Missed chances and a sloppy goal conceded meant that Whitstable had to settle for a draw in a tight game against second placed Larkfield & New Hythe, but they remain 17 points clear at the top of the table. The best opportunities of a fairly uneventful first half were created by Whitstable, although it was no great surprise that the score remained goalless at the interval. Top scorer Javaun Splatt put them ahead early in the second half, but Steven Famose prodded home an equaliser a quarter of an hour later when the home defence failed to deal with a ball into the box. A strong finish by Whitstable failed to produce a late winner as the visitors hung on for a share of the points.

When Whitstable travelled to play Larkfield & New Hythe in early December, the hosts were heading the table and in a rich vein of form, but a late Javaun Splatt goal and a couple of goal line clearances gave Whitstable an important 2-1 win. Since then, the Oystermen have opened up a big lead at the top, with the Larks still in second place despite losing their last three games. Mikey Dalton, Jake McIntyre and Malachai Belboda were again ruled out of the Whitstable line up, but Jack Nelson and Isaac Currie returned to the squad after being cup tied for the Kent Senior Trophy semi-final the previous week. There was just one change to the starting eleven from that 3-0 win against Rusthall, with Nelson coming in for Ronald Sithole. The attendance at the Primcura Healthcare Stadium was 701, on a pleasantly sunny and relatively mild late February afternoon.

Ricardo Thompson was injured in the first minute as a late challenge by Tunde Aderonmu earned the Larks number nine an early yellow card. Some good football by Whitstable almost brought a goal in the 10th minute when a low cross from the right by Theo Osinfolarin reached Harvey Kedwell in the box, but he wasn't quite able to connect properly and goalkeeper Connor Collins made the save. Nathan Gordon picked up an injury and was unable to continue, so was replaced by Montel Williams. The Larks went close from a couple of free kicks, firstly when Clark Woodcock's delivery was cleared out to Williams who shot wide, then Tyler Ibe landed the next one on top of the net. Whitstable won two corners without being able to test Collins and in between a quick break saw Antwon McKenzie shoot over at the other end. Just before the half hour mark, Dan Colmer held a low shot by Nathan Green and Whitstable successfully defended two corners.

In the 34th minute, a long ball by Finn O'Mara found Splatt in the left corner and he cut back before curling an effort off the top of the bar. Bradley Schafer made a great run forward before trying a shot from the edge of the box, but couldn't keep it down and it flew over the bar with an unmarked Splatt looking on. Aderonmu tried a long range shot that was easy for Colmer to collect before Whitstable had another good opportunity in the 42nd minute when Splatt did really well to control a long Thompson pass and make space for himself on the 18 yard line, only to shoot over with just Collins to beat. There were corner kicks for both teams, with no end product, in the time added on, but a tense, and slightly disappointing, half of football ended without a goal.

Whitstable began the second half positively, with Schafer and O'Mara both having efforts blocked, although there was always a threat from the Larks down the left from the impressive Green and Ibe, who cut in and had a weak shot saved by Colmer at the near post. Kedwell played the ball across to Osinfolarin who made room for himself and shot just past the post from 20 yards. Schafer then won possession from Green and had a shot deflected for a corner that led to Whitstable opening the scoring in the 56th minute. Kedwell's corner was cleared to the edge of the area from where Schafer fired the ball towards goal and a touch by Splatt took it past Collins into the net for the Whitstable number nine's 30th goal of the season. Collins then had to be alert to touch the ball away from O'Mara after Will Thomas had headed a free kick back across goal. A good spell by the Larks followed and Steven Famose flicked a left wing cross towards goal and it needed a save from Colmer. Whitstable would not have been happy with the manner of the goal they conceded in the 71st minute that tied things up at 1-1. A Collins clearance was flicked on by Aderonmu and Ibe hooked the ball into the box where Whitstable missed a couple of chances to clear the danger and although O'Mara initially blocked a shot by Ibe, he was unable to prevent Famose following in to score.

The game then became a bit scrappy, with yellow cards for several players and some visits from the physio to treat Larkfield players. Sithole and Schafer lifted shots over the top and Colmer got across to ensure that a volley by Aderonmu went wide of the far post. The numerous stoppages meant an extended period of added time after 90 minutes and it began with yellow cards for Splatt and Jahmal Howlett-Mundle following a scuffle sparked by the Whitstable striker being pushed into the perimeter fence. Sithole got past his marker in the right corner before crossing the ball for Schafer whose acrobatic attempt flew over the bar. Whitstable ended the game on top, without being able to find a way through a resolute defence and with the visitors' bench desperately calling for the referee to end the game, the whistle eventually blew after eight added minutes and the teams shared the points, leaving the gap between them unchanged heading into the season's final two months.

The next game for Whitstable is on Saturday when they travel to Ashford to play Kennington.

Whitstable	Data	Larkfield & New Hythe
2	Shots on target	6
9	Shots off target	8
5	Shots blocked	2
8	Corners	4
12	Fouls conceded	12
0	Offside	1
0	Penalties	0

Whitstable Town
Dan Colmer, Ricardo Thompson, Jayden Boulton, Harvey Kedwell, Finn O’Mara, Will Thomas (c), Jack Nelson (Ronald Sithole 65), Lewis Chambers, Javaun Splatt, Bradley Schafer, Theo Osinfolarin.
Subs (unused): Isaac Currie, Jack Peters, Dean Grant, Joe Healy.
Goal: Javaun Splatt 56
Yellow cards: Lewis Chambers 72, Ricardo Thompson 74, Javaun Splatt 90+1.

Larkfield & New Hythe
Connor Collins, Clark Woodcock, Nathan Gordon (Montel Williams 13), Jay Wade, Jahmal Howlett-Mundle, Nathan Daly (c), Steven Famose (Kesna Clarke 84), Antwon McKenzie (Sam Fitzgerald 90+2), Tunde Aderonmu, Nathan Green, Tyler Ibe.
Subs (unused): Ibrahim Barrie, Jahmahl King.
Goal: Steven Famose 71
Yellow cards: Tunde Aderonmu 2, Antwon McKenzie 68, Jay Wade 72, Nathan Daly 77, Jahmal Howlett-Mundle 90+1.

Attendance: 701
Referee: Rhys Jeffery
Assistants: Steven Tunnicliffe & Matthew Jackson