After four years away, Whitstable’s return to the Isthmian League could hardly have had a worse beginning. Missing a number of key players for the trip to the Sussex coast on a hot afternoon to play another newly promoted team, Peacehaven & Telscombe, they were reduced to ten men inside the first minute when Harrison Pont was sent off. The hosts then raced into a commanding lead with two goals from Connor Tighe including a penalty, and another from Harrison Parker. Whitstable reorganised at half time and produced a much improved second half performance, until Peacehaven added a late fourth with a good finish by Cal Edwards.

The opening game of the Isthmian South East season matched the play off winners from the SCFL Premier Division with the SCEFL Premier Division champions. Peacehaven had won 4-1 in Guernsey to seal their promotion in late May, two months after Whitstable had wrapped up their own title. Whitstable’s manager Lee Martin was away for this game and with their captain Ian Gayle and vice-captain Tom Beere out injured, Harrison Pont wore the armband. Others missing, for a variety of reasons, included Tom Derry, Robbie Rees, Kweku Lucan, Matty Holness and Jack Hanson. Since Whitstable last visited, a 3G pitch has been installed. The 301 crowd contained a good number of away supporters who had made the two hour journey.

The afternoon's defining moment came almost straight from the kick off when Connor Tighe chased a long ball forward pursued by Harrison Pont, and when the Peacehaven captain went down under a challenge just outside the area, the referee blew for a foul and decided that the nearest covering defender wasn't close enough to the action so produced a red card just 32 seconds into the game. Tighe eventually sent the free kick wide.

The Whitstable defence then looked decidedly vulnerable for the next period of play and found themselves outnumbered at the near post from a corner kick that was deflected towards goal and Dan Colmer managed to turn the ball around the post. Peacehaven went in front in the 7th minute after two Whitstable players failed to make a clean connection on attempted clearances and Cameron Wiltshire was able to feed the unmarked Tighe on the right and his shot across goal beat Colmer. Initially, there was a positive response and Whitstable won two corners, the first of which was headed over the bar by Jack Nelson, but a quick break from the next led to another goal for the hosts. A clearance found Cal Edwards in space on the right, with only Benji Oladapo-Gamu back for Whitstable and he came across to cover, but clipped Edwards in the box and Tighe accepted the chance to make it 2-0 from the penalty spot in the 13th minute.

Whitstable then made a change, introducing Jefferson Aibangbee for Derek Asamoah and they had a chance to pull a goal back from a Perri Iandolo free kick when Jeremiah Gyebi rose at the back post, but headed wide. Peacehaven might have increased their advantage when some good play on the left saw Wiltshire set up Emmanuel Okunja on the 18 yard line, but with time to pick his spot, he lifted the ball over the top. Charlie Curran curled a shot wide, but Whitstable were left with a mountain to climb when they made a mess of clearing a corner, allowing Harrison Parker to turn and fire past Colmer on 33 minutes. A long ball forward then caused more chaos in the Whitstable box, but Lewis Beebee volleyed over with Colmer stranded. Beebee then ran on to a pass threaded through the Whitstable defence only to be denied by Colmer. Aibangbee made room on the right for a cross that rebounded off the bar as Whitstable almost replied just before the interval.

Understandably, Whitstable reorganised for the second half, bringing on Manny Ogunrinde and Tom Hanfrey, and certainly performed better, winning an early corner and creating some chances. A good one-two between Kenny Aileru and Nelson put the former one on one with goalkeeper James Broadbent who saved with his legs. Ogunrinde then had a shot saved before he was caught in the head by Curran who was cautioned. Broadbent caught an effort by Aileru and Curran's shot was blocked at the other end. Both teams made full use of their substitutes in the heat. Beebee volleyed wide and Liam Boxall made a timely block when he threatened again, but Whitstable managed to limit Peacehaven to just one shot on target in the second half, which brought the fourth goal in the 84th minute. A corner was pushed away by Colmer, but Edwards regained the ball, cut in from the right and shot in from 18 yards. That was the last meaningful action, and Whitstable will know the game was effectively lost in the first half, but can at least take some encouragement from their second half performance with a man short.

Whitstable will be looking to bounce back in their first home league fixture on Tuesday when Sittingbourne visit the YMS Stadium.

Peacehaven	Data	Whitstable
6	Shots on target	3
6	Shots off target	3
2	Shots blocked	1
7	Corners	4
12	Fouls conceded	16
0	Offside	1
1	Penalties	0

Peacehaven & Telscombe
James Broadbent, Drew Matthews, Charlie Curran (Corey Smart 78), Lewis Beebee, Connor Tighe (c) (Dominic Budgen 64), Cal Edwards, Dan Howick, Harrison Parker (Richmond Osei 69), Emmanuel Okunja, Louie Kemna (Dan Cadman 76), Cameron Wiltshire (Harry Docherty 46).
Subs (unused): none
Goals: Connor Tighe 7, 13 (pen), Harrison Parker 33, Cal Edwards 84.
Yellow card: Charlie Curran 56

Whitstable Town
Dan Colmer, Benji Oladapo-Gamu (Manny Ogunrinde 46), Nathan Green (Liam Boxall 80), Jeremiah Gyebi, Harrison Pont (c), Kenny Aileru, Charlie Thomson, Derek Asamoah (Jefferson Aibangbee 14, Tom Hanfrey 46), Henry Young, Jack Nelson (Alex Wall 64), Perri Iandolo.
Subs (unused): none
Red card: Harrison Pont 1

Attendance: 301
Referee: Joel Lamping
Assistants: Greig Walker & Daniel Whale