Whitstable fought back from two goals down to secure a draw on a sunny afternoon at second placed Holmesdale. A quiet first half, punctuated by several lengthy breaks in play, saw both teams create a few promising situations without seriously testing the goalkeepers, until Lewis Heywood-Oriogun headed Holmesdale in front just before the break. A home win seemed the most likely outcome when a spilt cross gave Don Macauley the chance to double the lead early in the second half. Whitstable made a couple of substitutions, but needed a sliding interception by Will Thomas to deny the hosts a third before Omotunmise Akanni pulled a goal back. This seemed to give Whitstable a lift and Harvey Smith equalised a few minutes later, meaning both teams left with a point.

A young Holmesdale team have made a bright start to the season and were in second place prior to this game, having collected seventeen points from their first ten games. Whitstable were four points behind from two fewer games, although curiously both had significantly better form away from home: four of Holmesdale’s five wins and three of Whitstable’s four had been achieved on the road. Holmesdale were missing a few regulars, including top scorer Jack Church. New Whitstable signing Fin Dent made his debut and Under 23 player Tagan Kray was given a place on the bench. Just 61 were recorded through the gate on a pleasant September afternoon in the Bromley countryside, with Whitstable supporters probably forming the majority.

There was an unusual early break in play when a member of the home bench came on to scoop up a deposit presumably left on the pitch by a fox. When play resumed, Aidan Ward shot over following a spell of Holmesdale pressure, then a dangerous left wing cross by Adrian Brown went right across goal with nobody able to get a touch. An injury to the Holmesdale number four, Wilfred Evans, forced a 26th minute substitution. In the 27th minute, Whitstable won the first corner of the match, which was played short to Dent whose low shot was comfortably saved by Archie Aldous. After another good Brown cross went unrewarded, Harvey Smith headed a Josh Oliver cross wide, then a couple of Archie Hatcher shots failed to trouble the Holmesdale keeper.

Whitstable were just starting to build some pressure when they conceded a poor goal in the 43rd minute. The ball was clipped into the box from the right and an unmarked Lewis Heywood-Oriogun at the back post nodded in from close range. In the five extra minutes, Smith headed another Oliver cross wide before left back Archie Johnson was unable to cut out a pass, leaving Reelwa Lugboso a free run on goal, but he shot past the far post and the score remained 1-0 at the interval.

There was almost an equaliser right at the start of the second half, but Smith’s header came back off the post with Aldous beaten. Whitstable though slipped further behind with another soft goal in the 57th minute. A corner on the right was taken by Sam Bayford and when the ball was returned to the right then crossed to the back post, an under pressure Dan Colmer dropped it in the crowded area and it was put into the net by Don Macauley. The next few minutes brought several changes with Mike West and Omotunmise Akanni coming on for Whitstable and Kie Douglas for Holmesdale who twice went close to extending their lead. Colmer saved a Ward shot following a loose Whitstable pass, then Mecca Samuels got into the box, but Will Thomas slid across well to block his shot.

In the 75th minute, Whitstable suddenly got themselves back in the game when a great ball from the hard working Smith picked out an unattended Akanni on the left and he shot past Aldous to make it 2-1. Dent and Akanni set up Smith for another shot that was saved, then Whitstable levelled the scores in the 82nd minute. Following a corner, Smith got his head to a cross that was pushed out as far as Dent who played the ball back to Smith and he hooked it into the net. In the time that remained, Smith sent two efforts wide as Whitstable looked for a late winner, although they lost Jerald Aboagye who had to limp off with an injury, but no further goals meant the points were shared.

Whitstable do not have a midweek fixture, so their next game will be an FA Vase tie at home to Hollands and Blair on Saturday.

Holmesdale	Data	Whitstable
3	Shots on target	5
3	Shots off target	7
1	Shots blocked	1
2	Corners	4
12	Fouls conceded	17
1	Offside	2
0	Penalties	0

Holmesdale
Archie Aldous, Ramon Elliott (Devontae Campbell-Black 77), Tony Musoke (c), Wilfred Evans (Mecca Samuels 26), Don Macauley, Sam Bayford, Reelwa Lugboso, Aidan Ward, Lewis Heywood-Oriogun, Jack Tones (Kie Douglas 66), Adrian Brown.
Subs (unused): Oghosa Williams, Micquelle Murray.
Goals: Lewis Heywood-Oriogun 43, Don Macauley 57.

Whitstable Town
Dan Colmer, Jerald Aboagye (Jayden Boulton 89), Archie Johnson, Fin Cotton (Mike West 62), Jake McIntyre (c), Will Thomas, Josh Oliver (Omotunmise Akanni 67), Reece Gillies, Harvey Smith, Fin Dent, Archie Hatcher.
Subs (unused): Finn O’Mara, Tagan Kray.
Goals: Omotunmise Akanni 75, Harvey Smith 82.

Attendance: 61
Referee: Jordan Whitworth
Assistants: Adam Back & Ashley Barnes