Whitstable travelled to London for a midweek fixture, hoping to build on their recent cup form and collect some much needed league points against third placed Fisher. They began confidently and might have scored on a couple of occasions before Jake McIntyre found the net from close range. The home team grew into the game and Whitstable had to rely on goalkeeper Dan Colmer and some gritty defending to maintain their slender lead until half time. Bradley Schafer scored his first goal for the club early in the second half to give Whitstable some breathing space, but a good Fisher team continued to apply the pressure and eventually substitute Jacob Katonia pulled one back after a mazy run. Whitstable managed to see out the remainder of the game to hang on for a very hard earned three points.

Just three days after the excitement of reaching the FA Vase quarter finals with a 2-1 win against Fleet Town, Whitstable faced a tricky looking rearranged league fixture at Fisher. The home team are enjoying a very good campaign, challenging towards the top of the table whereas Whitstable, with a few games in hand, are hoping to climb from their mid table position. There were a number of changes to the Whitstable team as several players who were unable to play in the cup game returned. Finn O'Mara was also back in a Whitstable shirt after his spell at Hastings, but Ashdon Day was left out due to concerns about the possible effects of the rather worn 3G pitch on his recent ankle injury. A number of Whitstable supporters made the trip, some via local public houses, and made themselves heard amongst the crowd of 197.

The game kicked off with the Illuminations from several of Britain's tallest buildings in the financial district of Canary Wharf providing the backdrop to the goal Whitstable were defending. Most of the early action on the pitch however took place at the other end as the Oystermen made a fast start. Bradley Schafer battled for possession from a Jerald Aboagye throw in on the right, before prodding the ball to Dean Grant who turned and curled a left footed shot from 20 yards that struck the underside of the bar. Ronald Sithole had a shot deflected for a corner that brought a bit of a scramble before being cleared, but it was the next corner that led to Whitstable taking the lead in the 8th minute. Grant got his head to the delivery from Robbie Rees and Harvey Smith's shot hit the far post, but Jake McIntyre was on hand to fire in from a few yards out. A few minutes later, a long ball was not dealt with by the Whitstable defence, giving Tyron Mbuenimo a sight of goal but he sliced his effort wide.

The momentum was changing and from about midway through the first half Fisher began to push Whitstable back. Courtney Barrington whipped in a free kick from the left which Colmer saved, then Fisher won two corner kicks, the second of which flashed dangerously across goal. Isaac Ogunseri in the home goal was having a quiet period, although was needed when Rees fired the ball across from the left. Charles Yiadom-Konadu danced past several challenges and into the box, but O'Mara was there to block his shot. Whitstable did well to preserve their lead in the 43rd minute when Colmer made two quick reaction saves, keeping a firm Barrington backheel out with his foot, then getting up to save from Mbuenimo at the near post. The ball was still alive until McIntyre bravely put his head in the way to prevent another shot. Whitstable were hanging on and Colmer got down to save a Kesna Clarke header then pushed away a deflected Flavio Jumo shot. The half time whistle provided some relief and a chance to regroup.

When play restarted, Ange Djadja got his head to a corner but directed it wide. Whitstable then made a change, bringing on Liam Gillies for Rees, but Colmer was needed again to turn a Mbuenimo shot from the right into the side netting. Perhaps the key moment of the game came in the 56th minute when Whitstable managed to extend their lead. Fisher tried to play out on their left, but Schafer stepped in, won the ball and went past a couple of defenders before angling a shot into the far corner to make it 2-0. There followed a little comedy when play briefly continued with two balls on the pitch. Gillies was then fouled just outside the area and Smith took the free kick but curled it wide. Fisher made the first of their five substitutions in the 62nd minute and the game went through a quieter spell, although Grant sent a dangerous cross through the penalty area. Fisher eventually got some reward for their efforts in the 77th minute when substitute Jacob Katonia collected the ball on the left touchline and drifted past several Whitstable players before shooting past Colmer at the near post.

Whitstable had the next chance when Sithole on the right swung the ball across to the other side for substitute Josh Oliver whose shot was saved. Fisher were still pushing though, with one effort just past the far post, another blocked and Flavio Jumo had a low shot saved. After more substitutions, Gillies fed Oliver whose shot was parried by Ogunseri and an offside flag prevented any follow up attempt. In added time, which was eventually almost eight minutes, there was a chance for Grant to settle things when he chased a long ball, manoeuvred past three defenders on the edge of the box, but shot just wide. More late pressure for the home team kept things interesting until the final whistle, but a good tackle by O'Mara dealt with the final threat and Whitstable could return home with a valuable three points.

Whitstable have a home game against Tunbridge Wells on Saturday, closely followed by another, when Snodland Town visit on Tuesday evening, as they look to catch up with some league fixtures.

Fisher	Data	Whitstable
9	Shots on target	5
3	Shots off target	6
4	Shots blocked	2
8	Corners	3
8	Fouls conceded	14
0	Offside	4
0	Penalties	0

Fisher
Isaac Ogunseri, Jack Gibbons(c), Dre Wholas-Spencer (Halim Bakre 62), Tyron Mbuenimo (Omotunmise Akanni 74), Ange Djadja, Donald Macauley, Jake Lovell, Charles Yiadom-Konadu (Ted O’Rourke 78), Kesna Clarke (Jacob Katonia 70), Flavio Jumo, Courtney Barrington (Diego Makesa 84).
Subs (unused): none
Goal: Jacob Katonia 77

Whitstable Town
Dan Colmer, Jerald Aboagye, Jayden Boulton, Mikey Dalton, Finn O’Mara, Jake McIntyre (c), Ronald Sithole (Alfawaz Dada 87), Robbie Rees (Liam Gillies 52), Dean Grant, Bradley Schafer (Fin Cotton 85), Harvey Smith (Josh Oliver 70).
Sub (unused): Jamie Coyle
Goals: Jake McIntyre 8, Bradley Schafer 56.
Yellow cards: Jayden Boulton 40, Harvey Smith 68, Dean Grant 90+2.

Attendance: 197
Referee: Richard Myers
Assistants: Luke Thomas & Ben Wright