Whitstable travelled to Gay Dawn Farm on a sunny afternoon looking to continue their recent improved form following two valuable home wins. They almost took an early lead, only to concede shortly afterwards when Josh James put the home side ahead from a corner. The equaliser came just a few minutes later when George Monger scored from close range following a free kick. Both teams went on to play some good football at times, but strong defending meant that neither goalkeeper had much to do and there were no further goals.

The teams had drawn 2-2 at the Belmont back in January and this always looked like a tough fixture for Whitstable as they attempt to climb away from the foot of the table with games running out. Corinthian are enjoying a successful season following their promotion and had already gained 51 points to sit comfortably in mid table. Their current form was also good, with four wins from their last five games, scoring three goals in each of their games won. Whitstable manager Andy Drury was able to name an unchanged team with Jack Hanson recovering from an injury sustained on Tuesday. Tom Mills was available again after his three match ban and started on the bench.

Whitstable began on the front foot and Harry Goodger curled a shot wide, then Hanson made a good run before slipping the ball through to Charlie Heatley on the right side of the area. He shot low past Aiden Prall, but with the ball heading wide of the far post, Goodger was just unable to divert it back into the goal as he slid in. Corinthian broke down their left to win a corner that was taken by Oscar Housego. Ryan Sawyer did well, escaping his marker to head the ball powerfully back across goal from beyond the far post and James was on hand to nod in off the near post and open the scoring in the 5th minute. Just three minutes later, Whitstable were level. Hanson was chopped down by Jack Bath as he raced towards the box from the left wing and Danny Walder sent in a low free kick that was flicked on by Scott Doe and Monger’s left footed shot from close range found the top corner after deflecting off Frankie Morgan as he tried to block. Housego and Jack Holland both put half chances wide for Corinthian. A great run forward by Holland led to him winning a free kick 22 yards out, but the attempt by Housego went straight into the defensive wall. Whitstable worked the ball across to Andy Drury from a throw in on the right and he curled a shot towards the far post that was saved by Prall. Both teams had shown plenty of endeavour and promise, without being able to add any further goals and the scores were level at half time.

In the 52nd minute, a Holland cross from the right caused some problems, recent signing Kweku Ansah laid the ball back to Morgan on the left and Dan Eason did well to parry his fierce strike. Eason then got a bit lucky when his attempted clearance hit Morgan, but rebounded kindly for the Whitstable goalkeeper. Drury then made a driving run from the halfway line before curling a shot just wide from 20 yards. Doe was on hand to intercept a dangerous ball into the box at the other end. Hanson collected the ball on the right and ran almost the entire length of the field before finally being crowded out around the 18 yard line. He managed to get a shot away, but it was comfortably saved. Sawyer headed a corner over the bar, then the industrious Goodger headed the ball into the path of Heatley whose long range shot was caught by Prall. Mills made his return in the 64th minute, replacing Veron Nzinga at left back. James picked up the only card of the game for a late challenge on Drury before being substituted. Whitstable then had a spell of pressure around the Corinthian box, but just could not work a shooting position as the home team defended stoutly. Two more home corners followed, the first was headed over by Sawyer and Eason dealt with the second. Jack Mahoney tried a hooked effort, but it bounced tamely into Eason’s hands. A typical Heatley run ended with a well struck shot that deflected off Bath to earn Whitstable their first corner in the 84th minute. The closing stages saw more substitutions and plenty of effort from both teams, but no real alarms at either end as the game ended 1-1, which was probably a fair reflection of the afternoon.

Seven points from three games in the space of eight days have given Whitstable some hope of avoiding relegation and three games now remain to try to secure enough points. They have shown plenty of fighting spirit and played some nice football, but will probably benefit from a week to recharge the batteries before taking on Faversham at the Belmont on Saturday in a game that kicks off early at 1pm.

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

Corinthian
Aiden Prall, Jack Holland (Josh Stirman 57), Frankie Morgan, Jack Bath (c), Jamie Billings (Brandon Davey 86), Ryan Sawyer, Josh James (Ryan Atkinson 71), Jack Mahoney, Kweku Ansah, Oscar Housego, Lekan Majoyegbe.
Subs (unused): Jeremiah Pinder, Jamie Miller.
Goal: Josh James 5
Yellow card: Josh James 69

Whitstable Town
Dan Eason, Jake Mackenzie (c), Veron Nzinga (Tom Mills 64), George Monger (Gus Barnes 81), Scott Doe, Will Thomas, Danny Walder, Andy Drury, Charlie Heatley (Stephen Okoh 90+3), Harry Goodger, Jack Hanson.
Subs (unused): George McIlroy, Montrell Deslandes.
Goal: George Monger 8

Attendance: 124
Referee: Fabio Roque
Assistants: Liam Giles & George Barker