The red men started the game in blistering form, playing some really decent passing football and were rewarded within the first five minutes as Stuart Vahid dinked a lovely ball onto the far post and in for the home side's opener. The goal came so quickly and unexpectedly that I failed to get a picture (and I was enjoying a nice pint of Guiness). The back line looked assured on the ball, and the loan signing, Groombridge, marshalled the back four with a good use of his voice. The Oystermen soaked up whatever was thrown at them and created a series of good chances - some of which should have been converted, but alas, it was not to be.

The visitors equalised at the start of the second half following a defensive error, but Whitstable went ahead again after Pulman converted the penalty he won. The fans were chanting for a red card after the keeper blatantly fouled the onrushing Pullie, but as the picture shows, the keeper wasn't the last man.



But it was clear that Fleet were hungrier for the fight and refused to lie down. They scored again after yet another defensive error and took all three points after winning a penalty for a hand ball in the area in the dying minutes. Fewell came close to saving, but the ball was just out of reach.

The substitutions came too late and the fans were left wondering why Scott Heard remained on the bench given his much needed engine. Vahid had an outstanding and unselfish game setting up his teammates on more than one occasion. Pullie should have scored a hatrick, but it was just one of those days where concentration levels dropped too early in the game. Whitstable arguably should have had another couple of penalties, but referees tend to see Pullie's falls as too theatrical. The Oystermen were also outdone by a whole host of dodgy-looking offside rulings which frustrated the players, and probably affected their concentration.

 

Whitstable find themselves in the relegation zone yet again, but their goal difference is fairly healthy relatively speaking - and we're scoring goals (although not enough by non-strikers). Sherman had a good game whilst donning the captain's armband on his 6th appearance for the club. So concentration remains the watchword.