Hastings climbed to the top of the league table, after maintaining their unbeaten start to the season with a hard fought win at the Belmont Ground. An early goal by Davide Rodari was a reward for their bright start, but Whitstable gradually got themselves into the game and trailed by just the single goal at half time. Harry Stannard equalised soon after the restart, only for Whitstable to concede two goals to Gary Elphick headers from set pieces and ensure that Hastings returned to the south coast with maximum points.

Whitstable kept the same team and substitutes that had won at Faversham on Saturday. Hastings made one change to the starting eleven that returned from Guernsey with a 2-2 draw, with Sam Adams replacing Ben Pope. Hastings had won all six of their home league games, whilst away from the Pilot Field, they had won one and drawn five. Former Whitstable manager Nicky Southall was joined by Andy Hessenthaler and Darren Hare at the Belmont for the evening, as the Dover Athletic management team presumably wanted to watch Marshall Wratten, recently loaned to Whitstable for the rest of the season. There were also scouts at the game from several English Football League clubs, no doubt with an eye on Davide Rodari, who scored eight goals for Hastings against East Grinstead in the Velocity Trophy the previous week.

The game kicked off on a chilly evening in front of the second lowest league gate at the Belmont this season and Hastings made the more positive start. It was Whitstable however that had the first goal attempt in the 5th minute when Aaron Millbank tested goalkeeper Louis Rogers with a well struck shot from a narrow angle after being found by John Ufuah on the right. Hastings took the lead shortly afterwards when they won a corner that Dan Eason elected to punch away, but the ball was chipped back in by Lanre Azeez from the edge of the box and Rodari rose above the rest to find the net with a powerful header. Rodari then made a promising run towards the box, until being halted unceremoniously by a firm challenge, but the resulting free kick was cleared. Ufuah used his pace to run half the length of the pitch before hitting a firm shot that was held by Rogers. Next it was the turn of Daniel Ajakaiye to work himself a good position and his shot from 20 yards was well tipped over the bar by Eason. Ryan Worrall took the corner which was cleared back out to him and he sent the ball into the box again, but the assistant spotted an offside and although play continued with the ball eventually ending up in the net off Connor Sanders as he tried to get back to clear, it was ruled out following a long discussion between the officials.

Whitstable won their second corner in the 23rd minute that was touched away by Rogers, before the game entered a period of stalemate, with neither team really threatening to find the net despite plenty of effort in midfield. The home team began to look more comfortable and the last few minutes of the half saw a bit more action at both ends. Ajakaiye’s pace created an opening, but he lifted his shot way over the bar. Ufuah had won a couple of corners that Hastings dealt with, but in the 43rd minute Sanders collected the ball on the left and sent over a cross that was met by an advancing Tijan Jadama, but he headed the ball over the bar. Whitstable made a fast break from a Hastings corner, but could not find a way through the defence and trailed 0-1 at the interval.

Whitstable did level the scores in the 48th minute when Stannard sent over a cross from the right that went out to the left edge of the penalty area where it was collected by Ufuah who cut inside and struck the underside of the bar with his shot, with the ball falling nicely for the former Hastings player Stannard to finish by the far post. It seemed as though Whitstable might be able to get something from the game and Liam Gillies hit a long shot way over the top, then Ufuah made a threatening run, but they found themselves behind again in the 54th minute. Both teams had a player to deliver long throws and this time Ollie Black found the head of the unmarked Elphick who powered the ball past Eason. Gillies tried another shot that was blocked and then Eason almost gifted Hastings a goal when his kick out from the tricky surface went straight to Ajakaiye, but the Whitstable goalkeeper recovered well to save his shot and also from Rodari who had a chance from the rebound. Another goal did arrive from the corner though and it was once again the experienced defender Elphick who made himself enough space to meet Worrall’s delivery with a stooping header that went just inside the far post.

On 69 minutes a foul by Jake Mackenzie sparked an angry reaction by some of the Hastings players and earned the Whitstable right back the only yellow card of the game once things had calmed down. Hastings were generally happy to see the game out from this point and both teams made substitutions. Whitstable almost pulled a goal back on 86 minutes when a long throw by Sanders was twice headed on and Marcus Elliott found himself in a bit of space, but his header from a few yards out went just wide. Whitstable substitute Wratten appeared to be fouled in the box as the clock ticked down, but to the surprise of most in the ground, the referee waved away the penalty appeals and Hastings raced away on the break, but Worrall was denied by Eason and his follow up header was cleared off the line by James Brown. A Wratten free kick was curled into a packed box, but came to nothing and Hastings took the three points their overall performance deserved with a 3-1 win.

The Whitstable manager Lloyd Blackman would have been disappointed to lose to three headers from set pieces. Whitstable next face Phoenix Sports on Saturday in their last home fixture before Christmas and then have to deal with an awkward midweek trip to Guernsey.

Whitstable	Data	Hastings
3	Shots on target	8
4	Shots off target	1
1	Shots blocked	0
4	Corners	8
4	Fouls conceded	11
1	Offside	4
0	Penalties	0

Whitstable Town
Dan Eason, Jake Mackenzie, James Brown, Luke Girt, Connor Sanders, Tom Bryant (c), Harry Stannard (Marshall Wratten 71), Liam Gillies (Marcus Elliott 74), Aaron Millbank, Tijan Jadama, John Ufuah.
Subs (unused): Liam Dickson, Leo Mazzone, Josh Spencer.
Goal: Harry Stannard 48
Yellow card: Jake Mackenzie 69

Hastings United
Louis Rogers, Ollie Black, Gary Elphick, Craig Stone, Jake Elliott, Davide Rodari (Ben Pope 80), Daniel Ajakaiye (Kenny Pogue 85), Sam Adams (c), Ryan Worrall, Adam Lovatt, Lanre Azeez (Sam Beale 76).
Subs (unused): Daniel Hull, James Pool.
Goals: Davide Rodari 6, Gary Elphick 54, 66.

Attendance: 162
Referee: Louise Saunders
Assistants: Kennedy Kikulwe & James Goodman