Whitstable continued their impressive run of results, but for the majority of the game, it looked like being a frustrating afternoon for the league leaders against a stubborn Erith & Belvedere team who themselves are chasing a spot in the play-offs. A volleyed goal by Ryan Fowler midway through the first half, together with some good saves by Danny Alexander, appeared to be sending a below par Whitstable team to just their third league defeat of the season. The Oystermen however have made a habit of finding a way to get results and once again some late pressure and inspired substitutions turned things around. The game was well into added time when Joe Healy arrived to convert a low cross and a couple of minutes later Dean Grant was in the right place to score the winner after another shot had been blocked on the line.

With nine league games remaining, Whitstable came into this one knowing that 14 more points would make certain of the title. Erith & Belvedere though have often proved challenging opponents and arrived in good form with only one defeat in their last six games and still with a chance of reaching the play-offs, although they were a massive 24 points behind Whitstable with just six games left. When the teams met in October, a single Bradley Schafer goal was enough to give Whitstable a hard fought away win. Whitstable had to shuffle their team once again with Sinnkaye Christie and Ronald Sithole both ruled out after being injured in the previous game and they joined the longer term absentees on the side-lines. Ricardo Thompson was fit to return, as was Connor Wilkins who had been out for over four months and Fin Cotton was named amongst the substitutes, having returned from a short spell at Sheppey United. Another very good crowd of 775 was there to watch a game that was played in pleasant sunshine at times, but a brief hail shower swept across the ground during the first half.

The Deres dominated possession in the opening minutes and Casey Dudley headed a cross over the bar, then Matthias Broomes shot over as Whitstable were slow to get going. The first chance for the home team came in the 7th minute when the ball went across from left to right and Schafer's cross was met by Jack Nelson who put his header wide of the near post. Ronnie McClean curled an effort into Dan Colmer’s hands then Whitstable worked the ball out to the right for Theo Osinfolarin who stepped inside before shooting wide. Following a quiet period, the Deres scored in the 23rd minute when an Alfie Morgan corner was initially headed high into the air and Colmer chose to punch it clear, but the ball went straight to Ryan Fowler just outside the box and he volleyed it through the crowd into the net.

Whitstable came so close to an equaliser when a Schafer corner was headed down by Thomas into a packed six yard box and with Finn O'Mara trying to force the ball home it rebounded off the underside of the bar before the next effort was blocked and, with handball appeals unanswered, the Deres survived. Another corner followed and the ball was just kept out at the near post before being scrambled away. In the 34th minute, Whitstable again almost scored from a corner as O'Mara's header was pushed out by Alexander and the follow up was also deflected wide. The rest of the half passed with few real chances at either end until just before the break when a long throw by Schafer caused problems with Wilkins and O'Mara both having efforts blocked before the danger passed. Whitstable left the pitch trailing by the single goal and although they had created opportunities, mainly from set pieces, it had been a largely frustrating half for the home supporters who no doubt hoped to see a better performance in the second half.

When play restarted, a good run by Schafer created Whitstable's first chance when he played in Javaun Splatt who shot over from an angle on the right. Wilkins was next to drive forward and pass to Nelson in the box, but Alexander was quickly out to save. The Deres appealed unsuccessfully for a penalty when Will Thomas and Rob Strachan tangled as a free kick was curled into the box, then Tommy Whitnell shot over from 25 yards. Freddie Cray then found some space outside the area and struck a rising shot just over the bar. The referee warned Alexander for wasting time as the game approached the final ten minutes. Dean Grant, one of the numerous substitutions made by both teams, headed a Jayden Boulton cross wide before there was a pause in play because of an injury to Morgan. Harry Day tried a long shot that proved an easy save for Colmer.

As the time on the clock passed 90 minutes, Alexander did well to prevent a corner being headed in by Lewis Chambers. Whitstable's persistence was finally rewarded in the 93rd minute when a ball forward by Boulton was helped out by Thomas to Splatt on the left and his low cross was put in by Joe Healy at the far post. Whitstable immediately pressed for another goal to complete the turnaround and Alexander managed to tip a Healy header from a corner over the bar for another corner. This time a header was blocked and the ball dropped to Chambers whose shot was cleared off the line by McClean, but Grant was there to fire in from close range to spark wild scenes of celebration around the ground. The final whistle blew soon afterwards and the dramatic 2-1 win, coupled with results elsewhere, left Whitstable needing a further nine points from eight games to become champions.

Whitstable are next in action on Wednesday evening with an away game against FA Vase semi-finalists Punjab United when they will hope to edge ever closer to the league title.

Whitstable	Data	Erith & Belvedere
8	Shots on target	3
10	Shots off target	6
6	Shots blocked	1
10	Corners	3
16	Fouls conceded	8
3	Offside	1
0	Penalties	0

Whitstable Town
Dan Colmer, Ricardo Thompson (Isaac Currie 79), Jayden Boulton, Connor Wilkins (Lewis Chambers 88), Finn O’Mara, Will Thomas (c), Jack Nelson (Dean Grant 61), Jack Peters (Fin Cotton 79), Javaun Splatt, Bradley Schafer, Theo Osinfolarin (Joe Healy 88).
Subs (unused): none
Goals: Joe Healy 90+3, Dean Grant 90+5.
Yellow card: Javaun Splatt 90+5

Erith & Belvedere
Danny Alexander, Scott Jarvis, Ronnie McClean, Alfie Morgan (Todd Brand 88), Rob Strachan (c), Freddie Fletcher, Matthias Broomes, Freddie Cray (Harry Day 81), Tommy Whitnell (Thomas Borders 73), Ryan Fowler, Casey Dudley (Freddie Baker 56).
Sub (unused): Connor French
Goal: Ryan Fowler 23
Yellow card: Matthias Broomes 67

Attendance: 775
Referee: Krystian Kaczala
Assistants: Louis Husk & Tom Baker