After a frustrating start to the new season, Whitstable finally recorded their first win in this midweek league fixture at Lydd. They had to come from behind though after Luke Burdon finished off a good move during the first half. That appeared to make Whitstable raise their game and within a few minutes, the score line had been turned around following two good finishes by Jerson Dos Santos and Harvey Smith. Sam Adams went close with a long range strike in the second half, but once Smith had extended the lead by heading home a Mike West corner, Lydd rarely threatened to get back into the game. Josh Oliver had a late effort ruled out by a debateable offside decision, but the points were safe.

Whitstable travelled to Lydd as they tried to get their campaign up and running, after securing just a single point from their first two league games. Lydd had lost to VCD, but beaten Sutton Athletic in their opening fixtures, having seen Scott Porter resign as manager just before the season kicked off. They fielded an experienced line up however and Whitstable were well beaten 4-0 in the corresponding fixture last season. Will Thomas, Mike West and Josh Oliver returned to the Whitstable starting eleven, in place of Finn O’Mara, Mitch Chapman and Omotunmise Akanni. The game, watched by 177 people, kicked off with the bright, low sun causing a few vision problems on a pleasant enough summer evening.

The opening period of the first half was relatively quiet, although it was Lydd that had the edge in terms of attacking threat, winning three corners and Ryan Philpott did well to collect a long ball and work a shooting position, but was unable to provide the finish. Their efforts were rewarded in the 22nd minute when Luke Burdon and Robbie Dolan combined to release Elliott Moore on the right and his low cross was touched in at the far post by a sliding Burdon. Whitstable survived a couple more promising situations as Lydd continued to find some space on the right, but then the game changed dramatically with two goals in two minutes at the other end. In the 28th minute, Jerson Dos Santos played the ball across to Fin Cotton on the right and he linked up with Josh Oliver before sending the ball into the box where Dos Santos turned and shot past Liam Northwood from about 12 yards. Then, Mike West spread the ball out to Oliver on the right and his shot across goal was pushed away by Northwood, but the ball was retrieved by Dos Santos on the left and he played it back to Harvey Smith who curled a great shot into the far corner from just outside the box to make it 2-1 in the 30th minute.

Lydd tried to respond and Moore nodded over the top following a throw, Ronnie Dolan sent a dangerous free kick right across goal and Moore dragged a shot wide. Whitstable were nearly gifted another goal just before half time when James Rogers headed the ball over his own goalkeeper and was relieved to see it bounce just wide.

Lydd made a change during the interval, introducing a former Whitstable striker, Tom Walmsley. A 61st minute mistake by Rogers let Cotton in on goal, but he chose to pass to Dos Santos rather than shoot and Lydd were able to clear at the back post. Sam Adams, a midfielder with over 600 appearances for Hastings United, replaced Billy Horley and twice went close to equalising for Lydd. He first shot wide following a low Moore cross, then when Dan Colmer tried to clear an awkward throw back to him, the ball went to Adams about 40 yards out and his shot dropped just over the bar with Colmer racing back into his goal. Whitstable got the breathing space they wanted in the 73rd minute when Smith rose at the back post to head in a West corner.

A stray Robbie Dolan pass was intercepted by Cotton, but his shot was saved by Northwood who then safely gathered a Smith effort. Whitstable thought they should have had a fourth in the 90th minute when Cotton broke down the right before delivering a cross that went past West before Oliver arrived at the back post to put the ball in the net, but the assistant had already flagged for an offside, presumably against West as Oliver was clearly onside. It made little difference overall though and Smith was then denied a hat trick when Northwood saved a curling effort in added time. Whitstable would be satisfied enough however with their night’s work, an away win and their first three point haul of the season.

There is now a ten day break for Whitstable before they travel to play Corinthian-Casuals in the FA Vase.

Lydd Town	Data	Whitstable
2	Shots on target	7
10	Shots off target	0
2	Shots blocked	2
6	Corners	2
6	Fouls conceded	10
2	Offside	2
0	Penalties	0

Lydd Town
Liam Northwood, Elliott Moore (Kenny Pogue 80), Will Dempsey (Billy Robbins 87), Charlie Dickens, Robbie Dolan, James Rogers, Billy Horley (Sam Adams 62), Ronnie Dolan (c), Ryan Philpott, Jack Mayhew (Tom Walmsley 46), Luke Burdon (Tom Wynter 83).
Subs (unused): none
Goal: Luke Burdon 22

Whitstable Town
Daniel Colmer, Jerald Aboagye, Karn Miller-Neave, Mike West (c), Will Thomas, Jake McIntyre, Josh Oliver, Reece Gillies (Mitch Chapman 76), Harvey Smith, Jerson Dos Santos (Jayden Boulton 90+4), Fin Cotton.
Subs (unused): Josh Robson, Finn O’Mara. Omotunmise Akanni
Goals: Jerson Dos Santos 28, Harvey Smith 30, 73.
Yellow cards: Jake McIntyre 79, Mike West 87.

Attendance: 177
Referee: Chris Cannon
Assistants: Bradley Godden & Harrison Clark