It was the last game before Christmas for Whitstable and following two good wins against Phoenix Sports and Guernsey, they had the better of the first third of this game, although their early goal by Marcus Elliott was the result of a defensive mistake. They were unable to add to their lead however and Ramsgate started to apply some pressure and it was an error at the other end that gave Ashley Miller the chance to sweep home an equaliser just before halftime. Whitstable struggled in the second half, looking as though the midweek trip to the Channel Islands had caught up with them. Ramsgate had a number of chances to end their run of seven league games without a win, particularly when they were awarded two penalties in three minutes, but they failed to find a way past Dan Eason and despite losing Josh Spencer to two yellow cards, Whitstable held on for a draw.

The teams had met in the Velocity Trophy at Southwood on Bonfire Night, when the home team ran out 2-0 winners, but the Rams have had a difficult beginning to their league campaign and started the afternoon with only winless East Grinstead below them and they were missing Tom Chapman, Jack Paxman and Ollie Gray through injury. Former Whitstable player Gray was joined in the stand by another Whitstable favourite Nick Treadwell, who was not in the Ramsgate squad, although three other ex-Oysters were - Ashley Miller, Kane Rowland and Harry Brooks. Whitstable manager Lloyd Blackman started with nine of the team that arrived back from Guernsey on Thursday and they were joined by the returning Connor Sanders and James Brown, but the club captain Tom Bryant was unavailable.

The game started quietly on a very chilly and breezy afternoon, with Whitstable scoring from the first real opportunity in the 9th minute. Some good play on the left by Marshall Wratten and Luke Girt saw the ball played into the box where Rob Saunders completely missed his attempted clearance, leaving Elliott with the task of sliding the ball past Jonathan Miles to open the scoring and continue where he left off in Guernsey, having scored twice in the last few minutes. Whitstable looked in control for a while and a long throw by Sanders was headed down by Josh Spencer for John Ufuah, who hooked a left footed shot just over the bar. Whitstable had five corners in the first half, but only tested Miles from one of them when he easily saved a header in the 22nd minute.

Ramsgate seemed to find some additional drive around the 30 minute mark and suddenly the visiting defence came under pressure. There were a couple of attempts kept out following a short corner, but Whitstable still carried a threat on the counter and Ufuah appeared to be brought down on one breakaway, then Saunders was cautioned for halting another run. Ramsgate were getting on top though and on 41 minutes, Rowland was set up by Roman Campbell, but was denied by Eason. The ball twice went across the Whitstable box and they were made to pay for thinking the ball was going out for a goal kick, when it was played back into the path of Miller who shot into the far corner from the edge of the box in the 44th minute and that was the last significant action of the half.

Liam Gillies was replaced by Charles Etumnu at half time and Whitstable broke quickly from a Ramsgate corner soon after the restart, with Wratten flicking the ball into the path of Ufuah who looked to be onside as he raced clear, only to be halted by a raised flag. Dan Carrington then went into the book for a pull back, before Harry Stannard was introduced from the Whitstable bench. There followed an incredible few minutes, when Ramsgate should have got themselves in front. There were a couple of close range efforts kept out after a Miller free kick was played into a packed box, before the referee spotted an infringement and pointed to the penalty spot in the 56th minute. Campbell struck the penalty too close to Eason, who was able to drop to his left to make the save. Whitstable cleared the ball up the pitch, but lost possession and allowed Ramsgate to race straight back again and a long run was eventually halted by Spencer’s poorly timed challenge just inside the box that earned the young defender a yellow card and if there was any doubt about the first penalty, there was none about this one. Miller stepped up this time, but struck it straight at Eason who was able to block the ball with his legs and complete his second save in the space of three minutes.

Stannard did try a shot from around 10 yards that was stopped by Liam Friend at the far post, but most of the action was at the other end and a cross was just cleared for a corner from which Tijan Jadama cleared a header off the line and when the ball came out to Jude Arthurs, he fired it just over the top. Whitstable made their final change as Elliott was replaced by Aaron Millbank and then Stannard tried another shot after making himself some space, but the ball went wide. Campbell clipped a first time shot past the post after being found by Miller and Rowland headed another dangerous cross wide. A collision on the halfway line earned a second yellow card and an early departure from the action for Spencer in the 76th minute, but Whitstable managed to raise their game a little towards the end, although Bode Anidugbe shot over after another brief spell of Ramsgate pressure. Millbank, Stannard and Etumnu all tried shots in an attempt to earn Whitstable an unlikely late winner as the clock ticked down, but when the final whistle sounded they were more than happy to escape with a point from a tired looking performance and Ramsgate were left to wonder how they had not picked up a much needed win.

Whitstable remain in tenth place and now have a welcome break before entertaining Ashford United on Boxing Day, with the kick off having been brought forward to 1 p.m.

Ramsgate	Data	Whitstable
8	Shots on target	3
6	Shots off target	2
2	Shots blocked	3
5	Corners	5
7	Fouls conceded	11
1	Offside	3
2	Penalties	0

Ramsgate
Jonathan Miles, Charlie Hallett (Dan Barrett 31), Rob Saunders, Tom Wynter, Liam Friend (c), Dan Carrington (Jack Morrell 62), Ashley Miller, Bode Anidugbe, Kane Rowland (Tyrell Mitford 86), Roman Campbell, Jude Arthurs.
Subs (unused): Matty Robinson, Harry Brooks.
Goal: Ashley Miller 44
Yellow cards: Rob Saunders 33, Dan Carrington 52.

Whitstable Town
Dan Eason, Jake Mackenzie, James Brown, Luke Girt (c), Josh Spencer, Connor Sanders, Liam Gillies (Charles Etumnu 46), Tijan Jadama, Marcus Elliott (Aaron Millbank 66), Marshall Wratten (Harry Stannard 53), John Ufuah.
Subs (unused): Leo Mazzone, Lewis Mitchell.
Goal: Marcus Elliott 9
Red card: Josh Spencer (two yellows 58, 76)

Attendance: 219
Referee: Kirsty Dowle
Assistants: Jake Woodman & Jack Owen