Whitstable made it a hat-trick of wins against teams from Sussex with a single first half goal proving enough against a good Burgess Hill side that will feel they had plenty of chances to get something from the game. The Hillians had the better of the first half, but were unable to find a way through the home defence and Whitstable scored a great goal from one of their few attacks. The second half was a more even affair, but a good penalty save by Dan Eason just after the restart was crucial. Luke Medley then hit the bar when he looked certain to give Whitstable a two goal cushion, but the game remained in the balance until the end and “man of the match” Eason and his defence had to work hard to ensure the points stayed at the Belmont.

Whitstable had played four of their first five competitive fixtures away from home and a good crowd of 369 turned out to watch their return to the Belmont after a couple of good wins on their travels in the previous week. Whitstable and Burgess Hill had shared the points last season, with both games ending in home wins and the Kent team stood two points ahead of their Sussex rivals after the first four games of this campaign. Luke Girt and Liam Gillies returned to the starting eleven, having both missed the game at Three Bridges.

The Hillians pushed forward in the early stages as Max Miller blazed an early effort off target and Nathan Cooper got his head to a corner, but Eason was able to push the ball away. Whitstable first threatened in the 15th minute when a Liam Gillies free kick found its way to Tijan Jadama on the left side of the penalty area and he managed to test Alfie Jones low to his right, but he got down well to push the ball behind for a corner. Whitstable then took the lead with a well worked goal In the 17th minute. Luke Medley picked up the ball in midfield before making a good run towards the right corner before whipping over a great cross that a leaping Jadama was just able to reach at the back post and he planted his header into the top corner. Burgess Hill were still creating chances though and a cross by the excellent Alex Laing reached Miller whose shot was blocked. A dangerous cross by Medley went right across goal as the referee played an advantage following a foul on Jadama. Pat Harding tried a shot when the ball was played in from the left, but the Whitstable defence were quick to snuff out the danger.

Medley twisted and turned in the box before sending in an effort from the left that was easily saved by Jones. Aaron Smith-Joseph did well on the left before pulling the ball back to Harding, but Ollie Rowe was quick to block his shot and just afterwards Miller tried a low strike from distance that Eason was able to push around the post. Laing took the resulting corner and Cooper headed a good opportunity wide. On 34 minutes, Reece Williams-Bowers had a shot closed down and the rebound was collected by Laing, but Eason was able to gather his attempted follow up in front of the post. The chances kept coming and a ball into the box by Josh Spinks was knocked down by Miller for Smith-Joseph who was unable to keep his shot down. Eason was called into action twice more as the interval approached and just before the break Liam Gillies was booked for a foul 25 yards from goal, but Laing’s free kick hit the wall. Whitstable still held their one goal lead when the referee called a halt to the first half, but the Hillians probably wondered how their efforts had not been rewarded.

Whitstable made a change at half time as the injured Leo Mazzone was replaced by new signing Ryan Flack who took up a position wide on the right. Manager Lloyd Blackman made a change, pushing Luke Girt into midfield and playing with a back four. Whitstable saw more of the ball in the second half, but in the 47th minute were thankful to Eason for a great penalty save from Laing after the referee had pointed to the spot following a challenge by Liam Gilles on the busy Laing as he tried to break into the box. The save seemed to inspire Whitstable as they enjoyed their best spell of the game. Rowe headed a free kick wide, then Medley and Aaron Millbank combined to set up Liam Gillies whose shot was deflected just over the bar. In the 55th minute, Whitstable nearly added a second when Flack played a clever ball over the defence for Medley who turned past Spinks in the box and made himself space before shooting past Jones from 12 yards, but the ball came back off the bar. Jadama then had a chance from the right, but dragged his shot across goal and wide.

Burgess Hill were not finished though and Eason managed to save a swerving Laing effort with his chest, then Laing headed a Martyn Box cross over the bar. Smith-Joseph made a promising run before shooting over, then when Miller set up Harding, his shot was well saved by Eason. Flack made a good interception to thwart the next attack as Whitstable held firm. In the 70th minute Millbank had an opportunity from a free kick some way outside the box and although he struck it well, the ball went wide. A looping back header by Cooper was sliced by Jones towards his own goal, but Spinks was able to get across to clear and Jones then had to claw away the following corner kick from under his bar. Both teams made substitutions and a Flack cross was just too high. On 90 minutes, Eason beat away a shot from Harry Pollard. In the four added minutes, Muhammed Cham and Millbank had half chances for Whitstable, but it was Eason who finally made sure of the win when he punched away a header from a late corner to the cheers of the Whitstable supporters.

Whitstable move up to fourth in the early league table and next have a midweek game at home to Hythe, before travelling to play Ashford Town (Middlesex) in the FA Trophy.

Whitstable	Data	Burgess Hill
5	Shots on target	9
5	Shots off target	7
1	Shots blocked	5
4	Corners	4
14	Fouls conceded	8
5	Offside	1
0	Penalties	1

Whitstable Town
Dan Eason, Simon Kabamba, Tom Mills, Luke Girt, Ollie Rowe (c), James Brown, Leo Mazzone (Ryan Flack 46), Liam Gillies, Aaron Millbank, Tijan Jadama, Luke Medley (Muhammed Cham 85).
Subs (unused): Victor Aiyelabola, Tom Bryant, Reece Gillies.
Goal: Tijan Jadama 17
Yellow cards: Liam Gillies 44, Aaron Millbank 90+1.

Burgess Hill Town
Alfie Jones, Alex Laing (Louie Downey 90+3), Martyn Box, Josh Spinks, Nathan Cooper (c), Harry Pollard, Reece Williams-Bowers (Elliot Cross 85), Jordi Ndozid, Max Miller (Max Blencowe 80), Pat Harding, Aaron Smith-Joseph..
Subs (unused): Samson Doherty, Ashley Wadhams.

Attendance: 369
Referee: Jack Fagg
Assistants: Wayne Horsfall & Craig Charles