After a long absence from the stands, a return to the happy hunting ground of Walton Casuals was the perfect tonic even if Whitstable really should have won with a more comfortable margin.

The pitch was slippery and cut up badly after the recent inclement weather which made attractive football unlikely. And neither team disappointed. Whitstable proved most effective down the right hand side with Cornhill threatening throughout. With GS sweeping up at the back, the defensive frailties on both sides were for the most part papered over. 

 

It took a long time for either team to really threaten, however. Denly came close within about twenty minutes after Cornhill cut inside and his shot rebounded to the Whitstable captain. But the Casuals had a player on the line who denied him. Ten minutes later Parker really should have scored from from 10 yards but conspired to slice his shot past a crowd of players.

 

Walton Casuals' first shot didn't come until the 38th minute, and that hit the side netting. Although their chances increased as the game went on, Fewell was kept relatively quiet as the orange clad players seemed to have left their shooting boots at home - a problem that has beset them for the last half dozen games or so. Their cause was not helped by some pretty woeful refereeing and it's probably fair to say that Walton should have had a penalty on the brink of half time instead of the yellow card their player got for diving.

The second half was a little more eventful sparked off by the Walton right back's well-taken own goal off a Gooding cross. Much of the game took place in Whitstable's defensive third as a result, but there were one or two good breaks by the Oystermen. The highlight was a lovely backheel by Vahid that eventually set Denly through only for him to be cynically fouled just outside the area. 

 

Fewell made a masterful save with 25 minutes to go and Pullie threatened more than once although he looked tired with 20 minutes to go. 

 

Once again, the Whitstable bench was thin - a surprise given that the Reserves weren't playing. Cory, Smith and Stubbs got a little run out but no further goals looked likely. But neither did a points loss - and it's been a while since I've been able to say that!