Following a frustrating November that yielded no league points as a result of two postponements, two losses and three Velocity Trophy games, Whitstable bounced back with a good performance at Faversham. They dominated the game from start to finish and perhaps should have won by a greater margin, but first half goals by Tijan Jadama and Harry Stannard proved enough, as goalkeeper Dan Eason enjoyed a comfortable afternoon.

This was the second meeting between the local rivals in the week, as Whitstable had won a Velocity Trophy fixture on penalties after a 0-0 draw at the Belmont on Tuesday. There was little to be gained from the midweek game for either team, as neither could progress further in that competition, but both were certainly very focussed on winning some valuable league points. Faversham started with eight of the eleven from the cup game, plus further new additions to their squad, Lewis Chambers, Stefan Wright and Josh Beadle, whilst former Whitstable player Osman Proni was named amongst their substitutes. Jake Mackenzie and Liam Gillies replaced Leo Mazzone and the suspended Charles Etumnu in the Whitstable team. Marshall Wratten, who had a successful one month’s loan earlier in the season before being recalled by Dover Athletic, has now returned on a new loan deal and started on the bench.

The game attracted the highest crowd of the season, 323, to Salters Lane on a chilly afternoon. John Ufuah made several promising early runs for Whitstable and created an opening for Stannard, who clipped his shot wide from 20 yards. Anthony Adesite tried a shot that was the only goal attempt by the home team in the first half, but it was well blocked by Connor Sanders, who did well alongside Tom Bryant at the back. Whitstable took the lead on 20 minutes when Stannard made a good run before playing the ball out to James Brown on the left and his cross was met by the oncoming Jadama who planted his header past Luke Watkins into the bottom right corner of the net. Apart from a corner awarded to Faversham when Eason was deemed to have carried a cross over the line, the remainder of the half saw Whitstable pushing forward looking to increase their lead. They were playing some neat passing football in midfield and winning most of the loose balls.

In the 30th minute, Stannard was fouled just outside the box and took the free kick himself, but Watkins was able to tip the ball over the bar. Jamie Maxted did well to prevent Ufuah working a shooting position after another good run into the penalty area. Ufuah was the subject of a number of heavy challenges during the game by a physical Faversham team, with Donvieve Jones the first into the book for one foul too many. Whitstable scored their second goal on 37 minutes, when Jadama robbed Maxted and worked the ball to Aaron Millbank, whose effort was blocked but Stannard was on hand to apply the finish. Max Morgan and Gillies were shown yellow cards for fouls, before some good play fashioned an opportunity for Millbank who lifted his shot over the bar. The home defence cleared a late Whitstable corner and the visitors led 2-0 at the break.

Faversham manager James Collins made two changes at half time, introducing Luke Griffiths and Michael Hagan to try to find a way back into the game. Ufuah was brought down again and the free kick almost led to a third, as Bryant headed the ball on and it rebounded just wide off Millbank, who then curled another effort over the bar. A weak clearance by Watkins was seized upon by Millbank and Stannard was just unable to find the finish before being closed down. Eason had very little to do, but almost gave himself a problem with a wayward kick, but he was quickly out to recover. Chambers was next into the book for a poor tackle on the unfortunate Ufuah and Faversham finally tried to test Eason in the 59th minute, but the shot from distance by Griffiths was well wide.

Jadama was then brought down by Wright, who became the fourth Faversham player to be cautioned, and from the resulting free kick by Gillies, Bryant headed the ball into the path of Ufuah who put a good chance wide. Wratten replaced Stannard and soon made an impact down the left, showing good strength and sending some good balls into the middle, with one cross to the near post being fired just wide by Millbank in the 82nd minute. When Wratten was fouled a few minutes later, Gillies saw his curling free kick strike the bar. Millbank hit a low shot inches wide before the battered Ufuah was replaced by Marcus Elliott for the last few minutes. Faversham kept trying, but were unable to trouble Eason, as they struck a couple of long shots over the top and the ever reliable Brown made two interceptions in added time to ensure Whitstable kept a clean sheet at the final whistle.

Whitstable moved up to twelfth ahead of the visit of unbeaten Hastings United on Tuesday.

Faversham	Data	Whitstable
0	Shots on target	4
3	Shots off target	9
1	Shots blocked	0
3	Corners	3
18	Fouls conceded	9
4	Offside	0
0	Penalties	0

Faversham Town
Luke Watkins (c), Donvieve Jones, Makhosini Khanye, Lewis Chambers, Josh Dorling, Jamie Maxted, Max Morgan, Stefan Wright (Jordan Casey 72), Josh Beadle, Tom Loynes (Michael Hagan 46), Anthony Adesite (Luke Griffiths 46).
Subs (unused): Steve Springett, Osman Proni.
Yellow cards: Donvieve Jones 34, Max Morgan 43, Lewis Chambers 56, Stefan Wright 67.

Whitstable Town
Dan Eason, Jake Mackenzie, James Brown, Luke Girt, Connor Sanders, Tom Bryant (c), Tijan Jadama, Liam Gillies, Aaron Millbank, Harry Stannard (Marshall Wratten 74), John Ufuah (Marcus Elliott 88).
Subs (unused): Liam Dickson, Josh Spencer, Leo Mazzone.
Goals: Tijan Jadama 20, Harry Stannard 37.
Yellow card: Liam Gillies 44

Attendance: 323
Referee: Paul Stratton
Assistants: Tommy Breen & Fabio Roque