliver had picked up pre-season injuries and Jerald Aboagye was away.

The majority of the 120 crowd appeared to be supporting the visitors, but it was the home team that started the better and played their best football of the afternoon in the first ten minutes. Joey Wealthyland tested Dan Colmer with a low shot before Jerson Dos Santos headed a Mike West corner over the bar at the other end. Whitstable got away with a dubious offside decision against the home team, but failed to heed the warning as Eli Ahmed ran clear shortly afterwards, forcing Colmer into another save. Sutton took the lead in the 8th minute when an onside Harry Mark collected a long ball down the right and found himself with just Colmer to beat and although the goalkeeper got down to save, the ball ran across to Danny Powell who poked it into the net.

For the remainder of the first half, Whitstable saw plenty of the ball, but struggled to create many clear cut opportunities as Sutton appeared content to take time out of the game. Dos Santos collected a West free kick, turned and shot, but the ball was deflected wide off a defender. Powell was cautioned for a late challenge on Thomas in the 25th minute. Whitstable came close to an equaliser when Finn O’Mara did well on the right of the box to pull the ball back for Marvin Herschel whose shot was kept out at the near post. A promising move released Karn Miller-Neave on the left, but his shot curled just past the far post. On 45 minutes, there was a yellow card for a foul by Wealthyland, then Whitstable scored in the last of the five added minutes. A corner on the left was taken by West and Dos Santos rose to plant a header into the net, so the teams went into the break level at 1-1.

Whitstable began the second half strongly and Dos Santos curled a shot from the left of the area that hit the top of the bar and went over, then Harvey Smith hooked the ball over the top from a West cross. Whitstable did make it 2-1 in the 49th minute when O’Mara picked out the run of West on the right and although Ryan Green tried to deal with his cross, the ball fell to Smith who fired it past Cameron Sanghera. Omotunmise Akanni was the victim of a poor challenge and found himself in the sin bin, presumably for suggesting the referee should have taken firmer action. Ten-man Whitstable added a third goal in the 62nd minute after Thomas was brought down in the box by Powell and Smith emphatically converted the penalty. Both teams made substitutions before West sent a free kick just wide. There were a few half chances for Sutton as Dom Hatley shot wide, Ashley Dennis turned and shot over, then a looping header was just too high.

The game should have been settled in the last few minutes of normal time when Whitstable created a number of great opportunities. In the 88th minute, a Reece Gillies pass sent fellow substitute Ali Fofahan away, with just Sanghera to beat, but he was fouled just outside the area as he took the ball around him and the goalkeeper appeared fortunate to escape with just a yellow card. Miller-Neave’s free kick was saved and in the next couple of minutes, Dos Santos had two efforts blocked and Gillies twice put headers wide from corners. The home team hung on though and in added time were awarded a generous penalty when the ball rebounded against O’Mara from close range and Ahmed beat Colmer from the spot. Whitstable were too quick to concede possession from the restart and another long ball wasn’t dealt with, giving Ahmed the chance to turn on the edge of the area and shoot into the bottom corner to make it 3-3. After almost ten added minutes, the final whistle blew, Sutton celebrated and Whitstable were left to reflect on a disappointing conclusion and the loss of two points.

Whitstable next have a reunion with former manager Marcel Nimani as they travel to play Sevenoaks Town in the FA Cup on Saturday. The reward for the winners will be a home tie against Leatherhead.

Sutton Athletic	Data	Whitstable
6	Shots on target	7
3	Shots off target	8
0	Shots blocked	3
3	Corners	7
18	Fouls conceded	10
1	Offside	2
1	Penalties	1

Sutton Athletic
Cameron Sanghera, Charlie Plummer, Alfie Hawkins, Sam Huckle (Vinnie Wainwright 59), Ryan Green, Harry Mark (Ashley Dennis 66), Eli Ahmed, Dom Wynter-Stephens (c), Danny Powell, Joey Wealthyland (Eman Oduguwa 61), Dom Hatley.
Sub (unused): Toby Waller
Goals: Danny Powell 8, Eli Ahmed 90+4, 90+5.
Yellow cards: Danny Powell 25, Joey Wealthyland 45, Cameron Sanghera 88.

Whitstable Town
Daniel Colmer, Finn O’Mara, Karn Miller-Neave, Mitch Chapman, Will Thomas, Jake McIntyre, Marvin Herschel (Ali Fofahan 46), Mike West (c), Harvey Smith (Reece Gillies 79), Jerson Dos Santos, Omotunmise Akanni (Jayden Boulton 65).
Subs (unused): Josh Robson, Kai Jeffrey.
Goals: Jerson Dos Santos 45+5, Harvey Smith 49, (pen) 62.
Yellow card: Omotunmise Akanni (sin bin) 53

Attendance: 120
Referee: David Lambert
Assistants: Jason Robinson & Ashley Barnes