Following a successful, although demanding, week that saw Whitstable overcome Isthmian Premier Division opponents Chichester City over two games to progress in the FA Cup, they were back in league action on Saturday. On a difficult pitch, Whitstable carved out enough chances to have put the result beyond doubt in the first half, but at the break only led by a single goal scored by the returning Bradley Schafer. The second half was largely a non-event, with hardly any goalmouth action until the final ten minutes. It was Tunbridge Wells that eventually found a way through when D'Armando Lawrence scored a late equaliser. That seemed to awaken Whitstable and young substitute Jake Abrahams reacted the quickest to fire in the winner just before the clock reached the 90 minute mark.

Whitstable have begun to fall behind with their league fixtures and extended their FA Cup run with a great 1-0 win at Chichester in a midweek replay to reach the Third Round Qualifying. With a few injuries and tired legs, they made their way to the Culverden Stadium to play Tunbridge Wells, hoping to add three more points to move closer to the top of the table. Both teams have enjoyed a promising start to the season and just one point separated them prior to this game, although Whitstable had played two games fewer to gain their extra point. Javaun Splatt joined Theo Osinfolarin on the Whitstable injury list, but Bradley Schafer was fit to return. There were 243 in attendance on a showery afternoon, and while the pitch had a good covering of grass, it was somewhat uneven with a few bare patches.

Whitstable had two good chances in the opening minute, as firstly Ashdon Day's header reached Schafer whose shot on the turn was saved by George Bentley. Then, Will Thomas sent a long ball forward that wasn't dealt with by the Wells defence and Joe Healy chipped Bentley only to see the ball hit the bar. Whitstable were grateful to Dan Colmer in the 6th minute when Mo Alaka released the dangerous D'Armando Lawrence on the left and his shot towards the far post was kept out by the goalkeeper's outstretched foot. Most of the action was at the other end though and when Colmer launched the ball towards Healy, it fell to Dean Grant whose shot was saved by Bentley and cleared. Thomas put an overhead kick over the bar, then drew a save from Bentley when he got his head to a corner. Lawrence did win a corner following a run through the middle before his shot was deflected wide. A Jake McIntyre free kick hit a defender and went past the post before Bentley denied Day and then kept out another Thomas header. The busy Wells goalkeeper next saved a Schafer free kick and also prevented Finn O'Mara heading in at the near post from a long throw.

Whitstable finally got their reward in the 33rd minute when Ricardo Thompson found Day on the left and he did well to hold off his marker and cross to Grant whose shot was parried by Bentley but Schafer was there to fire in the rebound. Wells responded with a good build up that gave Lawrence another chance to test Colmer with a curling shot towards the far corner, but the goalkeeper was able to get across to tip behind for a corner. On 39 minutes, Grant pulled the ball back for Day who once again was unable to beat Bentley. Lawrence shot wide and when Jack Peters conceded a free kick in added time, Rory Ward's cross was headed over the bar from close range by Alaka. Whitstable went in 1-0 up, but really should have made more of their opportunities.

The second half was in marked contrast to the first and apart from substitutions by both managers, there was little to report until the 74th minute when Josh Nolan got in the way of a well struck Schafer volley following a long throw. Lawrence tried a couple of shots without really troubling Colmer, then Schafer drilled a shot wide. In the 86th minute, Wells levelled when Regan Corke managed to get in a cross from the left corner that Rhys Bartlett flicked into the path of Lawrence and he made the space to shoot past Colmer, although the ball went in off the post.

Whitstable then tried hard to regain the lead and Schafer saw an effort blocked before testing Bentley with a curling free kick, then Thomas sliced over the top following a corner. In the 90th minute they were back in front and it was Whitstable academy player Jake Abrahams, who had earlier replaced Grant, that scored his first senior goal for the club. Thomas sent a diagonal free kick forward from his own half, Day headed the ball back into the middle and Abrahams was quick to react and poke the ball past Bentley. Whitstable safety negotiated five and a half added minutes to collect maximum points.

Snodland Town are the visitors to the Primcura Healthcare Stadium for Tuesday evening's league fixture before Whitstable attempt to reach the Fourth Round Qualifying of the FA Cup for the first time, at their sixth attempt, when they entertain Hungerford Town on Saturday.

Tunbridge Wells	Data	Whitstable
4	Shots on target	12
3	Shots off target	5
2	Shots blocked	3
4	Corners	7
11	Fouls conceded	14
0	Offside	0
0	Penalties	0

Tunbridge Wells
George Bentley, Josh McArthur-Nolan (Daika Montague 90+4), Mo Alaka, Matthew Dunmall, Ryan Hine, Tom Penfold, Rory Ward (c), Jack Gallagher (Ryan Coltress 80), Lucas Murrain (Rhys Bartlett 73), D’Armando Lawrence, Regan Corke.
Subs (unused): Toby Crampton, Harry Rowland.
Goal: D’Armando Lawrence 86

Whitstable Town
Daniel Colmer, Ricardo Thompson, Jake McIntyre (c), Mikey Dalton, Finn O’Mara (Jayden Boulton 73), Will Thomas, Joe Healy (Fin Cotton 63), Jack Peters (Connor Wilkins 83), Dean Grant (Jake Abrahams 72), Bradley Schafer, Ashdon Day.
Sub (unused): Callum Peck
Goals: Bradley Schafer 33, Jake Abrahams 90.
Yellow cards: Jack Peters 45+2, Dan Colmer 90+4.

Attendance: 243
Referee: Jack Smith
Assistants: Henry Newman & Andrew Jones