Larkfield & New Hythe were the latest visitors to frustrate Whitstable who continue to struggle for results at home, in contrast to their very good away form. There were early opportunities for both teams, but it was Tyrell Richardson-Brown who opened the scoring when the home defence parted, although Fin Dent soon drew Whitstable level. The referee then awarded a very questionable penalty that was converted with little fuss by Tyler Ibe to give Larkfield a half time lead. Whitstable carved out several good chances early in the second half, but were unable to beat goalkeeper Alfie Rogers before Temi Alaka added a third for Larkfield. Mike West was harshly dismissed for collecting two yellow cards to add to Whitstable’s woes before an unmarked Bryan Zepo made it 4-1. Whitstable had a late chance for a consolation goal when the referee gifted them a penalty with another puzzling decision, but Harvey Smith hit the bar to complete an evening to forget.

Following the FA Vase win on Saturday, Whitstable were soon back in action and hoping to improve upon their disappointing home form in their first ever league meeting with recently promoted Larkfield & New Hythe. Fin Dent was able to make his home debut after being cup tied for the FA Vase match. Josh Oliver started on the bench, but the rest of the team was unchanged. Larkfield manager Danny Lye has assembled a competitive squad for their first season at this level and they have made a promising start, coming into this game in seventh place, just one point below Whitstable with two games in hand. The midweek attendance of 216 was Whitstable’s lowest home gate of the season.

The visitors started brightly and Dan Colmer saved an early Temi Alaka effort from the right, then Fraser Walker had a shot deflected wide. Whitstable should have scored in the 4th minute however when Dent did well on the left and pulled the ball back for Omotunmise Akanni who shot wide from close range. An attempted defensive clearance hit Archie Hatcher, but fortunately for Larkfield, the ball rebounded wide of the goal. Hatcher then collected a long pass out to the right, but his shot found the side netting. Larkfield opened the scoring in the 14th minute when Joe Bingham played the ball through the Whitstable defence for Tyrell Richardson-Brown who found himself with just Colmer to beat and made no mistake. Just two minutes later it was 1-1, as Harvey Smith played a neat pass forward to the edge of the box to find the run of Dent, whose shot appeared to take a deflection off the covering defender Luke Russell before looping over Alfie Rogers into the net.

Whitstable tried to take control and a one-two between Archie Johnson and Smith saw the left back shoot just past the far post, then Dent cut inside but shot wide. At the other end, Bingham was denied by Colmer after breaking into the box. There were a number of controversial refereeing decisions in this game and when the ball rebounded off Jake McIntyre from close range, a penalty was given for handball and Tyler Ibe stepped up to roll the ball in from the spot in the 33rd minute. Whitstable were then given a rather generous free kick just outside the box, but Hatcher’s effort went over the bar and Larkfield led 2-1 at half time.

Oliver was introduced by Whitstable for the second half, but Larkfield were the first to threaten when a goal bound Ibe shot was deflected wide off a teammate. Whitstable then had several great chances to equalise, with Hatcher releasing Dent whose shot was kept out by Rogers, then Dent headed wide. In the 55th minute, Dent ran on to another Hatcher pass, cut in and shot, but again Rogers saved. A right wing cross into the box was only cleared as far as Smith who wasn’t quite able to make the necessary connection. Whitstable would soon pay for not taking their chances and Richardson-Brown managed to get free on the left, but his looping shot stuck the bar. Whitstable captain Mike West was cautioned in the 63rd minute when he attempted to block a clearance, then his team fell further behind on 66 minutes after a good move on the left gave Richardson-Brown the chance to find Alaka who shot past Colmer.

Things got worse for Whitstable in the 69th minute when West chased back to challenge Ibe and seemed extremely unfortunate to be penalised and shown a second yellow to end his evening early. The game was then effectively over and more goals for Larkfield looked always looked possible. Bryan Zepo put a simple chance wide, but did make it 4-1 in the 75th minute when he blasted the ball int the roof of the net after collecting a low cross from the left. A Hatcher free kick picked out McIntyre a few yards out, but he headed over the bar. A Chibueze Innocent shot was well blocked by Finn O’Mara, but in the 90th minute, Whitstable were themselves the beneficiaries of a debateable refereeing decision when Mr Young spotted another handball in the crowded box. Top scorer Smith took the penalty, but to emphasise that it wasn’t to be Whitstable’s night, his shot cannoned off the bar and Reece Gillies lifted the rebound over the top. Those home supporters left in the ground were probably relieved to hear the final whistle.

On Saturday, Whitstable have another league fixture when they travel to the home of Cray Valley to play Stansfeld who have moved there this season after ending their previous ground share at Glebe.

Whitstable	Data	Larkfield & New Hythe
3	Shots on target	7
10	Shots off target	7
0	Shots blocked	2
1	Corners	5
9	Fouls conceded	14
4	Offside	1
1	Penalties	1

Whitstable Town
Dan Colmer, Jerald Aboagye (Jayden Boulton 66), Archie Johnson (Finn O’Mara 72), Mike West (c), Jake McIntyre, Will Thomas, Fin Dent, Reece Gillies, Harvey Smith, Archie Hatcher, Omotunmise Akanni (Josh Oliver 46).
Subs (unused): Dan Eason, Fin Cotton.
Goal: Fin Dent 16
Yellow card: Will Thomas 9
Red card: Mike West (two yellows) 63, 69.

Larkfield & New Hythe
Alfie Rogers, Ross Ibbertson (Josh Jackson 88), Luke Russell (Clark Woodcock 85), Jack Clark, Fraser Walker (c), Nathan Daly, Temi Alaka (Alvin Turyatemba 77), Joe Bingham, Tyler Ibe, Bryan Zepo (Chibueze Innocent 77), Tyrell Richardson-Brown.
Sub (unused): Denney McConnell
Goals: Tyrell Richardson-Brown 14, Tyler Ibe (pen) 33, Temi Alaka 66, Bryan Zepo 75.
Yellow cards: Nathan Daly 35, Bryan Zepo 53.

Attendance: 216
Referee: Freddie Young
Assistants: Kiran Bailey & Will Sanderson