Herne Bay left the Belmont with all three points to continue their strong start to the season. Zak Ansah gave them an early lead from the penalty spot, before Danny Walder equalised with a long range free kick in a relatively even first half. Whitstable struggled to create much in the second half as Herne Bay dominated possession, although it took a special finish from Ansah to clinch the win.

After so many months without non-league football, this Bank Holiday saw some big crowds across the country and the Belmont was no exception as 852 came to watch this local derby between old rivals Whitstable and Herne Bay. The teams had both played two days earlier with contrasting fortunes, Herne Bay beating Three Bridges 6-0 and Whitstable losing three players to injury and the game 3-1 at East Grinstead. Herne Bay were without Laurence Harvey, Tom Phipp and Adem Ramadan for this derby, whilst Lloyd Blackman had to deal with the unavailability of no less than nine players, mostly ruled out due to injuries. 17 year old George McIlroy started for Whitstable who could only name four substitutes, three of whom had yet to start a game for the club.

Ansah tried his luck straight after the kick-off, in an attempt to repeat Gerry Allan’s goal for Whitstable against Danson in 1989 that was timed at 4 seconds, but this time the ball drifted well wide. Herne Bay continue the early pressure and JJ Naiwo shot wide before Kieron Campbell forced Dan Eason into a save low to his left. Liam Gillies had Whitstable’s first attempt, hitting a dipping shot from distance just past the post in the 7th minute, then a great right wing cross by Ryan Flack was met by Tom Carlton who arrived unmarked only to volley the ball wide from a few yards out. Herne Bay took the lead in the 17th minute when the referee awarded a soft penalty when a short corner was played to Ansah, who went over the outstretched foot of McIlroy, although many observers thought the initial contact was outside the penalty area. Ansah stepped up and found the bottom left corner past the diving Eason. Whitstable were soon level when Reece Gillies was fouled around 35 yards out and Walder crashed the free kick over the despairing Jordan Perrin and in off the underside of the bar in the 22nd minute. After Bode Anidugbe had sent an effort wide, Whitstable almost scored again when a good cross field ball by Carlton found Jake Mackenzie whose first touch took him past two defenders, but his curling shot from the edge of the box was just off target. The visitors came back with a couple of promising moments towards the end of the half, as right back Ryan Cooper had a shot held at his near post by Eason, who then made a smart double save following a corner, pushing away a downward header by Dan Johnson then blocking a close range effort by Dan Carrington. The score remained 1-1 at the interval.

Naiwo and Jack Parter had early efforts for Herne Bay in the second half, but neither troubled Eason and at the other end McIlroy almost got on the end of a good Whitstable move, then Flack turned and shot fractionally over the bar from outside the box. The decisive goal came in the 64th minute, although the Whitstable bench thought Flack was fouled on the halfway line, but despite his protests, the referee allowed the ever dangerous Campbell to take the ball forward before passing to Ansah who received the ball on the left of the penalty area and made himself enough room to send a perfectly placed shot into the far top corner out of Eason’s reach. Both managers made changes in the later stages, but Whitstable rarely threatened a second equaliser. Herne Bay won two free kicks in dangerous areas, but one was driven into the wall by Naiwo and Eason denied Parter from the other. Former Oysterman Campbell, who always looked a threat when on the ball, made another driving run in the 87th minute, with three Whitstable players committing fouls as they tried to stop him. Mackenzie was cautioned, before Ansah lifted the free kick harmlessly over the bar. In added time, substitute Jay Hards was taken out by Carrington near the halfway line as he tried to break clear, earning the Bay defender a yellow card, but the free kick sailed out for a goal kick and the last chance was gone, leaving Herne Bay deserved winners.

Whitstable now move on to an FA Cup tie at home to Leatherhead and will hope to have some of their missing players back, whilst Herne Bay have a free weekend.

Whitstable	Data	Herne Bay
1	Shots on target	8
5	Shots off target	7
0	Shots blocked	5
0	Corners	5
16	Fouls conceded	9
5	Offside	5
0	Penalties	1

Whitstable Town
Dan Eason (c), Jake Mackenzie, James Brown, George McIlroy, Jack Miles, Tom Mills, Danny Walder (Nico Cotton 88), Liam Gillies, Reece Gillies, Tom Carlton, Ryan Flack (Jay Hards 81).
Subs (unused): Zack Jobe, Montrell Deslandes.
Goal: Danny Walder 22
Yellow cards: George McIlroy 74, Jake Mackenzie 87.

Herne Bay
Jordan Perrin, Ryan Cooper, Jack Parter, Dan Johnson, Dan Carrington (Callum Adonis-Taylor 90+5), Bode Anidugbe, JJ Naiwo (Reion McFarlane 90+7), Hamilton Antonio, Zak Ansah (c), Chinedu McKenzie (Dean Grant 70), Kieron Campbell.
Subs (unused): Luke Illsley, Danny Lawrence.
Goals: Zak Ansah 17 (pen), 64.
Yellow card: Dan Carrington 90+5

Attendance: 852
Referee: Harry Wager
Assistants: Stephen Tymms & Ryan Smith