As the pandemic continues to present challenges for everyone, its effects are again starting to impact football fixtures, but 304 spectators at the Belmont on a grey afternoon were able to enjoy the last game before Christmas. East Grinstead were the more determined team in the first half and led 2-0 at the break, with goals from Liam Montague and Szymon Kowalczyk. Whitstable were much better after the restart and when a deep Samuel Itauma cross found its way into the net, they were handed a route back into the game. Alex Gaggin was just denied by a great save before Kemo Darboe headed in an equaliser. Both teams had opportunities towards the end, but they could not be separated and the points were shared.

Whitstable were seeking their fifth consecutive league win, but preparations had been hampered by a number of injury and illness concerns. Tom Mills and Gus Barnes were ruled out, but Stephen Okoh passed a late fitness test. Alex Gaggin and Tom Carlton returned after injury and there was a place on the bench for young midfielder Callum Watts, a new signing from Grays Athletic. East Grinstead arrived with a recently appointed management team and just two players remaining from their team that had won the reverse fixture 3-1 back in August. Their only other, and most recent, win this season was an impressive 5-3 effort against Cray Valley in mid-September. The reshaped team had earned a creditable draw with Haywards Heath in their previous game, so were hoping to build on that and climb away from the foot of the table.

Following a quiet opening, East Grinstead might have scored in the 11th minute, when Richard Pingling collected a loose pass and created an opening for Crawley Town loanee Kowalczyk, who took the ball past Dan Eason but hit the outside of the post when he looked certain to put his new team ahead. Fintan Walsh sent the first of a number of long throws into the home penalty area, but the danger was cleared. There was a glimpse of goal for Danny Walder following a weak clearance by Montague, but his low shot from outside the box went wide. Gaggin won a corner, but the delivery was easily cleared to Kowalczyk, whose subsequent tussle with Jake Mackenzie led to a somewhat harsh booking for the Whitstable captain on the day. Eason made two saves from long range shots, the first a comfortable catch from Pingling and the second a good, diving stop from former Oysterman Miles Cornwell who had been set up by Omar Folkes. The opening goal was scored in the 35th minute when a free kick was cleared out to the right and Kowalczyk rolled the ball back to Montague whose left footed shot from 25 yards through a crowded area flew past an unsighted Eason. Darboe shot well over the bar after a Will Thomas free kick was cleared to him on the edge of the box. Things got worse for Whitstable in the 44th minute when a long ball down the left by Montague found Folkes just onside and he managed to get past Junior Baker on the heavy pitch before pulling the ball back for Kowalczyk to tuck past Eason.

The home team were back out early for the second half, presumably after some words from the manager, who introduced Watts for his debut. Almost immediately, there was more threat on the visitors’ goal and Gaggin headed the ball into the box for Darboe, who chipped it over goalkeeper Dan Smith, but also the bar. A Pingling shot was defected for a corner at the other end and then Cornwell sliced a shot wide after a cross was chested down by Glenn Wilson. The goal Whitstable needed was a strange one, and a first for Itauma, who collected a pass from George McIlroy on the halfway line and advanced on the left before curling in a cross from about 35 yards. Gaggin and Montague ran across the ball, distracting the goalkeeper, and the ball went straight into the bottom far corner of the net. East Grinstead won a free kick in a dangerous position outside the box, but the ball was rolled out to Folkes on the left and his weak shot was easily saved. Gaggin was sent clear by Watts and rounded Smith to put the ball in the net, but he was flagged offside. Smith then made a fingertip save, tipping Gaggin’s first time shot onto the bar after he was found by Darboe. It was 2-2 in the 72nd minute when Whitstable scored a well-worked goal from a throw in by the right corner flag. McIlroy threw the ball back to Mackenzie who returned it to him and he sent over a great cross from the by-line that was headed in by Darboe at the near post. Gaggin was substituted, as Okoh had been a few minutes earlier, with both feeling the effects of recent injuries. There were a huge number of free kicks awarded during the second half that did nothing for the flow of the game, but there was a chance for East Grinstead when Reyon Dillon got past James Brown and when his cross was played back for Cornwell on the 18 yard line, he lifted the ball over the top. There was one last opportunity for a home win in added time when Harry Goodger jumped with Ryan Huckle for a Walder free kick, but the ball was glanced just past the post before the final whistle blew.

Whitstable will regret their slow start, but take heart from the second half performance and 13 points from the last 15 available, as they next face derby games against Herne Bay and Ramsgate over the festive period, Covid permitting.

Whitstable	Data	East Grinstead
3	Shots on target	5
6	Shots off target	3
2	Shots blocked	1
2	Corners	3
20	Fouls conceded	18
3	Offside	4
0	Penalties	0

Whitstable Town
Dan Eason, Jake Mackenzie, Samuel Itauma, Junior Baker, Will Thomas, Danny Walder, Alex Gaggin (James Brown 73), George McIlroy, Kemo Darboe, Tom Carlton (Callum Watts 46), Stephen Okoh (Harry Goodger 61).
Subs (unused): Victor Aiyelabola, Muhammed Cham.
Goals: Samuel Itauma 58, Kemo Darboe 72.
Yellow cards: Jake Mackenzie 22, Harry Goodger 64, Will Thomas 76.

East Grinstead Town
Dan Smith, Fintan Walsh, Liam Montague, Tom Summerfield, Ryan Green, Glenn Wilson (c), Miles Cornwell, Ryan Huckle, Omar Folkes (Reyon Dillon 74), Szymon Kowalczyk, Richard Pingling.
Subs (unused): Merrick James-Lewis, Jordan Hibbert, Harry Mark, Sam Huckle.
Goals: Liam Montague 35, Szymon Kowalczyk 44.
Yellow cards: Ryan Huckle 45+2, Tom Summerfield 50, Fintan Walsh 79.

Attendance: 304
Referee: Kane Dempster
Assistants: Kieran Cox & Richard Joss