Whitstable will need to return quickly to their pre-Christmas form that led to an unbeaten five game run if they want to start enjoying their football in 2022. An early goal by Tijan Jadama gave Ramsgate the ideal start in an otherwise fairly even first half, but the defensive frailties that were evident in the previous game at Herne Bay cost Whitstable dearly as they conceded three goals in eleven minutes early in the second period. Ollie Bate, Ashley Miller and Joshua Ajayi were each on target to put the visitors firmly in control. Whitstable played much better towards the end and were rewarded with a well taken goal by substitute Muhammed Cham, but goalkeeper Jacob Russell and the Ramsgate defence denied the home team any further goals and ensured the points returned to Thanet.

Whitstable were looking to bounce back from their heavy defeat at Herne Bay, but faced a difficult New Year’s Day game against another team challenging at the top of the table. On an unusually mild January afternoon, 582 people turned out to watch this east Kent derby on a heavy pitch at the Belmont. The Whitstable manager made one change to the starting eleven, with Montrell Deslandes replacing Callum Watts in midfield. Ramsgate had drawn 3-3 against Hythe in their Christmas fixture and included three former Whitstable players in their squad, Jadama, Miller and Nico Cotton.

Some early confusion at the back let in Miller, but his shot was well saved by Eason. Ramsgate did take the lead in the 5th minute when a long ball was played down the right by Jamie Coyle for Jadama where the ball bounced kindly for him just inside the penalty area and he shot firmly past Dan Eason into the far corner. Whitstable responded and Alex Gaggin had a low shot saved after being put through by a Kemo Darboe header, then George McIlroy had a shot blocked. Three Whitstable corners followed, one of which was just scrambled wide of the post. Miller, Ajayi and Bate all had attempts at the other end without success. The half ended rather quietly, although Whitstable suffered an injury blow just before the break when Darboe pulled up feeling his hamstring while running down the right wing and Harry Goodger was sent on to replace him up front.

The second half began with Ramsgate still leading by the single early goal and they soon lost defender Ben Fitchett to injury, with Mitchell Chapman coming on as a substitute. The hopes of the home supporters were dashed during a poor quarter of an hour which effectively decided the outcome. In the 54th minute, Denzelle Olopade collected the ball from a throw in and played it out to Ajayi in plenty of space on the right and he sent in a low cross that was drilled home from six yards by Bate. Shortly afterwards, Bate made a run to the right of the box and crossed for Miller, but he lifted his shot over the bar. Ramsgate soon scored their third however and Bate again was involved, this time on the left, as he crossed for Miller who this time found the net with a low shot from around the penalty spot in the 58th minute.

Cham replaced Stephen Okoh on the hour mark and Whitstable won a couple of corners, but it was Ramsgate that nearly scored again when Eason came out to clear another long ball, but it was retrieved by Ajayi who tried a shot only for Eason to get back to save. It was 4-0 in the 65th minute however, when Bate broke down the left, twisted and turned in the box before setting up Ajayi to roll the ball into the corner. The game was all but over, although Whitstable then started to press forward with more purpose. Cham made a great run down the left and crossed for Goodger who was twice denied. Olopade scooped a chance over the bar and both managers made further changes, then the impressive McIlroy found Goodger whose shot was blocked and Tom Carlton put the rebound narrowly wide. Jake McIntyre was booked for bringing down Cham, who grabbed a consolation goal in the 85th minute when he collected Danny Walder’s ball into the box, turned, skipped around a defender and shot back across the goal into the left corner. Walder then saw his free kick saved by Russell after Callum Peck had been cautioned for halting another McIlroy run. Whitstable kept trying and Tom Mills and Carlton both had efforts saved in added time. It was Ramsgate that almost had the last word though when Peck turned a left wing cross into the net, only to be thwarted by an offside flag, but his team had done enough for a good 4-1 away win.

Whitstable can be encouraged by the performances of the young players, McIlroy, Cham and Deslandes, and some of the football they played, particularly in the last 25 minutes, but need to cut out the defensive errors from the past two games. They return to action quickly, in another local derby at Faversham on Monday afternoon.

Whitstable	Data	Ramsgate
7	Shots on target	7
6	Shots off target	4
5	Shots blocked	2
6	Corners	1
6	Fouls conceded	10
0	Offside	3
0	Penalties	0

Whitstable Town
Dan Eason, Jake Mackenzie, George McIlroy, Junior Baker, Will Thomas, Tom Mills (c), Alex Gaggin (Tom Carlton 73), Danny Walder, Kemo Darboe (Harry Goodger 45), Stephen Okoh (Muhammed Cham 60), Montrell Deslandes.
Subs (unused): Callum Watts, Luke Griffiths.
Goal: Muhammed Cham 85
Yellow card: Montrell Deslandes 59

Ramsgate
Jacob Russell, Jerald Aboagye, Jake McIntyre (c) (Nico Cotton 86), Ben Fitchett (Mitchell Chapman 52), Denzelle Olopade, Beckham Kennelly, Ollie Bate, Ashley Miller (Callum Peck 75), Joshua Ajayi, Jamie Coyle, Tijan Jadama.
Subs (unused): Harry Maher, George Baker-Moran.
Goals: Tijan Jadama 5, Ollie Bate 54, Ashley Miller 58, Joshua Ajayi 65.
Yellow cards: Jake McIntyre 83, Callum Peck 90.

Attendance: 582
Referee: Jake Woodman
Assistants: Matt Charles & Nicholas Monkman