Whitstable returned to league action, just two days after their defeat in the county cup final and managed to collect three points against relegation threatened Lydd Town. In truth, it wasn't a great game of football, but a headed goal by Nathan Jeche gave them a deserved lead at the interval following a first half in which they had ten corners. Lydd improved after the break and Ryan Philpott equalised, only for Jayden Boulton to restore the lead immediately afterwards. The rest of the game was quite scrappy as Whitstable missed opportunities to settle the game and Lydd player manager Ryan Smith saw a red card at the end for protesting when he felt his team should have been awarded a last minute penalty.

It was back to the Primcura Healthcare Stadium with Whitstable facing a heavy schedule to complete their league fixtures prior to the FA Vase final. This was the first of six games in twelve days as they battle to reach the play-offs and finish in the highest possible position. The visitors, Lydd Town, were in the bottom two and needing points to avoid relegation. They also have a possible points deduction hanging over them. Once again, there were multiple changes to the Whitstable team, with seven different faces in the starting eleven from those that featured in Sunday afternoon's Kent Senior Trophy final. Another good home crowd of 401 was in attendance and there was a minute's applause prior to kick off in memory of Alan Godden, a good supporter and former club steward.

With games just about every other day at the moment, Whitstable had little time to dwell on their cup final defeat and they totally dominated the opening stages of this game, winning six corners in the first ten minutes, although they failed to make the most of their opportunities. After Harvey Smith had glanced a corner kick well wide, he collected a pass from Finn O'Mara, took a couple of touches and struck a low shot from just outside the box that goalkeeper Claudio Boakye-Sarfo did well to push around the post. There followed a succession of Whitstable corners, during which O'Mara had a shot blocked, Robbie Rees had an inswinger pushed out at the near post and penalty appeals for a handball were waved away as Jake McIntyre went up for a header. Albie O'Mara-Knapp won a free kick just outside the box and McIntyre's low free kick was saved. Mikey Dalton's header down gave Bradley Schafer the chance to try a shot from 25 yards that was well saved by Boakye-Sarfo down by his near post. Whitstable finally got the goal they deserved in the 29th minute when a Schafer throw in was returned to him out on the right and he curled in a great cross for Nathan Jeche to head home.

A Rees free kick caused problems for the Lydd defence, but they just managed to scramble O'Mara's prodded effort out for another corner. Lydd won their first corner in the 33rd minute although it almost led to another Whitstable goal when a quick break saw Dalton get into the box at the other end, but the ball was put out for the tenth Whitstable corner. Finlay Turner was given the chance to send a cross into the box when the referee got in the way of Rees, but O'Mara was there to head away and Will Dempsey nodded the resulting corner wide. A timely interception by Turner denied Schafer the chance to shoot when he was set up by Jeche. Lydd had rarely threatened, but went close just before half time. The referee ignored a push on Schafer and Nico Cotton swung in a cross from the left that was glanced wide by Ryan Philpott and Whitstable went in with just the one goal lead.

There was an early chance for Lydd in the second half when a promising build up on the right gave Philpott the chance to shoot but McIntyre managed to divert the ball away for a corner. Rees latched onto a long throw, but his shot was blocked and cleared. Lydd were the beneficiaries of a generous free kick after Rees won the ball 25 yards out, but Tyler Sterling lifted his attempt over the top. Philpott robbed McIntyre and his shot was hooked just over his own bar by O'Mara, then a throw in was flicked into Colmer's hands at the near post by Ryan Sawyer. Lydd had shown more intent at the start of the second half and got their reward with a 64th minute leveller. A free kick saw the ball bobble around in the box before reaching Philpott who was able to hook it into the far corner from a few yards out. Whitstable were soon back in front however when O'Mara-Knapp made a run from the right and although his ball in was blocked, Cotton's clearance was collected by Jayden Boulton who ran forward before trying a 25 yard shot the bounced in front of Boakye-Sarfo who was unable to prevent it finding the net, making it 2-1 in the 66th minute.

Dickens then headed a Ronnie Dolan free kick wide. Whitstable should have wrapped things up in the 86th minute when a Lydd throw in led to a quick two on one break and Ronald Sithole passed to Schafer, but his shot rolled just past the post. More chances came Whitstable's way, as Schafer shot over and then set up Sithole who was denied by Boakye-Sarfo. The officials finally grew tired of the constant advice directed at them from the Lydd bench and play was halted while a yellow card was shown as the game moved into added time. There were some late Lydd substitutions, then in the very last minute, a Cotton cross into a packed penalty area led to some late drama when Colmer might been fouled and Harry Byrne ended up on the ground after a collision as he tried to get his head to the loose ball. Lydd felt they should have had a penalty, but the referee didn't agree and sent Ryan Smith off for voicing his opinion too strongly. The final whistle followed once play restarted and the dismissed player manager returned to the pitch for another chat with the officials, as his team remained three points from safety with just two games left to play - and with the possible points deduction awaiting the result of an appeal. Whitstable though had bounced back from their cup defeat with another valuable win in their play-off chase.

A crazy week of fixtures continues for Whitstable with games on Thursday, Saturday and Monday to come.

Whitstable	Data	Lydd
8	Shots on target	2
5	Shots off target	6
3	Shots blocked	2
13	Corners	5
8	Fouls conceded	7
2	Offside	0
0	Penalties	0

Whitstable Town
Dan Colmer, Jerald Aboagye, Jayden Boulton, Mikey Dalton, Finn O’Mara, Jake McIntyre (c), Albie O’Mara-Knapp (Ronald Sithole 72), Robbie Rees, Nathan Jeche (Dean Grant 69), Bradley Schafer, Harvey Smith (Ashdon Day 88).
Subs (unused): Will Thomas, Fin Cotton.
Goals: Nathan Jeche 29, Jayden Boulton 66.
Yellow cards: Nathan Jeche 62, Finn O’Mara 79, Jayden Boulton 90+6.

Lydd Town
Claudio Boakye-Sarfo, Finlay Turner, Will Dempsey, Ryan Sawyer, Charlie Dickens (c), James Rogers, Nico Cotton, Ronnie Dolan (Ryan Smith 90+2), Ryan Philpott (Matt Burdon 72), Tyler Sterling (Harry Byrne 90+2), Tristan Holden (Craig Calvert 90).
Sub (unused): Oscar Walter
Goal: Ryan Philpott 64
Yellow card: Tristan Holden 79
Red card: Ryan Smith 90+8

Attendance: 401
Referee: Tom Amber
Assistants: Mark Takacs & Gareth Devey