It was a successful return to league action for Whitstable, as they beat a Three Bridges team that made things harder for themselves by having two players and their manager sent off. Leo Mazzone, an early substitute for Connor Sanders, scored his first Whitstable goal with a good header and Aaron Millbank deflected a free kick into the net as Whitstable scored twice in a few minutes midway through the first half. Brannon O’Neill was dismissed just before the break and Troy Williams also saw red in the second half, soon to be followed into the dressing room by his manager. Three Bridges carved out more chances with nine players on the pitch than they managed with eleven, although Whitstable really should have made the game safe long before the final whistle, having squandered numerous good opportunities. It didn’t matter in the end though, as Whitstable picked up all three points to move up to 12th in the table.

Following two cup wins on the road, Whitstable returned to the Belmont looking for some points to push them up the league table, with the 3-0 August Bank Holiday win over Herne Bay their only league success of the season to date. Manager Lloyd Blackman made four changes to the eleven that started at Cray Valley on Tuesday, with Tom Bryant, Jake Mackenzie, Luke Girt and Marshall Wratten coming back into the team. TJ Jadama, Marcus Evans and Harry Stannard were not fit enough to be included. Three Bridges have often proved tricky opponents for Whitstable and had collected six points from their first six matches so far this season.

The game started with each team trying to threaten with a long throw into the box, but there was little action of note in the early stages, although Connor Sanders had to depart with a foot injury to be replaced by Mazzone in the 7th minute. Whitstable were beginning to get on top, winning a couple of corners and free kicks and it was their second corner that led to the first goal in the 21st minute. Marshall Wratten’s delivery reached Bryant and he managed to control and play the ball back out to Wratten whose next cross found Mazzone beyond the far post and he planted a firm header back across goal, past Kieron Thorp and into the net. Just a few minutes later, John Ufuah did well to win a corner on the right, which was played short and a foul on the edge of the box gave Whitstable a free kick that was curled in low by Wratten and Millbank got a slight touch to send the ball straight into the far corner to make it 2-0.

Bridges thought they had pulled a goal back straight afterwards, when a deep cross from the right was turned in by Andrew Sesay, but it was ruled out by an offside flag. The Whitstable defence then had to clear the ball away after an effort was blocked following a corner. Millbank and Wratten both had attempts to add to the lead, before Whitstable suffered another injury blow when central defender Liam Dickson limped off with a calf injury and Josh Spencer came on to replace him. A foul by Liam Gillies gave Andre McCollin the chance to try his luck with a long distance free kick, but it was an easy save for Dan Eason. Just before half time, a poor challenge on Girt by O’Neill caused the referee, who was very well positioned, to brandish an immediate red card. There was still time before the interval for Millbank to have a shot blocked and head another Wratten free kick wide, but Whitstable went into their dressing room leading 2-0, although the Three Bridges bench delayed the exit of the match officials, presumably wanting to discuss the sending off.

The second period started with a long shot by McCollin that Eason did well to parry and he also managed to block the follow up, although it would not have counted because the assistant had already flagged for offside. Whitstable then had a number of chances to add to their lead, but were unable to find the finish. Wratten had a curling shot saved, Mazzone’s shot from the edge of the box was blocked and then Gillies, who had an impressive game in midfield, had a shot held by Thorp. The opportunities continued and Milbank had a 20 yard drive saved, then Mazzone fired the ball into the box where it was collected by Millbank who turned and hooked the ball towards goal, but it was well blocked by Dean Gunner. Next, it was the turn of Ufuah to have his shot blocked, before the best chance of the half fell to Bryant in the 59th minute. Millbank had a close range shot saved by the outstretched leg of Thorp and the ball rolled out to the Whitstable captain who lifted his shot over the top of the gaping goal from 5 yards.

The next incident occurred in the 62nd minute when a tackle by Mackenzie in front of the away bench caused them to call for a red card, but the referee, who again had a good view of the challenge, decided it was only worth a yellow. The complaints continued and the Bridges manager, Paul Faili, was dismissed for his comments. Whitstable continued to press and a deflected Ufuah cross was headed over by Gillies, then Millbank crossed for Girt to fire over from 18 yards. On 72 minutes, the visitors were reduced to nine, when Williams jumped into the back of Wratten who was shielding the ball and a red card for violent conduct was the result. Spencer then headed just wide at the back post and both teams made substitutions, with Whitstable sending on striker Marcus Elliott against one of his former clubs. The last 10 minutes or so was very open, with the depleted Three Bridges team giving their all to try to rescue something from the game. A good left wing cross by Sesay was turned in by Tom Tolfrey, but once more it was ruled out for offside. On 89 minutes, Gillies made a great interception in midfield, before driving forward and finding Elliott, but his shot was well saved by Thorp. In added time, a poor clearance gave Sesay an opening, but Eason saved. Whitstable then broke away for the last time with four against one defender, but failed to get the final ball right and the score remained 2-0 at the final whistle.

Whitstable can be pleased with their performance against a team that showed plenty of spirit, despite being hampered by the loss of two players due to moments of indiscipline. There may be a little disappointment with the way they played against ten, and then nine, men, but overall it was a good result. The injuries will need to be assessed ahead of the next game, a home FA Trophy tie against Ware on Saturday.

Whitstable	Data	Three Bridges
7	Shots on target	3
10	Shots off target	0
6	Shots blocked	1
8	Corners	2
11	Fouls conceded	15
7	Offside	3
0	Penalties	0

Whitstable Town
Dan Eason, Jake Mackenzie, James Brown, Connor Sanders (Leo Mazzone 9), Liam Dickson (Josh Spencer 37), Tom Bryant (c), Liam Gillies, Luke Girt, Aaron Millbank (Marcus Elliott 77), Marshall Wratten, John Ufuah.
Subs (unused): John Walker, Taylor Fisher.
Goals: Leo Mazzone 21, Aaron Millbank 24.
Yellow card: Jake Mackenzie 62

Three Bridges
Kieron Thorp, Troy Williams, Dean Gunner (c), Reece Price-Placid (Matt Whitehead 64), Brannon O’Neill, Tom Tolfrey, Andre McCollin (Mo Sabek 81), Andrew Sesay, Antone Douglas, Tadley Bromage, John Lansdale.
Subs (unused): Bernard Kosia, Tyrone Berry, Youcef Azzouz.
Red cards: Brannon O’Neill 44, Troy Williams 72.

Attendance: 239
Referee: Graeme Ions
Assistants: Aaron Conn & Joe Dann-Pye