At the end of long and successful season, Whitstable completed their league programme at Corinthian. Without a number of regular players, the Oystermen fell behind to a great strike by Jamie Billings late in the first half, but a rather low key affair ended all square as Dean Grant’s second half equaliser meant the champions finished the season 19 points clear at the top with 87 points and 87 goals from their 36 games.

After securing the league title a month earlier and then also lifting the Kent Senior Trophy in their most recent match, there was little riding on this final league fixture for Whitstable who had accumulated 21 points more than their closest rivals Fisher. Corinthian have had another season of rebuilding and sit in the lower half of the table, but well clear of any possible thoughts of relegation. The teams last met on the Saturday before Christmas when Whitstable ran out 6-2 winners in front of a home crowd of 1.084. There were a number of injuries and tired legs in the Whitstable squad, so the named team had an unfamiliar look, with six of the players that featured in the cup final left out of the matchday squad for this game. A warm and sunny afternoon added to the “end of season” feel about the fixture, which did nevertheless attract an attendance of 217, which was the highest of the season at Gay Dawn Farm.

Whitstable made a bright start and Joe Healy shot over from around 25 yards in the opening minute. Kieran King lobbed an effort well over for Corinthian a few minutes later. Whitstable were a little careless and slow at times while trying to play out from the back and gifted their hosts an opportunity in the 8th minute when the ball was passed back to Will Thomas who lost control of it just outside his own penalty area, allowing King to set up Tom Mitcham, but he sliced the ball high and wide. Javaun Splatt ran on to a ball from Dean Grant and took it around goalkeeper Zach Akinde, but he was forced wide and his shot from a narrow angle was blocked. Whitstable had a promising spell midway through the half with several balls going across the box before Isaac Currie's shot was held by Akinde. The players and officials stooped for a drinks break as the sun continued to shine, then Corinthian made a change in the 33rd minute when Caleb Afoke was replaced by Jerome Wilson.

Whitstable captain Jake McIntyre fired a free kick into the wall, then had another effort saved after a Bradley Schafer throw had reached him at the back post. Shortly afterwards though, it was the home team that broke the deadlock with just under 38 minutes on the clock. Alfie Cragg won the ball on the right before Mitcham and Oscar Housego combined to roll it back for Jamie Billings who hit a great left footed shot into the far corner from 25 yards with Josh Robson only able to stand and watch. After Ross Obazee, perhaps somewhat harshly, collected the game's only yellow card for delaying a free kick, Whitstable had a great chance to equalise. Splatt released Tyler Hatton on the left and he went past Oliver Fryer before pulling the ball back to Grant a few yards out, but as he and Akinde both attacked it, the ball rebounded across goal towards Schafer who volleyed it against the angle of post and bar. Fryer then got in the way of a Splatt shot when a high ball wasn't dealt with and Whitstable scrambled away a corner just before the referee called a halt to the first half with Corinthian holding a narrow 1-0 lead.

All five Whitstable substitutions were used during the second half, with the first being Fin Cotton who replaced Healy when the players returned to the pitch. Hatton earned Whitstable their only corner kick of the game when his cross was sliced over the bar by a defender. In the 51st minute, a Corinthian throw was knocked down by Obazee for Housego who played a good one-two with Mitcham before shooting low across goal, but Robson got down well to push the ball around the post. Robson was soon in action again when holding King's rising shot just under the bar.

A triple substitution was made by Whitstable in the 56th minute, with Theo Osinfolarin, Jack Peters and 17 year old Jack Fenton coming on. The changes seemed to help Whitstable gain a little more control in the middle with Cotton, Schafer and Peters seeing more of the ball and in the 67th minute, they levelled the score at 1-1. Grant did well to get the better of Wilson as they challenged for Schafer's high ball forward on the edge of the box and with Akinde straying off his line, Grant lifted it over him and into the net. Chances after that were few although Housego might have done better when King pulled the ball back from the right, but he wasn't able to keep his shot down. Grant had a chance for a late Whitstable winner when Fenton headed the ball on for him, but he shot over. In added time, Wilson hurled several long throws into the Whitstable box and, from the last of these, King fired over and the points were shared.

The Oystermen finish a memorable season after 54 competitive games as league champions and county cup winners, not forgetting a record breaking run to the Fourth Round Qualifying of the FA Cup, a competition in which they are currently the top scorers with 24 goals.

The players will be back at the Primcura Healthcare Stadium on Sunday for their end of season celebrations and awards day. The league championship cup and Kent Senior Trophy will be on show and there will also be a variety of food and entertainment available, so hopefully the occasion will be a memorable one. Whitstable will return to competitive action as a Step 4 team in August.

Corinthian	Data	Whitstable
3	Shots on target	3
5	Shots off target	4
1	Shots blocked	4
2	Corners	1
11	Fouls conceded	9
1	Offside	3
0	Penalties	0

Corinthian
Zach Akinde, Alfie Cragg (Harrison Fryer 85), Charlie Wright, Oliver Fryer, Jamie Billings (c), Caleb Afoke (Jerome Wilson 33), Kieran King, Shay Adegbehingbe, Ross Obazee (Jake Williams 61), Oscar Housego, Tom Mitcham.
Subs (unused): Fletcher Carnell-Davis, Gurpreet Benning.
Goal: Jamie Billings 38
Yellow card: Ross Obazee 41

Whitstable Town
Josh Robson, Ricardo Thompson (Ronald Sithole 71), Tyler Hatton, Jake McIntyre (c) (Theo Osinfolarin 56), Finn O’Mara, Will Thomas (Jack Peters 56), Dean Grant, Isaac Currie, Javaun Splatt (Jack Fenton 56), Bradley Schafer, Joe Healy (Fin Cotton 46).
Subs (unused): none
Goal: Dean Grant 67

Attendance: 217
Referee: Jordan Rant
Assistants: Freddie Waldron & Aiden Cooper