Whitstable strengthened their position at the top of the table at the halfway point in their league season with another good away win, but were made to work hard by an improving Chislehurst Glebe team. The first half remained goalless although there were a few decent chances to break the deadlock, but two Jack Nelson goals in the second period were enough to seal a ninth consecutive away win for the Oystermen. The hosts played their best football in the last few minutes and came closest to a consolation goal when Jamie Philpot hit the post, but Whitstable held on to extend their winning run.

Having won a top of the table battle at Larkfield and New Hythe on Tuesday, Whitstable were on their travels again for their 11th away league match of the current campaign; they have only played seven at home. Newly renamed Chislehurst Glebe have struggled to collect many points and find themselves close to the drop zone, although under recently appointed manager Frankie Sawyer they have begun to show more promising signs and enjoyed a 5-1 home win against Kennington in their last game. Whitstable were without the unavailable Nathan Jeche, but Jack Nelson returned from his one game ban and Malachai Belboda was back in the starting eleven. There was also a debut in midfield for new signing Isaac Currie, who has joined from Welling United. Once again, the away support from Whitstable was good and formed a healthy proportion of the 128 in attendance.

Whitstable began brightly with Belboda causing the home defenders problems from his advanced position on the right. An early Bradley Schafer cross was lifted over the bar by Javaun Splatt, although it would have been ruled out by an offside flag. A cross field ball by Jake McIntyre found Belboda who cut in and tried a shot that was saved at the near post by Nathan Edwards. A free kick at the other end was put into the box by Malachi Morris and Jamie Philpot was first to the ball, but headed over the bar from six yards. Splatt rose to flick on a long clearance by Dan Colmer and release Belboda who was denied by Edwards. Next, McIntyre sent a long distance free kick into the defensive wall before Nathan Mampono made a good run, played a one-two with Philpot on the edge of the penalty area and hit a low shot that lacked the power to beat Colmer.

Belboda then pounced on a weak clearance and got into the box, but both he and Schafer were closed down before they had a chance to test Edwards. On 32 minutes, Chislehurst Glebe were awarded a free kick about 20 yards out, much to the annoyance of the Whitstable players, but Morris shot over the bar. Belboda twisted and turned inside the area and set up Nelson whose shot was well blocked by a defender, then Schafer swung over a free kick from the left corner and Nelson's flicked header flew just past the far post as Finn O'Mara arrived without quite being able to divert the ball into the net. It had been a largely frustrating half, littered with stoppages and numerous free kicks for innocuous challenges. The possibility of similar officiating in the second half prompted the Whitstable management team to make a change and bring on Dean Grant for the unfortunate Splatt who was already on a yellow card.

Whitstable almost scored soon after play restarted when Grant delivered a cross from the left to an unmarked Nelson at the far post, but his downward header was saved. McIntyre then drove a long range effort past the post before Nelson and Belboda created an opportunity for Grant who shot wide. Khavarn Williams skipped past a challenge in the box and dragged his shot across goal and wide. It was Whitstable though that looked the more likely to score and they finally did in the 62nd minute. Belboda's run was initially cleared, but Currie then cut into the box from the left and poked the ball across to Nelson whose shot was saved on the line, but he fired in the rebound.

Philpot headed a free kick wide before the home team introduced Mitchell Chapman who was briefly a Whitstable player at the start of the 2024-25 season. Whitstable won a further three corners and from the third of them, added a second goal in the 74th minute. Schafer's delivery to the back post was headed down by Will Thomas and Nelson fired the ball high into the net. There followed another precautionary substitution by Whitstable who sent on Fin Cotton for Schafer who had been cautioned for a midfield collision a few minutes earlier. Thibaut Abie received a pass from Chapman and tried a low 25 yard shot that was turned behind by Colmer for Chislehurst Glebe's only corner of the afternoon.

Both managers made another change in the 78th minute with Frankie Sawyer bringing himself on and for the rest of the game his team were mostly on top, although the Whitstable defence were generally in control, until the five added minutes when the hosts went close several times. A left wing cross from Williams reached Mampono whose shot across goal just missed the far post, then a quick Whitstable break saw Cotton shoot narrowly wide. Williams again caused problems for the Whitstable defence as his deflected shot reached Philpot who rattled the post with a fine left footed strike. Then, another ball into the box dropped to Sawyer whose shot rolled agonisingly wide and the game ended shortly afterwards with another away win, clean sheet and, thanks to results elsewhere, a bigger lead at the top of the table for the Oystermen.

The last game before Christmas for Whitstable is a home SCEFL Premier Division fixture that sees their former manager Keith McMahon bring his Corinthian team to the Primcura Healthcare Stadium on Saturday, when there a few seasonal extras planned for the afternoon.

Chislehurst Glebe	Data	Whitstable
2	Shots on target	7
7	Shots off target	6
1	Shots blocked	4
1	Corners	8
9	Fouls conceded	20
1	Offside	0
0	Penalties	0

Chislehurst Glebe
Nathan Edwards, Rolex Buiti, Tom Cousins (Frankie Sawyer 78), Ryan Kelly (Mitchell Chapman 66), Elliott Wenham, Harry Sargent, Khavarn Williams, Thibault Abie, Jamie Philpot (c), Malachi Morris, Nathan Mampono.
Subs (unused): Quadri Green, Fred Davison, Louie Belsham.
Yellow card: Thibault Abie 58

Whitstable Town
Dan Colmer, Ricardo Thompson, Jake McIntyre (c), Mikey Dalton, Finn O’Mara, Will Thomas, Malachai Belboda (Joe Healy 78), Isaac Currie, Javaun Splatt (Dean Grant 46, Jayden Boulton 88), Bradley Schafer (Fin Cotton 75), Jack Nelson.
Sub (unused): Brad Walledge
Goals: Jack Nelson 62,74.
Yellow cards: Javaun Splatt 33, Bradley Schafer 65.

Attendance: 128
Referee: Dan Tornbom
Assistants: Alexis Stacchini & Stephen Luke