Whitstable hosted in-form Sutton Athletic who were on a good unbeaten run in the league and they extended that record after equalising in the closing moments of this closely fought game. There were no goals and few clear cut chances in the first half, although a Liam Gillies shot hit the bar, but Ronald Sithole fired an unstoppable shot into the top corner to give Whitstable the lead after an hour had been played. There were a few opportunities to extend the advantage although the visitors offered an increasing threat and they were rewarded in the final minute when two substitutes combined and Jimmy Heasman slid in to score from close range.

Following two great cup wins on the road, Whitstable were back at home and in the hunt for league points against Sutton Athletic who were similarly placed in the middle of the table. The visitors last tasted defeat in a league game in October and had scored twice deep into added time to secure a 3-3 draw when the teams met at their ground on the first day of the season. The Whitstable team once more showed several changes as a result of the restrictions in the availability of some players for the different cup competitions. There were two new faces in the Whitstable squad: Bradley Schafer, a midfielder signed from Faversham Town, and Albie O'Mara-Knapp, a young forward from Dartford. There was a good turnout of 452 to watch on a cold, but bright afternoon.

The first attempt on goal came in the 7th minute when a Sutton free kick was headed over the bar by Ryan Mahal, then immediately at the other end, a great ball by Jake McIntyre released Ronald Sithole on the right and his low cross went just past the far post with no one in the box to apply the finish. A good run by Dean Grant won Whitstable a free kick just outside the box, which was taken by Harvey Smith, but the ball rebounded off the defensive wall and his follow-up shot was deflected wide. McIntyre then made a run from his own half, shrugging off several attempts to stop him, and the ball eventually ran to Grant who had a couple of efforts blocked. In the 25th minute, player manager Jamie Coyle picked out Grant with a long ball and after he was wrestled to the ground, Sithole collected the loose ball and set up Liam Gillies whose shot from just outside the box beat goalkeeper Jack Glassborrow, only to hit the underside of the bar before being cleared.

A Taylor Fisher cross from the left found Namory Kane, but his shot lacked power and was saved by Whitstable's goalkeeper Dan Colmer. A Sithole cross was only cleared to the edge of the penalty area and Fin Cotton’s shot that struck a defender before the ball rolled kindly to Glassborrow. Smith nodded a Coyle pass towards Grant, but his touch was just too heavy and Glassborrow was able to collect. Whitstable finished the half on top without threatening too much and Gillies had a shot from a tight angle easily saved, but there was no breakthrough, so 0-0 was the halftime score.

After the break, Sutton almost scored while some spectators were still returning to their positions. Emmanuel Oduguwa found James Bayfield with a ball out to the right and Colmer had to make a good stop. Schafer was introduced for his debut in the 55th minute and almost helped create the opening goal when he was stopped on the 18 yard line and the ball rolled out to Sithole in space on the left, but he dragged his shot just wide of the far post. He was not to be denied in the 61st minute however when Grant challenged for a long clearance by Colmer and he collected the ball 18 yards out before hitting a stunning shot into the top left corner giving the goalkeeper no chance. Sutton-made several substitutions as they looked for a way back into the game. Sithole then sped down the left and outpaced a couple of opponents before going over in the box when challenged by George Palmer, but the referee was unconvinced and issued a card for diving.

Not for the first time this season, as the game entered the latter stages, Whitstable were pushed back and Sutton pressed hard for an equaliser. Whitstable did have a great chance to add to their lead though in the 75th minute when a long ball down the left by Jayden Boulton bounced kindly for Grant who chipped the advancing goalkeeper, but the ball went just wide of the open goal. Jack Holland and Conor Evans both tried their luck with shots that were off target and more changes were made by both teams. It began to look as though Whitstable had done enough to cling on for a valuable win, but in the 90th minute a long kick up the field gave Shiaroe McDonald the chance to get the better of Whitstable right back Jerald Aboagye and drive into the left edge of the penalty area to deliver a low cross that was forced over the line by fellow substitute Jimmy Heasman. There were five added minutes played but no further goals, although a deep cross by Boulton was almost reached by a diving Coyle who was just unable to divert the ball towards goal and both teams had to settle for a point, which seemed a fair enough result in the end.

Attention now switches back to the excitement of the FA Vase when Whitstable entertain Fleet Town on Saturday, hoping to reach the quarter finals for the first time. Coincidentally, it was Fleet Town that knocked out Sutton Athletic much earlier in the competition, 5-3 on penalties after a 1-1 score at 90 minutes.

Whitstable	Data	Sutton Athletic
2	Shots on target	4
4	Shots off target	4
5	Shots blocked	2
3	Corners	5
16	Fouls conceded	6
1	Offside	2
0	Penalties	0

Whitstable Town
Dan Colmer, Jerald Aboagye, Jayden Boulton, Mikey Dalton, Jamie Coyle, Jake McIntyre (c), Ronald Sithole, Fin Cotton (Bradley Schafer 55), Dean Grant, Liam Gillies, Harvey Smith (Albie O’Mara-Knapp 84).
Subs (unused): Will Thomas, Josh Oliver, Adem Ramadan.
Goals: Ronald Sithole 61
Yellow cards: Fin Cotton 51, Liam Gillies 68, Ronald Sithole 72.

Sutton Athletic
Jack Glassborrow, Namory Kane, Jack Holland (Shiaroe McDonald 84), Billy Muckle (Ben White 71), Ryan Mahal, Cameron Reardon (George Palmer 62), James Bayfield (Scott Jarvis 81), Conor Evans, Arlie Desanges (c) (Jimmy Heasman 71), Emmanuel Oduguwa, Taylor Fisher.
Subs (unused): none
Goal: Jimmy Heasman 90

Attendance: 452
Referee: Ismail Isik
Assistants: Bradley Godden & Gareth Devey