After a disappointing start to life back at Step 4 with a big defeat at Peacehaven, Whitstable were back at home for a midweek game against Sittingbourne and the large crowd for this Kent derby enjoyed a good competitive game of football, although the Whitstable supporters suffered an agonising finish when former Oyster Harvey Smith headed in an added time winner. It was Smith who had fired his team ahead with an early strike, but Alex Wall soon equalised. Both teams created more chances, and Whitstable will regret not making the most of some good opportunities to have taken at least a share of the points, but it was nevertheless an encouraging performance against a good Sittingbourne team who are the league leaders after three games.

Whitstable were still without several experienced players including Ian Gayle, Tom Beere, Tom Derry and Derek Asamoah, but did include two new signings. Central defender Corey Panter, recently with Dagenham and Redbridge, was given the captain's armband on his debut and he was joined by Ryan Bernal, a right back signed from Lewes. Also making his first start after recovering from injury was Kweku Lucan. Sittingbourne have reached the playoffs in the last two seasons and have started well, although Whitstable should have noted they had scored goals after the 90 minute mark in both of their previous games! Harvey Smith, a Wembley winner with the Oystermen, arrived in good form for the visitors. An excellent attendance of 814 was at the YMS Stadium to see the return of Isthmian League football, including a strong away continent.

Lucan sent an early shot wide when Alex Wall would have preferred a cross to the back post, then a promising Whitstable move nearly led to the opening goal, but it was Sittingbourne that took the lead in the 8th minute when Darren Foxley curled the ball into the box, Jordan Greenidge nodded it back and Harvey Smith shot into the left corner of the net from 20 yards. Reiss Greenidge volleyed a corner wide at the far post, then Whitstable appealed in vain for a penalty when Lucan went down under a challenge in the box. Whitstable did get themselves back on level terms in the 15th minute and it was a long clearance by Dan Colmer that caused problems in the Brickies defence and Wall was first to the bouncing ball and lifted it over goalkeeper Jamie Grossart and into the net, despite the efforts of Gavin Hoyte on the line.

Some great football by Whitstable might have put them ahead on 28 minutes as Harrison Pont released Bernal on the right and he cut the ball back to Perri Iandolo on the 18 yard line, but he skewed a shot wide with an unmarked Wall hoping for a pass at the back post. The referee then allowed play to continue when Whitstable felt they should have had a free kick and Sittingbourne broke forward, but Bagasan Graham shot wide. Jean-Baptiste Fischer had a shot blocked before Kenny Aileru found Harrison Pont whose dipping shot was acrobatically tipped over the bar by Grossart. Smith was just off target with a 20 yard effort at the other end. Just before half time Jordy Mongoy's shot was deflected for a corner that was headed over the bar and the teams went in level at 1-1.

Whitstable made a change at the break as Jack Nelson came on to play up front in place of midfielder Charlie Thomson, but there was almost a dream start for Sittingbourne when a Fischer cross that looked to be going wide was deflected back towards goal off Bernal forcing Colmer to react quickly, but the ball fell for Jordan Greenidge whose close range shot was blocked and Whitstable survived. The ball was in the Whitstable net a minute later when a corner was eventually helped over the line, but from an offside position. Whitstable began to ask more questions and Lucan sped down the right to deliver a cross that picked out Nelson in space in the middle, but he steered his header wide. A good sequence of passing then created another opportunity for Lucan to find Wall, but the ball just ran away from him and Grossart was able to gather. Some great wing play took Kenny Aileru past several defenders in the left corner and Grossart did well to get in the way of his delivery from a tight angle, then the corner that followed reached Tom Hanfrey whose shot lacked power and Grossart gathered comfortably. Luke Woodward's well struck shot from distance hit a defender and Whitstable broke quickly to earn two corners that Sittingbourne managed to clear.

Both teams made changes in the 69th minute, then Hanfrey curled in a long range free kick that was safely caught by Grossart. Whitstable had been looking the more likely to find a winning goal, but Colmer was back in the action with just over ten minutes to play. Jordy Mongoy's fierce 25 yard shot was pushed away by the home goalkeeper, then Khavarn Williams reacted the fastest to collect the loose ball and again test Colmer who made another save. A Whitstable free kick was met by Aileru and the ball looped towards goal where it was caught under the bar by Grossart. In the 89th minute, Nelson's run created a chance for Pont whose 25 yard shot was pushed behind for a corner by Grossart. Whitstable got caught pressing for a late winner as Sittingbourne broke to win a corner with seconds remaining and Fischer's delivery was headed in by Smith to the delight of the away fans behind the goal. There was just time for Hanfrey to lash a long shot over the bar before the final whistle and Sittingbourne took maximum points, although the disappointed home fans had seen a promising performance by the new Whitstable team.

It's a return to cup action at the weekend when Whitstable entertain Newhaven in the Preliminary Round of the Emirates FA Cup. If no midweek replay is needed, Deal Town will be the next visitors in a league game on Tuesday, with a congested fixture list ahead over the next few weeks.

Whitstable	Data	Sittingbourne
6	Shots on target	4
5	Shots off target	4
1	Shots blocked	6
8	Corners	7
10	Fouls conceded	15
4	Offside	3
0	Penalties	0

Whitstable Town
Dan Colmer, Ryan Bernal (Manny Ogunrinde 61), Nathan Green, Corey Panter (c), Harrison Pont, Tom Hanfrey, Kenny Aileru, Charlie Thomson (Jack Nelson 46), Alex Wall (Robbie Rees 69), Perri Iandolo (Henry Young 69), Kweku Lucan.
Sub (unused): Liam Boxall
Goal: Alex Wall 15
Yellow cards: Ryan Bernal 43, Manny Ogunrinde 63.

Sittingbourne
Jamie Grossart, Jean-Baptiste Fischer, Bagasan Graham (c), Luke Woodward (Jaiden Chang-Brown 69), Gavin Hoyte, Reiss Greenidge, Darren Foxley (Khavarn Williams 75), D’sean Theobalds, Harvey Smith, Jordy Mongoy, Jordan Greenidge (Samson Uwandu 80).
Subs (unused): Kieron Agbebi, Skye Salmon.
Goals: Harvey Smith 8, 90+2
Yellow cards: D’sean Theobalds 38, Bagasan Graham 49, Reiss Greenidge 73.

Attendance: 814
Referee: Nicholas Bone
Assistants: Tom Amber & Ismail Isik