The optimism created by the three away wins that started the season is fading fast, after an alarmingly poor display saw Whitstable lose their second successive home game. In truth, Bearsted should have won by a greater margin after outplaying their hosts for most of the game. Whitstable hit the bar in the first half, but never really troubled the visiting goalkeeper. Bearsted always looked the more likely to score, but had to wait until the last twenty minutes to wrap up the three points. Jon Rogers opened the scoring with a great strike as Whitstable left him too much room and an unmarked Jordon Ababio fired in the second a few minutes later. Whitstable finished the game with ten men when Freeman Rogers had to depart with a head injury shortly after the last of the five available substitutes had been used.

With no games at the weekend, Whitstable had last played ten days ago and manager Richard Styles made several changes to the team that lost to Welling Town. Joe Jarvis, George Sheminant and Josh Oliver came into the starting eleven and Muhammed Cham was in the squad for the first time this season. Bearsted had won two, drawn two and lost two from their first six league matches. A minute’s silence was observed prior to kick off as the nation continues to mourn the passing of HM Queen Elizabeth II.

The rain that had fallen for much of the day continued throughout the evening, but 245 had braved the elements to watch, although the majority would have left disappointed with what they witnessed on the pitch. Bearsted pushed forward from the start and when an early corner was partially cleared Samuel Stace saw his shot blocked in a crowded box. Will Thomas was the first into the notebook of the busy referee for a foul by the right corner flag and the delivery from the free kick was stabbed just wide at the far post. In the 16th minute, a good break down the right by Ababio gave him the chance to cross for Omotunmise Akanni, who curled his shot just wide. Whitstable’s best moment of the game came moments later when Sheminant nodded the ball forward to Oliver inside the penalty area and his well struck shot from a tight angle on the left rebounded off the bar to safety. All of the other meaningful first half action was at the other end though and a promising run by Akanni ended with a weak shot that was saved by Dan Eason, who also comfortably dealt with a long range effort from Jordan Tingley. Joel Wakefield tried a shot that was deflected behind. Matt Gething was then felled by an arm to his head in an aerial challenge by Colby Waite, who was perhaps fortunate to only receive a yellow card. The impressive Tingley surged past several opponents before putting his shot wide from 18 yards. Bearsted won a couple of corners just before the break, the second of which saw Eason deny Ababio after a little pinball in the box. Whitstable would have been grateful to reach half time still level at 0-0.

Two changes were made by the home team at the restart, as Jake Mackenzie returned to his usual spot at right back and Cham was introduced further forward on the right. Whitstable won their only corner of the night, which was worked across for Cham whose shot was quickly closed down. James Huggins and Caleb Edorh were the next to be cautioned as tempers began to rise, then Ababio cut in from the right and shot straight at Eason. The next Bearsted corner saw Freeman Rogers collect a head injury and briefly leave the pitch for treatment. More substitutions followed before the deadlock was broken in the 71st minute when Freeman Rogers headed away a right wing cross, but it was collected by the Bearsted captain Jon Rogers, who was given too much time to find the far corner of the net from 25 yards. Whitstable did at least give goalkeeper Thomas Benham something to do when Rogers got his head to a Harry Stannard free kick, but it was a routine save. Bearsted settled matters with a second goal in the 76th minute following a great run down the left by Tingley who skipped past several attempted challenges before picking out Ababio, all alone in the box to shoot past Eason. Whitstable made their last substitution in the 78th minute, but before play restarted, Rogers, still feeling the effects of his earlier head injury, also left the pitch, so Whitstable bizarrely played the remainder of the game one player short. Sheminant played in the lively Cham, who did at least cause Bearsted a few problems, but he shot just wide. There was little else to report and Bearsted eased to a very comfortable 2-0 win.

Whitstable have a few days to prepare for the visit of Rusthall on Saturday, when their supporters will be hoping to see a much better organised and committed performance after two very poor displays at the Belmont.

Whitstable	Data	Bearsted
1	Shots on target	7
2	Shots off target	4
1	Shots blocked	3
1	Corners	5
14	Fouls conceded	9
3	Offside	3
0	Penalties	0

Whitstable Town
Dan Eason, Joe Jarvis (Jake Mackenzie 46), Tom Mills, James Huggins (Ryan Flack 77), Freeman Rogers (c), Will Thomas, Kyron Lightfoot (Muhammed Cham 46), George Sheminant, Matt Gething, Josh Oliver (Harry Stannard 69), Harry O’Donnell (James Jeffrey 69).
Subs (unused): none
Yellow cards: Will Thomas 9, Josh Oliver 21, James Huggins 57, George Sheminant 88.

Bearsted
Thomas Benham, Shae Echema, Jordan Tingley, Jon Rogers (c), Colby Waite, Daniel Melvin, Jordon Ababio, Joel Wakefield (Adam Turton 52), Caleb Edorh (Ollie Freeman 58), Samuel Stace (Rob Lawrence 78), Omotunmise Akanni (Elyon Marshall-Katung 77).
Sub (unused): Callum McCarthy
Goals: Jon Rogers 71, Jordon Ababio 76.
Yellow cards: Colby Waite 28, Caleb Edorh 57, Ollie Freeman 90.

Attendance: 245
Referee: Richard Myers
Assistants: Robert Waldron & Nicholas Derrane