It is now six away games and six defeats for Whitstable in the league after the long journey to Chichester ended in disappointment as a half time lead was tamely surrendered in the second half. A good finish by Muhammed Cham put Whitstable ahead just after the half hour mark and some timely blocks and interceptions meant Dan Eason did not really have a shot to save until the 67th minute. Goals from two home substitutes meant that the points would stay in Sussex though, as a Tyrone Madhani free kick and a curling Kaleem Haitham shot proved sufficient for Chichester to end their own winless run.

The last Chichester win was in late September when once again Whitstable were the visitors to Oaklands Park and the FA Trophy tie ended in a 4-0 home success. That game was played just a couple of days after Lloyd Blackman decided to quit and a very young team travelled, with Ben Harding acting as an interim manager. Harry Goodger and Luke Illsley were unavailable for this return trip, so it was still a youthful looking Whitstable, with six teenagers in the squad of fifteen, as new manager Keith McMahon sought his first points on the road.

The game kicked off in blustery conditions with showery rain driving across the pitch, after a minute’s silence was held for Remembrance Day. The home team looked the more threatening in the opening minutes and had an effort ruled out for offside when Whitstable lost possession on their left and Ethan Prichard crossed for Callum Overton to put the ball in the net. Prichard then shot across goal, but wide. Whitstable attacked down the left and Cham did well to create an opening for Tom Carlton, playing in a different role up front, but Kieran Magee was out quickly to save. There was a good chance for Luke Griffiths in the 15th minute when he rose unchallenged to meet a Danny Walder corner, but his header was off target. Overton had a shot blocked by Ollie Gray and the corner by Rob Hutchings was deflected behind at the near post for another corner that landed on top of the bar. Another good defensive block from a Lloyd Rowlatt shot gave Chichester a corner, which Whitstable cleared and the ball was collected by Carlton on the halfway line. He played a good ball through to Cham on the left and he went past his marker and powered a shot past Magee to open the scoring in the 31st minute. Chichester tried to respond, but were denied by more good defending, with Gray again and Jake Mackenzie both making timely interceptions. A Walder free kick was headed wide by Gray, who then denied Ben Mendoza by blocking another shot at the other end and Walder cleared the resulting corner to ensure Whitstable held a 1-0 lead at the break.

A Chichester corner, early second half, fell to Lewis Hyde who sliced the ball over the bar, then the game went through a quiet period, although Gray thwarted Mendoza again with another great block before Prichard put the follow up wide. Whitstable had brought on Luca Woodhouse for Griffiths, but the two Chichester substitutes that changed the game, Madhani and Haitham, were then introduced. Whitstable were struggling to keep possession, but despite winning a couple more corners, Chichester were not troubling Eason and a comfortable save from a Hutchings shot in the 67th minute was the first effort on target he had to deal with. The pressure was building though and when Hutchings was allowed to run from his own half before being fouled 25 yards out, it gave Madhani a chance to repeat his goal from a similarly placed free kick in the previous match between the two teams. Once again, the Bognor loanee curled the ball past Eason to equalise in the 71st minute. Whitstable substitute Montrell Deslandes delivered a good cross that was put behind for a corner, but nothing came of it and just after Ollie Gray was replaced by Will Thomas in the 78th minute, Chichester scored again. This time it was the other substitute who finished well into the top corner after receiving the ball on the edge of the area from Rowlatt. Whitstable were finding it hard to create much and a header by Gus Barnes landed on top of the net, then a Walder corner was cleared. Deslandes conceded a late free kick that offered another opportunity for Madhani, but this time his effort struck the wall. In the final moments, Walder shot wide following a corner, but Chichester had done enough for a 2-1 win.

Burgess Hill are the visitors to the Belmont on Saturday as the hunt for league points continues.

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

Chichester City
Kieran Magee, Ryan Davidson, Rob Hutchings, Jamie Horncastle (c), Lewis Hyde, Ben Pashley, Lloyd Rowlatt, Emmett Dunn, Callum Overton (Scott Jones 87), Ben Mendoza (Kaleem Haitham 61), Ethan Prichard (Tyrone Madhani 61).
Subs (unused): Oliver Carroll, Daniel Wood.
Goals: Tyrone Madhani 71, Kaleeem Haitham 78.

Whitstable Town
Dan Eason, Jake Mackenzie, James Brown, Danny Walder, Ollie Gray (Will Thomas 78), Tom Mills (c), Gus Barnes, Luke Griffiths (Luca Woodhouse 56), George McIlroy (Montrell Deslandes 72), Tom Carlton, Muhammed Cham.
Sub (unused): Jacob Couzens
Goal: Muhammed Cham 31

Attendance: 155
Referee: Nicholas Metcalfe
Assistants: Stephen Jansen & Michael Paintin