This was a game that both teams might feel they could have won for different reasons, but in the end a draw was probably a fair result. Young Three Bridges goalkeeper Leo Anderson made several good stops, in particular to keep out efforts from Jake Mackenzie and Muhammed Cham, until he was beaten from the penalty spot by Harry Goodger on the hour mark. Dan Perry equalised after some good work by substitute Callum Chesworth, as the visitors posed an increasing threat towards the end. Dan Eason had little to do though on his 250th Whitstable appearance, although the Whitstable bar was struck twice, once by an early Tadley Bromage header and then by Michael Wilson with the last kick of the game.

Whitstable returned to the Belmont Ground needing some points after away defeats at Sittingbourne and Ashford, both games in which their second half performances might have earned some reward. Three Bridges, now managed by their former player Jamie Crellin, had won two and drawn six of their opening eleven games, but had lost 6-1 to Haywards Heath in their last outing. Whitstable were still without several injured players and player coach Ben Harding, who had chosen to move to Ramsgate during the week, but Harry Goodger returned from suspension. There was a presentation to goalkeeper Dan Eason before the game, his 250th for Whitstable, six years and three days after his debut.

Harry Stannard collected the ball on the left and did well to work an opening, but his shot was saved by Anderson at the near post. In the 11th minute, Bromage looped a header onto the crossbar from a Curtis Gayler free kick. Perry lifted a shot over the top from a pull back by Gayler before Mackenzie took the ball forward to just outside to box and fired a shot that was heading towards the bottom left corner, only for Anderson to make a good save. There were two cautions in the space of a minute midway through the half as the referee showed yellow cards to Mackenzie and Goodger for challenges. Danny Walder had to leave the field for treatment, but was able to continue. Ollie Gray, who had a good game in defence, brought the ball forward and found Stannard, but his shot curled just wide. A few minutes before half time, Brannon O’Neill pulled a corner back to Gayler whose shot from 20 yards was blocked by the out stretched leg of Luke Griffiths. Whitstable then went close when Mackenzie played a one-two with Tom Carlton and delivered a low cross, but good defending by Billy Irving deflected Goodger’s shot for a corner. The score remained goalless at the break.

Cham replaced Stannard for the second half and Whitstable created some good chances in the opening minutes. The lively Gus Barnes won the ball on the right and ran away from his marker before seeing his shot blocked, then Carlton threaded the ball through to Walder on the right of the box and Goodger stepped over his cross, leaving it for the arriving Cham to strike first time, but Anderson pulled off another great save. Goodger and Carlton next combined to release Cham, who was stopped by a timely Bromage tackle, but when the loose ball was collected by Carlton, he was brought down by Dan Ferreria and the referee awarded a penalty. Goodger tucked it away to give Whitstable the lead in the 60th minute. Afterwards though, Whitstable sat back and most of the threat switched to the other end. In the 77th minute, Whitstable were caught out of position on their left and Chesworth eluded a Tom Mills challenge before picking out Perry at the back post with a low cross and he fired the ball into the net. Perry headed a good cross wide, Gray blocked an effort by Ben Bacon and Griffiths was booked for hauling back the speedy Chesworth as the pressure increased. Stoppage time brought one good chance for each team. Mills headed a corner into the arms of Anderson, then Three Bridges almost snatched a dramatic winner when Chesworth pulled the ball back from the left for Wilson and his shot from 20 yards crashed off the underside of the bar before being gathered by a grateful Eason.

So, a 1-1 draw was probably not what either team was hoping for, but Whitstable now move on to two away trips into Sussex, facing Hastings and Chichester on Tuesday and Saturday.

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

Whitstable Town
Dan Eason, Jake Mackenzie, James Brown, Danny Walder, Ollie Gray, Tom Mills (c), Gus Barnes, Luke Griffiths, Harry Goodger, Tom Carlton (George McIlroy 71), Harry Stannard (Muhammed Cham 46).
Subs (unused): Will Thomas, Jack Miles, Henry Duley.
Goal: Harry Goodger 60 (pen)
Yellow cards: Jake Mackenzie 23, Harry Goodger 24, Luke Griffiths 87.

Three Bridges
Leo Anderson, Dan Ferreria, Giani Ashley, Michael Wilson, Tadley Bromage, Billy Irving, Curtis Gayler (Ben Bacon 80), Brannon O’Neill (c), Dan Perry (Camron Lawson 85), Brian Villavicencio, Alex Barbary (Callum Chesworth 58).
Subs (unused): Joe Kay, Dan Mobsby.
Goal: Dan Perry 77

Attendance: 247
Referee: Alexander Bradley
Assistants: Daniel Head & Billy Woods