Whitstable maintained their recent good form in the league as they eventually overcame a good Bearsted team to record a 4-2 home win. A good opening spell put them two goals ahead through Dean Grant and Brad Walledge, but Bearsted fought back with goals from Jarred Trespaderne and Jake Embery. Whitstable were maybe pleased to get into the break without conceding further goals, but were in control throughout the second half and added two more goals, by Jack Nelson and Grant, to claim maximum points and remain at the top of the league table.

This was the third meeting of the current season between the teams, following a 1-1 draw at Bearsted, who then came from two goals down to win 3-2 and knock Whitstable out of the SCEFL Challenge Cup. Both teams made a number of changes for that cup tie, so fielded different starting line ups for this game. Whitstable though were without their captain, Jake McIntyre and Javaun Splatt was away on international duty. Recent signing Jack Nelson made his home debut for Whitstable. This game between the teams placed first and fifth in the table was watched by a very good midweek crowd of 559. Prior to kick off there was a minute's silence for Remembrance Day, followed by one minute's applause in memory of former Whitstable goalkeeper Brian Gambrill.

A miskick by Will Thomas allowed Sam Stace an early opportunity to run at the Whitstable back line, but Thomas recovered well to get back to block. Whitstable were ahead inside seven minutes when Finn O'Mara collected the ball from Dan Colmer and sent the ball forward towards Nelson who jumped with Danny Keyte and flicked the ball on to Dean Grant who took it into the box on the left before firing it low across goal where it appeared to be put into the net by a sliding Jack Palmby. Grant then created an opening for Nelson who made room to shoot from 20 yards, but his effort was saved by Frankie Leonard. Whitstable took control with a well worked second goal in the 16th minute when Grant passed the ball inside from the left to Nelson who in turn did well to find Brad Walledge and he cut inside the last defender before shooting past Leonard. Another Grant cross from the left bounced dangerously across the goalmouth and almost produced a repeat of the first goal.

Suddenly, in the 21st minute, the game changed when some poor defending allowed Bearsted a route back into the game. James Bessey received the ball from a throw by the right corner, got himself free and his low cross from the by-line was bundled in by Jarred Trespaderne. Bearsted grew in confidence and Sam Stace tried a shot that was comfortably saved. Former Oyster Palmby sent the ball out to the left for Luka Radojevic whose first time shot flew over the bar. Colmer came out to the 18 yard line to meet a long ball and chested it down, but it was collected by Jake Embery who went around the stranded goalkeeper, only to shoot straight at Thomas who cleared off the line. Bearsted kept up the pressure, but in a rare break a Walledge pass gave Nelson a chance and he had a couple of attempts that were both blocked. A Whitstable corner followed and it looked like they may have weathered the storm, but just before the break a Sam Flisher cross was flicked towards goal by Stace, forcing Colmer to make an instinctive one handed save to tip the ball over the bar. The corner was initially cleared, but when the ball was crossed in again Colmer made another great save from Embery's close range header. Whitstable were unable to survive until half time though and when Trespaderne's cross was volleyed back across goal by Stace, Embery was there to tuck away the equaliser with the last kick of the half. Whitstable had started brightly, but were probably relieved to hear the half time whistle and have a chance to regroup for the second half.

Whitstable made a change when the players returned with Bradley Schafer replacing Walledge and they began the second half much better than they ended the first. Thomas headed a Schafer free kick into the net, but it was disallowed as the ball had briefly curled out for a goal kick. Whitstable won several corners without being able to take advantage, before a good run by Grant down the left led to an opportunity to find Nelson who had raced to the back post, but the delivery gave him a little too much to do and he could only lift the ball over the top. Whitstable were finally rewarded for their second half dominance in the 69th minute when Fin Cotton and Schafer combined on the left to find Nelson who rifled a shot into the far corner of the net to score his first goal for the Oysters.

Grant shot wide before Whitstable made it 4-2 in the 74th minute. Nelson headed the ball on to Theo Osinfolarin on the right and he crossed to Schafer whose low drive from 22 yards was parried by Leonard and Grant followed in to score. O'Mara headed over after a Schafer throw had been flicked on, then another Whitstable attack left Nelson on the ground in the box, and although he still managed to steer the ball towards goal, Leonard saved. Whitstable saw the game out to secure their sixth straight league win and despite Bearsted looking very threatening in the latter stages of the first half, they were unable to create any goal opportunities during the second 45 minutes.

Stansfeld are the visitors on Saturday when Whitstable have another home league match as they try to maintain their position at the top of the table.

Whitstable	Data	Bearsted
7	Shots on target	6
10	Shots off target	3
4	Shots blocked	2
5	Corners	3
9	Fouls conceded	10
4	Offside	0
0	Penalties	0

Whitstable Town
Dan Colmer, Ricardo Thompson, Jayden Boulton, Mikey Dalton, Finn O’Mara, Will Thomas (c), Jack Nelson (Chris Alhassan 90), Fin Cotton, Dean Grant, Bradley Walledge (Bradley Schafer 46), Theo Osinfolarin.
Subs (unused): Nathan Jeche, Josh Robson, Joe Healy.
Goals: Dean Grant 7, 74, Bradley Walledge 16, Jack Nelson 69.
Yellow cards: Mikey Dalton 36, Jack Nelson 76, Fin Cotton 90+3.

Bearsted
Frankie Leonard, Sam Flisher (Reuben Jones 77), Luka Radojevic, Jarred Trespaderne (Aidan Clark 85), Daniel Melvin (Sonny Jackson 77), Danny Keyte (c), James Bessey-Saldanha, Jack Palmby, Jake Embery (Michael Hagan 85), Sam Stace, Richard Jimoh (Ashton Mitford 85).
Subs (unused): none
Goals: Jarred Trespaderne 21, Jake Embery 45+1.
Yellow cards: Danny Keyte 53, Sam Stace 73.

Attendance: 559
Referee: Ayden Gillespie
Assistants: Alicia May & Louis Husk