It may be too early to make the suggestion, but this game was a "classic". Whitstable were 3-0 up within the first fifteen minutes and Sittingbourne scored two in the space of a minute in the second half to set up a heart-stopping finale in which the Oystermen triumphed. 

Dave Cory won himself a penalty in the first five minutes. The tackle was just outside the box, but the lights at the home end were dreadful, so it's hardly surprising that the ref didn't see that the foul happened just outside the box. However, Mr Knight evened things up in the second half when he awarded Sittingbourne an equally dodgy penalty in the second half. Pulman converted the penalty with a confidently struck shot. 

 




 Six minutes later saw the hard-working Cornhill fouled on the right touch-line - his floated free-kick found Cory at the far post who flicked it back across the six yard box, finding his strike partner who used nimble and close ball-control to carve out a little space for himself before firing past the hapless keeper for his deserved second of the night.

 

 
Nearly all the action was in the Sittingbourne defensive third until Fewell was forced to make the first of several excellent saves on twelve minutes. Within a couple of minutes, Whitstable were foraging deep in their opponents' territory. Cornhill floated another free kick in from about 35 yards out only to beat everyone, including a flapping keeper, to increase Whitstable's lead.




And Whitstable weren't done yet. Pullie dispatched a snap-shot on 21 minutes forcing an excellent save from the Sittingbourne keeper and a pile-driver from Parker five minutes later came close.


 

Sittingbourne came close to clawing one back first on 26 minutes as a driven cross cum shot eluded everyone and six minutes later but for a good save from Fewell at the striker's feet. 

One of the highlights of the first half was the willingness of all the players to get really stuck in exemplified by Hossick's welcome return to the middle of the park. Best of all, Pullie, who may have felt that his work was done, was also throwing himself about, and it was perhaps inevitable that he would pick up a card in the end. Another highlight was the consistent quality of Cornhill's set-pieces whether from free kicks or the corner.



 

Whistable held out for their 3-0 lead at the half time whistle and should rightly have felt proud of their performance thus far.


 

Sittingbourne came out firing on all cylinders and forced Fewell into an instinctive double save within minutes of the restart. Sittingbourne's first goal had an air of inevitability about it. It was a simple but well-executed move as their player was set free by an incisive through-ball. One touch and then slotted past Fewell who could do little about it. A minute later, Sittingbourne earned themselves a penalty and although Fewell went the right way, he couldn't stop the shot.



 
Whitstable struggled to get out of their half for most of the rest of the match and fell into the trap of defending too deep as well as hoofing the ball anywhere. But on the odd occasion when they did break into Sittingbourne's half, they looked threatening as well as intelligent in their play. Pullie was denied a second penalty (probably rightly) and Cory hit the side netting. Sttingbourne almost equalised on 89 minutes with a dipping free kick and came very close two minutes into injury time, but Whitstable soaked up the remaining pressure and grabbed a crucial three points. For the second season in succession, Whitstable put paid to Sittingbourne's play-off aspirations.





A very nice touch from the player

and much appreciated by the young fans!