This was one of just four games that survived in the division on a very wet day in the south east and conditions were always going to be testing, but the two teams served up an entertaining encounter for the 308 in attendance, including a few fans displaced from other local postponements. Corinthian captain Jack Bath gave his team the perfect start, dramatically hooking an early corner into the net. Whitstable fought back to lead 2-1 at the break, with Kemo Darboe and Harry Goodger both on target. The lively visitors were a threat throughout the second half, although Whitstable looked unfortunate not to be given the chance to increase their lead from the penalty spot a few minutes before an unmarked Josh Stirman tucked away the equaliser to earn his team the point they probably deserved.

Newly promoted Corinthian have enjoyed a promising first half to this campaign, sitting comfortably in mid table. Their recent form showed just one defeat, to Ashford, in the last six matches. Whitstable made one change to the team that beat Faversham on Monday, with Alex Gaggin coming in for the unavailable Danny Walder. The heavier rain had eased as the teams came out, but there were still showers to fall on an already heavy pitch that had passed a morning inspection.

Corinthian began well and a Stirman shot was deflected away for a corner in the 3rd minute. Frankie Morgan delivered the ball to the near post where it was headed on by Josh James to the waiting Bath whose overhead kick crashed into the net from a few yards out. The early goal did little to wake up a slow starting Whitstable and Jamie Miller forced a routine save from Dan Eason, then Jack Mahoney was sent through on the right and lifted the ball over the advancing Eason, but just wide of the near post. Whitstable did find a way back into the game with a good goal in the 18th minute when George McIlroy did well on the left before playing the ball back to Stephen Okoh whose cross was met by the head of Darboe and although Aiden Prall did well to make the save, Darboe fired the rebound into the net for his sixth goal since joining in late November.

Morgan had a low shot from outside the box saved and Ryan Sawyer volleyed over after a couple of headed clearances by Tom Mills and Goodger. As the rain returned, Miller fouled Montrell Deslandes on the edge of the penalty area and Goodger stepped up to power the free kick through the crowd and past Prall into the right corner of the net to put Whitstable ahead in the 35th minute. McIlroy sent a long range free kick on to the top of the net, then Gaggin saw his goal bound shot blocked. Corinthian almost levelled in added time when James glanced a corner just past the far post with nobody able to apply the finish.

Like the first half, Corinthian started the better after the interval and Eason made a good save when Bath got his head to another corner. Jack Holland was next to test the home goalkeeper and after two more corners from the visitors, the Whitstable manager made his first change, with the returning Samuel Itauma replacing Gaggin. There was some controversy on the hour mark when a great run by Okoh on the slippery surface took him past two opponents on the left and then two more inside the area before he was brought down by a sliding Bath as he was about to shoot, but referee Kirsty Dowle decided not to award a penalty. Play continued with Darboe picking up the loose ball and having a couple of shots blocked before play was halted whilst the referee and Whitstable manager exchanged their views on the incident.

Bath headed a free kick just over the bar, then in the 66th minute, the home defence was caught out when Corinthian broke down the left and Oscar Housego crossed for Stirman who was all alone in the box and slipped the ball past Eason. Substitute Brandon Davey then saw his low shot pushed around the post by Eason. More changes were made by both managers to introduce some fresh legs and Whitstable won their only two corners of the game, the first was scrambled away and the second headed over by Junior Baker. Whitstable substitute Tom Carlton was pulled down as he strode forward, but Goodger’s free kick was stopped by the wall. In the 90th minute a left wing cross found its way past everyone in the Whitstable area to Louie Clarke who blazed a good chance over the top, then Eason saved a Mahoney shot as Corinthian tried for a late winner, but it was not to be and the points were shared.

Whitstable travel to Herne Bay for a Velocity Trophy tie on Tuesday before league leaders Hastings visit the Belmont on Saturday.

Whitstable	Data	Corinthian
6	Shots on target	8
4	Shots off target	7
4	Shots blocked	1
2	Corners	9
9	Fouls conceded	13
0	Offside	5
0	Penalties	0

Whitstable Town
Dan Eason, Jake Mackenzie, George McIlroy, Junior Baker, Will Thomas, Tom Mills (c), Alex Gaggin (Samuel Itauma 57), Montrell Deslandes (Tom Carlton 83), Kemo Darboe, Harry Goodger, Stephen Okoh (Muhammed Cham 75).
Subs (unused): James Brown, Victor Aiyelabola.
Goals: Kemo Darboe 18, Harry Goodger 35.

Corinthian
Aiden Prall, Jack Holland, Frankie Morgan, Jack Bath (c), Jamie Billings, Ryan Sawyer, Josh James, Jack Mahoney, Josh Stirman (Louie Clarke 80), Oscar Housego, Jamie Miller (Brandon Davey 63).
Subs (unused): Harry Lashley, Harvey Smith, Luke Tanner.
Goals: Jack Bath 3, Josh Stirman 66.
Yellow cards: Josh Stirman 57, Josh James 88.

Attendance: 308
Referee: Kirsty Dowle
Assistants: Ryan Chantrill-Smith & Ben Al-Shaikh