A bumper midweek crowd saw Whitstable pick up their first three points of the season when they beat Deal Town 3-1 at the YMS Stadium. Whitstable were good value for their 2-0 half time lead, with Alex Wall and Jack Nelson both on target. Deal fought hard to get back into the game after the break and we're given hope by Tom Chapman as Whitstable conceded a soft goal from a set piece a few minutes into the half. Deal's best spell of the game followed, but Whitstable kept them out until a great strike by Perri Iandolo restored the two goal margin. Despite a flurry of yellow cards and the late dismissal of Nathan Green, Whitstable had done enough to earn maximum points.

Regular Kent rivals over the years, this was the first meeting between Whitstable and Deal since the 2023-24 season when Deal did the double over the Oystermen in their SCEFL championship winning season. Both came into this game pointless, although Deal had played only one league game, a loss to Faversham. Whitstable had played two, so with the teams still involved in cup competitions, both would have been hoping to get off the mark in this game. Still with a number of experienced players out injured, Whitstable shuffled the team a little, with Harrison Pont returning from his one game ban to captain the team. The excellent crowd of 828 was slightly larger than the attendance one week earlier when Sittingbourne had visited.

The first sight of goal was in the 4th minute when Rory Smith got himself into a shooting position just inside the box, but only managed to roll the ball gently to Dan Colmer in the Whitstable goal. Perri Iandolo's cross was headed just wide by Jack Nelson, but Whitstable did open the scoring in the 11th minute. The ball was worked out to Ryan Bernal on the right and his cross reached Kenny Aileru whose attempt was kept out by James Tonkin, but the ball ran back across goal to Alex Wall and his shot deflected off a defender into the net. A Deal long throw was then cleared to the edge of the box where Ash Miller sent a first time shot wide. Whitstable doubled their advantage in the 17th minute as Green headed the ball forward, Robbie Rees lifted it into the 'D' where Nelson got between two defenders, took the ball to the left then shot back across Tonkin into the far corner.

Deal won several corners, but they were dealt with by the home defence. Whitstable looked the more likely to add to their score before half time, but efforts by Wall and Iandolo went wide, Rees cut in from the right and had his shot headed away and the industrious Henry Young had a shot blocked as the defences remained on top for the rest of the half. Whitstable would have been satisfied with their display and 2-0 lead at the interval, but Deal no doubt were hoping to produce more of a goal threat in the second half

Deal did not have long to wait for a chance to get themselves back into the game, after Tom Hanfrey conceded a free kick out on the right and Jack Penny swung the ball into the box. Jamie Kennedy appeared to get a touch and the ball found its way to the back post where Tom Chapman arrived to put the ball over the line and make it 2-1 on 49 minutes. Whitstable almost replied quickly when a blocked shot by Rees reached Nelson whose dipping strike from 20 yards was well saved by Tonkin. Pont cleared the danger after a cross was headed back into the middle and he was then in the right place to clear a deflected Kennedy shot off the line as Deal looked for another goal. Green became the second home player to see a yellow card just before the hour mark.

Deal were pressing, but Bernal intercepted a loose Macca Murray pass, Whitstable played their way forward, and when Young passed to Iandolo on the left, he took a couple of touches before hitting an incredible swerving shot from around 30 yards that flew past Tonkin into the net to give Whitstable their two goal cushion back in the 67th minute. They might have added a fourth when some quick passing saw Young pull the ball back for Bernal, but he lifted his shot over the bar. Penny curled in a Deal free kick that Colmer pushed out and the ball was cleared. Whitstable had to play the closing minutes with ten men after Green received a second yellow card in the 87th minute. In added time, a long throw was headed towards goal by Kennedy, but straight at Colmer. There was still time for the referee to show a couple more cards, but the final whistle blew after Murray sent a last effort high into the night sky and Whitstable had their first win back in the Isthmian League.

There is a Friday evening fixture for Whitstable when they travel to Chichester to play AFC Portchester in the FA Trophy. The games keep coming and Bank Holiday Monday sees the much anticipated home game against Margate when another big crowd is expected.

Whitstable	Data	Deal
5	Shots on target	5
5	Shots off target	4
4	Shots blocked	0
5	Corners	5
15	Fouls conceded	9
2	Offside	0
0	Penalties	0

Whitstable Town
Dan Colmer, Ryan Bernal (Liam Boxall 90+2), Nathan Green, Perri Iandolo, Harrison Pont (c), Tom Hanfrey, Kenny Aileru (Matty Holness 78), Henry Young, Alex Wall (Manny Ogunrinde 68), Robbie Rees (Charlie Thomson 56), Jack Nelson.
Sub (unused): Derek Asamoah
Goals: Alex Wall 11, Jack Nelson 17, Perri Iandolo 67.
Yellow cards: Tom Hanfrey 48, Harrison Pont 64, Henry Young 85, Jack Nelson 90+5.
Red card: Nathan Green (two yellows 59, 87)

Deal Town
James Tonkin, Zak Hammond, Jack Penny, Jacob Strouts, Tom Chapman (Owen Wilkinson 74), Macca Murray (c), Jamie Kennedy, Ben Chapman, Rory Smith, Alex Green, Ash Miller (Wes Hennessey 74).
Subs (unused): George McIlroy, Josh Vincent, Morgan Page.
Goal: Tom Chapman 49
Yellow cards: Zak Hammond 34, Wes Hennessey 90+3.

Attendance: 828
Referee: Joshua Williams
Assistants: Alan Widnall & Jamie Gray