This was a game that both teams will feel they might have won, but neither were able to keep hold of potentially winning positions, so had to settle for a point each. There was plenty of entertainment for those watching however with six goals, some near misses and a red card. Dean Grant and Josh Oliver gave Whitstable a two goal lead in the first half and with a couple of other efforts hitting the bar and post, it could have been even better. Dan Colmer though had to make two saves as Corinthian also had opportunities and when Oscar Housego pulled a goal back from the penalty spot just before the break, the game was left in the balance. Housego added two more with good finishes early in the second half to give his team the advantage, but they were reduced to ten shortly afterwards when Mefose Esumobi was sent off for violent conduct. Whitstable equalised when Grant headed his second with 15 minutes remaining, but they were unable to force a late winner.

Corinthian almost won promotion back to the Isthmian League last season, losing out in the play-off final and this time around are once again challenging towards the top of the table. Whitstable came into this game looking for their fourth straight win, following two cup successes and a well-earned three points on a tricky pitch at Tunbridge Wells. Team captain Mike West picked up an injury in the week, so was replaced by Fin Cotton in midfield, which was the only change to the starting eleven. Omotunmise Akanni, who began the season at Whitstable, has recently joined Corinthian and started on their bench. A good crowd of 440 was in attendance on a cloudy, but calm afternoon.

The opening minutes saw Whitstable pushing forward and Cotton sent the ball out to the right for Harvey Smith who got the better of Jack Billings before hitting a low shot that was well saved by Nathan Boamah. Dean Grant won a free kick 25 yards from goal that Josh Oliver struck into the defensive wall, but the opening goal soon followed in the 15th minute. A loose pass by Oscar Housego was collected by Liam Gillies who found Oliver on the left and his perfectly placed cross was nodded home at the near post by Grant. Corinthian almost replied instantly when Lorenzo Duncan set up Mefose Esumobi, but Dan Colmer was out quickly to deny him. Esumobi had another opportunity after driving past Jake McIntyre on the left of the penalty area, only to be thwarted again by Colmer. In a good spell by the visitors, a low cross from the right was just out of the reach of a stretching Housego.

Whitstable then created several good chances and in the 30th minute Mikey Dalton and Gillies combined to give Cotton the opportunity to run at the defence and he got past Jamie Billings before trying a long range shot that beat Boamah but hit the post. Smith made a good run down the left into the box from his own half, then played the ball across to Gillies, who helped it on to Cotton and then Oliver whose powerful curling shot struck the bar and far post before being cleared. The pressure was rewarded in the 33rd minute when a headed clearance by Jerald Aboagye reached Oliver who beat Jamie Billings before his shot was defected into the net off Tom Fitzgerald, leaving Boamah stranded. Jamie Billings was booked for trying to push a corner into the net with his hand, then Gillies shot wide at the other end after more good work by Cotton. Corinthian were given a route back into the game in the 43rd minute when the referee felt that Archie Johnson had fouled Esumobi in a crowded box and Housego beat Colmer from the penalty spot to make the half time score 2-1.

Whitstable did not start the second half well and Corinthian levelled things up in the 47th minute when Esumobi sent the ball out to the left for Housego who ran forward unchallenged and curled the ball into the far corner from 25 yards. Things got worse for Whitstable in the 51st minute as Smith was penalised for a challenge just outside the box and Housego blasted the free kick through some defenders and in off the post to complete a hat trick and give his team the lead. Whitstable were given a helping hand back into the game when Esumobi and Will Thomas jumped for a high ball and after Thomas ended up on the ground the Corinthian player kicked out at him, leaving the referee little choice but to get his red card out. Both benches saw yellow cards in the aftermath before the game restarted.

Thomas got his head to a Dalton corner then followed in with a shot that was deflected behind and Oliver saw his shot strike a team mate and go past the post. The game was tied at 3-3 in the 75th minute following a throw in near the right corner by Aboagye to Smith who turned and crossed for a diving Grant to head past Boamah. There was plenty of effort by both teams for the remainder of the game, but few clear chances. In the time added on, Jack Billings volleyed a cross well over the bar then picked up a yellow card for kicking the ball away and there were some late words from the referee for the away bench who had continued to say too much for his liking, but despite over eight extra minutes being played and a very late Whitstable free kick, there would be no winner.

Whitstable now have two cup matches to play, firstly at home to Lydd Town in the FA Vase Second Round on Saturday. A Wednesday night trip follows for a SCEFL Challenge Cup fixture against Staplehurst Monarchs.

Whitstable	Data	Corinthian
4	Shots on target	5
4	Shots off target	5
3	Shots blocked	1
4	Corners	2
11	Fouls conceded	8
1	Offside	0
0	Penalties	1

Whitstable Town
Dan Colmer, Jerald Aboagye, Archie Johnson, Mikey Dalton, Jake McIntyre (c), Will Thomas, Josh Oliver, Fin Cotton, Harvey Smith, Dean Grant, Liam Gillies (Jayden Silcott-Brown 89).
Subs (unused): Reece Gillies, Fin Dent, Dan Eason, Kai Jeffrey,
Goals: Dean Grant 15, 75, Josh Oliver 33.
Yellow card: Dean Grant 78

Corinthian
Nathan Boamah, Mal Turner, Hugo Taylor, Tom Fitzgerald, Jamie Billings (c), Jack Billings, Lorenzo Duncan, Callum Keeble (Richie Atkins 68), Mefose Esumobi, Oscar Housego (Oscar Webb 90+4), Henry Arnold (Omotunmise Akanni 75).
Subs (unused): Simon Walton, Fred Aikon.
Goals: Oscar Housego (pen) 43, 47, 51.
Yellow cards: Jamie Billings 37, Jack Billings 90+6.
Red card: Mefose Esumobi 54

Attendance: 440
Referee: Kennedy Kikulwe
Assistants: Darren Stock & Michael Marsh