It was a frustrating night for Whitstable as they failed to make the most of several good, early chances and their supporters would have been forgiven for thinking this was not to be their night when Callum Peck's penalty struck the post and shortly afterwards a defensive mix up presented Nathaniel Olawole the opportunity to nod Snodland in front just before half time. Captain Jake McIntyre then limped off to join the increasing list of injured Oystermen. Early in the second half, Whitstable fell further behind when they conceded a needless corner that was taken by Zak Loveridge and dropped straight into the far corner of the net. The remainder of the game brought a succession of stoppages and delays in play interspersed with some missed chances at both ends. It was the first time this season that Whitstable had failed to score, but it just felt like they could have played for another 90 minutes without doing so.

The impressive FA Cup run may have brought some great memories, publicity and prize money, but also a number of injuries and tired legs, so this midweek league game against an in form Snodland Town, a few days before Whitstable attempt to earn a place in the FA Cup Fourth Round Qualifying, always felt like a tricky fixture. Whitstable were without Finn O'Mara, Theo Osinfolarin and Javaun Splatt, but it was good to see Connor Wilkins make his first start since getting injured in the FA Vase final at Wembley. Jayden Boulton and Callum Peck also returned to that starting eleven. New signing Chris Alhassan, most recently with Stansfeld, was named among the substitutes. Snodland were unbeaten in four matches and had enjoyed a good away win in the FA Vase at Horsham YMCA in their most recent outing. The attendance on a showery evening was 420.

Whitstable started well, but would regret not being able to convert any of several good chances. Only a minute had been played when a long clearance by goalkeeper Dan Colmer dropped to Jack Peters 10 yards from goal, but he volleyed wide. Bradley Schafer then sent Peck through one on one with goalkeeper Justin Lee who did enough to put the Whitstable forward off and the ball rebounded out for a goal kick. The game was still only in the 4th minute when a loose clearance was collected by Peck, but his low shot from outside the box was comfortably saved by Lee. Ashdon Day then fired wide from a tight angle on the left after receiving the ball from Peters. The visitors had their first sight of goal in the 11th minute when a cross from the left reached Nathaniel Olawole who headed wide after finding space at the back post. Peck then held the ball up before laying it back to Day who shot past the far post. Boulton sent over a great cross from the left that reached Schafer beyond the far post and he struck it well, but Lee managed to keep the ball out as it hit him in the chest and went behind for a corner. A Mikey Dalton cross found Day whose header down was gathered by Lee. The chances continued as another dangerous Boulton cross was only partially cleared and Peters sliced wide.

As the clock reached 30 minutes, an effort by Samuel Naiwo was blocked, then when the ball was put back into the box, another shot struck Wilkins and the referee dismissed a few handball appeals. The key moments of the evening unfolded a few minutes before the half time interval. Kaylam Burgess was adjudged to have fouled Day in the box and despite Snodland protests and a chat with the assistant, the referee confirmed it was a penalty. Peck stepped forward and struck it firmly, only to see the ball cannon off the right post. Snodland cleared the danger and a ball forward from the left immediately led to the opening goal in the 41st minute. Jake McIntyre and Olawole chased after the ball with McIntyre just getting there first, but he lifted the ball over Colmer who had rushed out of his area leaving McIntyre and Olawole to continue the chase towards goal and the Snodland player managed to head the ball in from close range. Worse followed for Whitstable when McIntyre had to depart with an injury, to be replaced by Alhassan. Two Whitstable corners in time added on failed to produce a goal, so Snodland led 1-0 at the break, leaving the home supporters to discuss a frustrating half.

Alvin Turyatemba was the first to try a shot in the second half, but it was too high, then Alhassan met a Peck cross without being able to really test Lee. After Emmanuel Shoderu had been cautioned for a foul on Dalton, Turyatemba shot wide, but then Whitstable conceded another really poor goal in the 55th minute. Colmer spilled a low cross from the right with the ball going just over the line for a corner that was swung in by Zak Loveridge and the ball found its way straight into the net at the far post as Colmer went down in the crowded box. There were a few appeals for a push, but the referee saw nothing wrong and Snodland led 2-0. Whitstable introduced Dean Grant in place of Peck, then when a long ball was not cut out by the Whitstable defence, Colmer did well to deny Naiwo and recovered quickly to block the follow up effort by Shoderu. Whitstable tried to find a route back into the game although it never really looked likely and when Schafer won a free kick on the edge of the penalty area, he curled it over the bar, There followed another substitution and the Snodland goalkeeper was then advised to go down and call for the physio, bringing further delays before the game resumed,

In the 77th minute Lee managed to tip a dipping Schafer free kick over the bar and a few minutes later a Wilkins free kick found Grant who wasn't able to beat Lee from six yards. Olawole managed to run through the home defence before shooting wide, Alfie Powell earned a yellow card for time wasting and a late Whitstable corner brought no reward. There were over eight added minutes, during which Snodland substitute Asanti Amoah lashed a shot wide when he might have done better and right at the end Wilkins fired in a great free kick from distance that was well saved by Lee. Referee Ismail Isik had seen enough and blew the final whistle and so had most of the home supporters who were left hoping for a better performance in the next game.

On Saturday, Whitstable have the chance to set a new FA Cup record by getting past the Third Round Qualifying for the first time at the fifth attempt. They will also hope to add to the 21 goals they have already scored in the competition, making them the top scorers at this stage. Another Step 3 club, Hungerford Town of the Southern League Premier South stand in their way. It will be the first time that the clubs have met.

Whitstable	Data	Snodland
8	Shots on target	3
8	Shots off target	6
3	Shots blocked	3
7	Corners	1
8	Fouls conceded	10
2	Offside	2
1	Penalties	0

Whitstable Town
Daniel Colmer, Ricardo Thompson, Jayden Boulton (Jake Abrahams 79), Mikey Dalton, Will Thomas, Jake McIntyre (c) (Chris Alhassan 45+2, Fin Cotton 86), Callum Peck (Dean Grant 58), Connor Wilkins, Ashdon Day (Joe Healy 67), Bradley Schafer, Jack Peters.
Subs (unused): none
Yellow card: Chris Alhassan 63

Snodland Town
Justin Lee (c), Alfie Powell, Kaylam Burgess, Zak Loveridge, Connor Dymond, Liam Parle, Samuel Naiwo (Paul Lee 67), Femi Ogunbiyi, Alvin Turyatemba, Emmanuel Shoderu (Riley Goatham 90+5), Nathaniel Olawole (Asanti Amoah 87).
Subs (unused): Callum Goatham, Shea Brennan.
Goals: Nathaniel Olawole 41, Zak Loveridge 55.
Yellow cards: Emmanuel Shoderu 53, Alfie Powell 87.

Attendance: 420
Referee: Ismail Isik
Assistants: James Bonney & William Watton