The fifth game of the SCEFL ground hop weekend took Whitstable to Hythe Town for a league fixture that attracted an attendance of 450. The Oysters successfully negotiated the challenges of an unusual Sunday morning kick off time, player unavailability and injuries suffered during the game, to earn a valuable win in an entertaining contest on a difficult pitch. Whitstable failed to take several good early chances in a goalless first half, but after some half time changes, Ashdon Day headed them in front early in the second. The lead did not last long however as Steadman Callender headed an equaliser soon afterwards. Whitstable had the better of the time remaining and Mikey Dalton punished a defensive error to score the winning goal and gain a deserved three points.

The historic run to the Fourth Round Qualifying of the FA Cup has left Whitstable playing catch up in the league, having played only eight games, five fewer than leaders Erith and Belvedere. Two more cup ties follow this trip to Hythe Town, so three points were certainly the aim. The hosts, now managed by former Oyster Ira Jackson Jr. who is assisted by Whitstable academy director Josh Algar, were relegated last season. They began this campaign promisingly, but had dropped to 14th prior to this game. Three former Whitstable players were in the Hythe team, Jason Fregene, Steadman Callender and Tunmise Akanni. Whitstable were without their two influential goal scorers from the FA Cup win against Hungerford Town, Bradley Schafer and Joe Healy, and also the dual registered Jack Peters who played for Margate the previous day. Theo Osinfolarin had recovered sufficiently from injury to take his place on the bench.

Whitstable started well and had several good opportunities to score in the opening minutes. A Jake McIntyre throw was headed on by Javaun Splatt, but dropped safely wide of the far post, then Splatt rose again to head on another throw from the other side and this time Chris Alhassan arrived to head the ball towards goal, but too close to Felix Mortimore. In the 5th minute, the home side were caught trying to play out and Fin Cotton found Splatt in space 12 yards from goal, but Mortimore did well to push the ball away and Fregene was there to block Splatt's attempt to convert the rebound. Ashdon Day tried a shot that hit a defender before Hythe did begin to show some attacking intent with about 10 minutes on the clock, as Akanni and Armani-Jordan Martin both had shots blocked. Connor Wilkins appeared to be caught by Kian Scott as he slid into a challenge that left both players needing treatment, but the referee saw it differently and not only awarded Hythe the free kick, but to the frustration of his management team, also issued a yellow card to the Whitstable player who was able to continue until half time.

There was a brief scramble in the Hythe box after Mortimore had pushed the ball away when Alhassan prodded it towards goal. Whitstable suffered another injury blow when Ricardo Thompson had to limp off in the 23rd minute, to be replaced by Osinfolarin. Hythe created a few chances as the rest of the first half was quite evenly contested. A dangerous low cross into the Whitstable penalty area was cut out by Finn O'Mara. Splatt again headed a long throw towards goal and Mortimore caught the ball under the bar and, with the Whitstable defence out of position, Akanni quickly sent a high ball forward that was misjudged by the covering Mikey Dalton leaving Scott in on goal, but he lifted a great chance over the top. In added time McIntyre swung the ball into the middle where Splatt brought it under control before shooting over the bar. The final action of the half saw Dan Colmer save a Martin shot at the near post and Will Dempsey headed the resulting corner wide to leave the score goalless at the interval.

Whitstable made a couple of substitutions when the teams returned, introducing Jayden Boulton and Dean Grant, while also changing their shape. They almost got an immediate reward when an Osinfolarin cross was headed towards goal by Ashdon Day, but Mortimore kept the ball out. Grant then fired the ball in from a tight angle on the right and again Mortimore saved. Whitstable were not to be denied though and when McIntyre released Boulton on the left, his cross was headed in by Day in the 47th minute. A long shot by Martin was saved by Colmer at the expense of a corner that was played short to Akanni whose cross was headed past Colmer by Callender to tie things up again at 1-1 in the 49th minute. The busy start to the second half continued when Grant chased the ball into the box and Aaron Archibald almost headed the ball past his own goalkeeper who managed to get down to save. Another Splatt header was comfortably held by Mortimore, then Boulton's cross found Osinfolarin whose header was grabbed at the second attempt by Mortimore.

In the 66th minute, Osinfolarin received the ball from a throw on the right and sent over a good cross that was headed wide by Will Thomas. The referee lost patience with Mortimore in the 70th minute and showed him a yellow card for time wasting. Another good chance went begging when Thomas arrived to meet a McIntyre corner at the far post and his close range header went over the bar, perhaps deflected off a defender, although a goal kick was the verdict. Grant collected a ball into the box and set it back for Day who fired over. Osinfolarin then shot over when the Hythe defence allowed the ball to bounce through to him. Whitstable finally got their second goal in the 75th minute, with some help from Hythe. Mortimore tried to play the ball out from a goal kick and got it back before passing it forward to Folarin Awoleke who was robbed by Dalton, the ball ran to Grant who returned it to Dalton to find the net. Both managers made changes and Whitstable managed the rest of the game without looking under much threat. Substitute Callum Peck shot wide as the game passed the 90 minute point and there was one more piece of action for Colmer who got behind a swerving long range effort by Awoleke. Whitstable had the win they came for and can now prepare for the big weekend ahead.

On Saturday, Whitstable will attempt to reach the First Round Proper of the FA Cup for the first time in their 99th campaign, but face a massive challenge away to National League Wealdstone.

Hythe	Data	Whitstable
4	Shots on target	11
3	Shots off target	10
2	Shots blocked	3
2	Corners	3
8	Fouls conceded	14
1	Offside	0
0	Penalties	0

Hythe Town
Felix Mortimore, Folarin Awoleke, Will Dempsey, Aaron Archibald, Jason Fregene, Bradley Walledge, Armani-Jordan Martin (Lewis Allan 78), Richie Keil (Robbie Keil 87), Kian Scott (Tom Adebulugbe 82), Steadman Callender (Ikye Dalton 82), Tunmise Akanni (c).
Sub (unused): Jerzy Krzyszka
Goal: Steadman Callender 49
Yellow card: Felix Mortimore 70.

Whitstable Town
Daniel Colmer, Ricardo Thompson (Theo Osinfolarin 23), Jake McIntyre (c), Mikey Dalton, Finn O’Mara, Will Thomas, Fin Cotton, Connor Wilkins (Jayden Boulton 46), Javaun Splatt (Callum Peck 87), Chris Alhassan (Dean Grant 46), Ashdon Day.
Sub (unused): Jake Abrahams
Goals: Ashdon Day 47, Mikey Dalton 75.
Yellow card: Connor Wilkins 37

Attendance: 450
Referee: Matthew Pollington
Assistants: Matt Jackson & Matthew Burchett