Whitstable returned to league action following two hard fought FA Trophy ties against Ware and, despite a sluggish start, eventually ran out comfortable winners. The two wide players of East Grinstead asked a number of questions of the Whitstable defence throughout the first half and went close on a couple of occasions, although often failed to make the most of some good positions. It was Whitstable that went in ahead at half time with Marcus Elliott shooting high into the net following a good break down the left. Whitstable came out with more purpose after the break and Elliott was denied by a good save by Brannon Daly. A loose pass gave TJ Jadama the opportunity to drive forward and double the lead just after the hour mark and substitute Freddie Parker added a third with a good finish to seal the win.

East Grinstead came into the game without a win in any competition this season, having drawn three of their eight league games and lost the other five, together with all four cup games. Whitstable had lost 4-0 on their last visit in April, although only goalkeeper Brannon Daly and captain Drew Cooney from their team on that day started this time, with two others, Marcus Elliott and Leo Mazzone, now part of the Whitstable team. Coincidentally, only the Whitstable goalkeeper and captain, Dan Eason and Tom Bryant, remained in their starting eleven, although Harry Stannard was on the bench. Whitstable fielded the same team that narrowly lost at Ware on Tuesday, but John Walker was fit enough to return as a substitute alongside new loan signing from Cray Wanderers, Freddie Parker. The pitch was quite soft in places after a wet week, but the game was able to go ahead without the need for a pitch inspection.

The home team started well and a good cross by Gil Carvalho was just out of reach of the diving Levi Phillips in the 1st minute. Whitstable had to wait until the 10th minute for their first chance, when a free kick was headed across the box where Elliott hooked the ball just wide of the far post. On 21 minutes, Carvalho and Phillips combined again, with the latter being sent clear and he elected to try a low shot, but Eason got down well to make the save. John Ufuah tried a long shot for Whitstable, but the ball skidded just past the post. Whitstable did take the lead on 28 minutes though when James Brown made good progress down the left and the ball was collected by Elliott who cut inside and fired the ball in off the underside of the bar from just inside the penalty area. Former Sittingbourne and Ramsgate player Carvalho tried a long shot that was safely held by Eason and then he sent over a dangerous low cross, but no team mate was in the middle to convert.

Elliott exchanged passes with Aaron Millbank before his shot was well blocked by Andrew Blake. In the 41st minute, a good right wing cross by Phillips was headed inches wide of the far post by Carvalho, who got to the ball just ahead of Jake Mackenzie. East Grinstead had tended to play the ball back to their goalkeeper and across their back line on a number of occasions and were nearly caught out when an attempted clearance by Daly struck the hard-working Millbank, but the ball rebounded just wide of the goal. The game had become quite even and Ufuah had another shot blocked after being set up by Millbank, then in added time a deep cross from the right forced Eason to leap and help the ball over the bar. Whitstable went in 1-0 ahead after a closely fought first half and the home team probably felt they should have made more of their opportunities, as Eason was only seriously tested once.

The Whitstable supporters amongst the 116 in attendance might have been concerned that some of the players were feeling the effects of two hard games in the past week, but their team started the second half positively, winning an early corner and pushing East Grinstead back. A cross by Mackenzie was helped towards goal by Elliott and Daly had to react quickly to save. Elliott then had another attempt blocked by Cameron Williams and when the ball came back to him, he laid it off for Millbank whose shot curled over the bar. East Grinstead tried to respond and it was Carvalho again who made space for a shot, but it was well wide. Ross Barclay then had a low shot saved after getting on the end of another Carvalho cross. In the 55th minute, Whitstable introduced Parker in place of Ufuah and they scored again on 61 minutes. It was a poor pass that allowed Jadama to nip in and burst forward into the box, before curling a great shot into the far top corner.

Jadama and Bryant then combined to set up Millbank, but his shot was blocked and then Daly became the first of a flurry of late yellow cards. Jadama and Parker created another chance for Millbank, but his shot went the wrong side of the post as Whitstable threatened to add further goals. Mazzone and Stannard came on and East Grinstead also made a change with Kyle Woolven replacing Kerran Boyton. Whitstable went close a couple more times before Jadama won possession again and combined with Stannard to find Parker who twisted and turned in the box before shooting past Daly to make it 3-0 in the 80th minute. The Cray Wanderers striker looked lively and had another effort blocked with Millbank just unable to get to the rebound. Stannard and Millbank had further attempts to add a fourth, before Woolven cut in from the left and shot into the side netting for East Grinstead. There was one final chance at each end in stoppage time. An East Grinstead free kick just outside the box was well struck by Woolven and pushed out by Eason, then Daly saved from Millbank and the final whistle confirmed a 3-0 away win.

Whitstable will be happy enough to secure the win and three points that move them up to ninth in the early table. They now have two homes games to look forward to, with Ashford United visiting for a Velocity Trophy match on Tuesday before VCD arrive for the next league game at the weekend.

East Grinstead	Data	Whitstable
7	Shots on target	8
4	Shots off target	8
2	Shots blocked	5
7	Corners	4
10	Fouls conceded	15
6	Offside	2
0	Penalties	0

East Grinstead Town
Brannon Daly, Cameron Williams, Misha Djemaili, Craig McGee, Drew Cooney (c), Andrew Blake, Gil Carvalho, Ross Barkley, Kerran Boylan (Kyle Woolven 72), Robin Deen, Levi Phillips.
Subs (unused): Ethan Carrick, Paul Finlay, Alex Bellingham.
Yellow cards: Brannon Daly 68, Andrew Blake 72, Robin Deen 82, Drew Cooney 86.

Whitstable Town
Dan Eason, Jake Mackenzie, James Brown, Luke Girt, Josh Spencer, Tom Bryant (c), Liam Gillies (Leo Mazzone 70), Tijan Jadama, Aaron Millbank, Marcus Elliott (Harry Stannard 76), John Ufuah (Freddie Parker 55).
Subs (unused): Liam Dickson, John Walker.
Goals: Marcus Elliott 28, Tijan Jadama 61, Freddie Parker 80.
Yellow cards: Luke Girt 82, Aaron Millbank 90+1.

Attendance: 116
Referee: Nick Metcalfe
Assistants: Rachel Marlow & Simon Weston