Whitstable saved their worst performance for some time for this trip to the south coast, the result of which was a defeat that sees them replace their hosts at the foot of the early season table. A single goal scored by Brad Campbell-Francis in the 10th minute was enough to decide the outcome, although Lancing missed a few good chances to add to their score. When Whitstable eventually applied some pressure of their own in the second half, Mitch Bromage in the home goal made several good saves to secure his team’s first ever points in the Isthmian League.

Once again, Whitstable had a number of players unavailable for this fixture, a feature of their season to date that may go some way to explain a disappointing start. Danny Walder, Jack Miles and Liam Gillies missed this game, in addition to those already out injured. Luke Girt made a welcome return, having been absent due to work commitments in the opening weeks of the season, whilst under 18 pair George McIlroy and Gus Barnes were included. Lancing, who were promoted in the summer, had lost their first four games. The two teams last met in an incredible FA Vase tie at the Belmont in September 2017 when Whitstable won 6-5 after extra time with Shaun Welford and Danny Williams both scoring hat-tricks. The previous visit to play on this 3G pitch ended with Whitstable losing 4-0 to Horsham in December 2018.

After an early Lancing effort was safely gathered by Dan Eason, Whitstable pushed forward without really threatening to score. The first Lancing corner fell to Ansu Janneh in the box, but he lifted his first time shot over the bar. The home fans were able to celebrate a goal with just 9 minutes 35 seconds on the clock when Campbell-Francis passed to Janneh in the centre circle and he sent it forward for Campbell-Francis who had continued his run through a static Whitstable defence before taking the ball around Eason to score. Girt collected an early yellow card for a foul on the halfway line. Whitstable were struggling to make any impact on the game at this point and when Kane Louis sent Steve Metcalf free down the right, his cross was headed over at the near post by Matt Daniel. Eason then turned a low Daniel shot from a tight angle around the post. Whitstable roused themselves briefly and Aaron Millbank latched onto a Jake Mackenzie pass, but his shot flew just wide of the far post. A few minutes later, Millbank laid the ball back for McIlroy whose shot from 22 yards was saved. Lancing still looked dangerous and an attempted Tom Mills clearance struck Janneh before rebounding wide of the goal. Metcalf was allowed to take the ball forward unchallenged until his shot was blocked, then Campbell-Francis found himself completely free again on the right and his low cross picked out Daniel, who shot over the top when he looked certain to score. Whitstable would have been relieved to reach half time only trailing 1-0.

Things did not change much following the restart, as Louis shot over before Daniel put the ball in the net only to be denied by an offside flag. Whitstable changed their shape to a back four in the 54th minute with Nico Cotton replacing Ben Harding, but Lancing then missed another great chance when Conrad Honore carried the ball out of defence, played a one-two with Louis and found himself with just Eason to beat, but he skied the ball over the bar. The industrious McIlroy won the ball in midfield and Flack collected it before forcing Bromage into a good save. Both managers made further changes before Whitstable almost found an equaliser in the 75th minute. Firstly, Tom Carlton’s shot was deflected over the bar, then from the resulting corner, a well-worked routine saw Millbank’s shot saved by Bromage. The ball was soon back in the Lancing area and this time Bromage made an acrobatic save to push a Gus Barnes shot over the bar. After a succession of Whitstable corners, a quick break needed a timely tackle by Mackenzie to deny Lancing. In the 84th minute, home substitute Destiny Ojo struck the post, then Barnes and Carlton both threatened for Whitstable. The last chances fell to Lancing, with two efforts going wide before Eason denied Daniel. Lancing had done enough and fully deserved their first win.

Whitstable next face VCD at the Belmont on Tuesday, still looking for their first points of the season.

Lancing	Data	Whitstable
5	Shots on target	4
10	Shots off target	1
1	Shots blocked	4
6	Corners	7
10	Fouls conceded	8
5	Offside	5
0	Penalties	0

Lancing
Mitch Bromage, Steve Metcalf, Mohamed Joumaa Zabadne, Finn Daniels-Yeomans, Will Berry, Conrad Honore, Brad Campbell-Francis (Lorenzo Lewis 74), Tyrese Mthunzi, Kane Louis (Destiny Ojo 61), Ansu Janneh (Liam Hendy 85), Matt Daniel.
Subs (unused): Darius Goldsmith, Harrison Parker.
Goal: Brad Campbell-Francis 10

Whitstable Town
Dan Eason, Jake Mackenzie, James Brown, Luke Girt, Will Thomas, Tom Mills, Ben Harding (Nico Cotton 54), George McIlroy (Gus Barnes 67), Aaron Millbank, Ryan Flack, Harry Stannard (Tom Carlton 61).
Sub (unused): Jay Hards
Yellow cards: Luke Girt 13, Gus Barnes 71.

Attendance: 129
Referee: Lewis Sandoe
Assistants: Stephen Jansen & Aidie Norman