Whitstable returned to the Primcura Healthcare Stadium on Tuesday and the hunt for league points when Kennington were the visitors. There were few signs of a hangover from their dramatic FA Cup win at Dulwich Hamlet just three days earlier, as Bradley Schafer volleyed them in front early in the first half. Chances were then limited for the rest of the first 45 minutes, but Whitstable came out after the break and created a number of great opportunities to have boosted their goal difference. However, they only had a Theo Osinfolarin goal to show for their dominance. An unfortunate slip by Will Thomas in added time led to a chance for Kennington to break and win a penalty that was converted by Ryan Philpott to reduce the deficit. Whitstable can be pleased with their performance, but will be a little disappointed not to have won by a greater margin.

The extended run into the Second Round Qualifying of the FA Cup has left Whitstable playing catch up with their league fixtures, so they were hoping to collect another three home points against a Kennington team that had started the season really well and found themselves in second place after their first six games. Whitstable were able to welcome back Mikey Dalton and Ricardo Thompson from suspension. A midweek crowd of 425 was there to watch events unfold.

The first significant action came when Whitstable scored in the 8th minute and it was a special goal. Will Thomas sent the ball out to Dean Grant on the left and his deep left footed cross from the left corner reached Bradley Schafer beyond the far post and his powerful volley back into the roof of the net gave goalkeeper Joe Mant no chance. Javaun Splatt headed a long Schafer throw wide, but there were few chances at either end, although some miscommunication in the Whitstable defence almost gifted an opportunity to Kennington on 16 minutes.

In that 38th minute, Splatt held the ball up well to help win a corner on the left and when it was delivered by Theo Osinfolarin, Splatt had two attempts blocked before the ball was scrambled clear. Grant put a low Jayden Boulton cross wide before Kennington broke and Kaelem Sobhee-Turner tried a low shot from distance that Dan Colmer saved. Just before the break, Whitstable had two more corners, but another Splatt shot that was deflected wide was as close as they came to a second goal, so they had to be content with a 1-0 half time lead.

Whitstable came out positively for the second half and should have doubled their lead almost immediately when Jack Peters threaded the ball through the Kennington defence leaving Grant one on one with Mant, but he sliced his shot wide of the near post. Mant then picked out Osinfolarin with the goal kick and his shot struck a defender before going out for a corner that was headed down towards Splatt whose shot across goal just went wide. Another chance went begging when the referee played an advantage when Splatt was fouled in the right corner, but still managed to play the ball into Dalton who helped it on for Grant who couldn't find the net and the ball was put out for another corner. It was Grant who got his head to the delivery at the back post, but Mant saved. It seemed like a goal had to come and it did when Peters was first to the clearance and swung the ball out to the left for Osinfolarin who cut in before beating Mant at the near post to make it 2-0 in the 51st minute. There was some rare action at the other end in the 65th minute when Ryan Philpott tried a long range effort that forced Dan Colmer to dive to his left to save.

Whitstable continued to create chances, none better than in the 68th minute when Jake McIntyre collected the ball in the centre circle and made a great run past several challenges before sending over a cross that went past Mant and reached Grant who somehow lifted the ball over the open goal from a couple of yards. A long throw into the box fell kindly for Peters whose shot went narrowly wide. A good move by Whitstable started by McIntyre led to Osinfolarin skipping past his marker and passing to Grant who spread the ball out to substitute Callum Peck on the right and his left footed shot was parried by Mant; the ball was then hacked away as Splatt attempted to follow in. Sammi Takaloo curled the ball in from the right and it was headed behind by McIntyre. In the 85th minute, Dalton played the ball to Splatt who made room and fired just wide from 20 yards.

Kennington tried to mount a late response and Dan Colmer had to beat away a 25 yard shot from Alfie Giles who then had another effort blocked before Takaloo shot wide. There was a somewhat fortunate late consolation for Kennington in added time when a long ball looked like being cut out by Thomas, but the Whitstable defender fell to the ground allowing Liam Middleton to take the ball forward and find Philpott who was brought down by Jayden Boulton who tried to get across to cover. It looked as though the initial contact could have been just outside the area, but a penalty was the result and it was dispatched emphatically by Philpott. Whitstable should have restored their two goal margin when Schafer released Peck who shot past Mant, but just wide of the far post. It made no difference to the result as the final whistle then blew and Whitstable will be pleased with the three points, although the 2-1 scoreline doesn't paint an accurate picture of the game.

There is a special fixture on Saturday when Whitstable host First Division opposition in FC Elmstead as they compete for the Roy Vinter Respect Charity Shield. This competition is organised by the SCEFL, with the profits going to charity. The winners will be decided on penalties should the scores be level after 90 minutes.

Whitstable	Data	Kennington
4	Shots on target	4
13	Shots off target	2
5	Shots blocked	2
7	Corners	2
9	Fouls conceded	9
3	Offside	0
0	Penalties	1

Whitstable Town
Daniel Colmer, Ricardo Thompson, Jayden Boulton, Mikey Dalton, Will Thomas, Jake McIntyre (c), Dean Grant (Callum Peck 71), Jack Peters, Javaun Splatt (Joe Healy 86), Bradley Schafer, Theo Osinfolarin (Ashdon Day 83).
Subs (unused): Connor Wilkins, Finn O’Mara.
Goals: Bradley Schafer 8, Theo Osinfolarin 51.
Yellow cards: Javaun Splatt 73, Jayden Boulton 90+2.

Kennington
Joe Mant (c), Todd Brand (Sammi Takaloo 66), Max Sutton, Alfee Wincott, Euan Biggleston, Jack Hanson, Kundai Munyama (Archie Dobbin 74), Kaelem Sobhee-Turner, Ryan Philpott (Liam Whiting 90+3), Alfie Giles, Liam Middleton (Tom Scorer 90+3).
Sub (unused): Hayden Wigston
Goal: Ryan Philpott (pen) 90+2

Attendance: 425
Referee: Ayden Gillespie
Assistants: Jack Matthews & James Folan-Young