Following a run of three away matches and given the early season’s patchy form at home, this felt like a much needed performance and result as Whitstable scored three goals and kept a clean sheet against Erith and Belvedere. Josh Oliver opened the scoring from the penalty spot after a foul on Jayden Silcott-Brown as Whitstable edged a tight first half in which they had chances to add to their lead, although the Deres had a spell of pressure just before the break that saw a header hit the post. A well-worked second goal by Liam Gillies at the start of the second half put Whitstable in control and Dean Grant blasted in a late third to make sure of the three points.

Just one of Whitstable’s last four matches had been at home, and with three of them being in different cup competitions, and only the 2-1 loss at Glebe in between, the team had slipped to 14th in the league table and very much needing to pick up some more points. Erith and Belvedere were in 9th place, with five more points from one extra game played. Jayden Boulton was able to return at left back after being cup-tied for the win at VCD, but with Jake McIntyre still suspended, manager Jamie Coyle continued in central defence. Fin Cotton was given a start in midfield after a good second half performance in the previous game, with Mike West dropping to the bench. The attendance was exactly 400 on a cloudy afternoon on the north Kent coast.

The first significant moment of the game came in the 11th minute when Whitstable took the lead. The ball was worked from left to right with Cotton and Liam Gillies combining to release Silcott-Brown who raced into the penalty area before going down under a challenge from AJ Morrison and the referee pointed to the penalty spot, much to the disappointment of the visitors. Josh Oliver stepped up to fire into the corner to put his team 1-0 ahead with his 11th goal of the season. The Deres tried to respond, with their main danger being right winger Tyller Davis-Whitlock who volleyed the ball over the bar after a short spell of pressure. In the 21st minute, a mistake at the heart of the visitors’ defence by Freddie Cray gave Dean Grant the chance to perhaps try lobbing the goalkeeper, but instead he chose to feed Silcott-Brown who he was unable to take advantage of the opening.

Another mistake in the Deres' defence let in Cotton whose shot was well saved by Charlie Cottrell before Grant saw his shot deflected for a corner as he followed in. A great run by Boulton gave Cotton the opportunity to find Silcott-Brown again and his low cross caused more problems for the Deres and the ball was collected by Gillies on the left who cut back before his shot was deflected off Tommy Whitnell and crashed against the bar with Cottrell beaten. The chances continued and Grant headed the ball on for Silcott-Brown whose shot was well blocked by Cray. In the 43rd minute, a short corner routine led to the ball reaching Will Thomas at the near post, but his shot was saved by a diving Cottrell. In added time the action moved to the other end and three corner kicks, the last of which was headed against the post by Strachan. An eventful half ended with a slender 1-0 advantage for the Oystermen.

The second half began perfectly for Whitstable who doubled their lead in the 47th minute. Coyle won possession at the back and sent the ball forward for Silcott-Brown who got the better of his marker before sending Cotton away and his low cross was swept into the far corner by Gillies from 20 yards. Dan Colmer saved a Ladic Melconian shot before both teams made substitutions and it was not long before Whitstable's introduction Harvey Smith forced Cottrell into a save at the near post and a quick sequence of passes then gave Mikey Dalton a chance to shoot, but he was denied by a combination of Strachan and Cottrell. The Deres then created a couple of chances and Colmer had to save a fierce Davis-Whitlock shot in the 72nd minute.

Strachan became the only player to collect a yellow card when he pulled back Silcott-Brown, then Smith had two more shots, one blocked and the other saved by Cottrell. Following more substitutions, Whitstable scored their third goal in the 86th minute when Smith received the ball from Cotton on the left and made a powerful run into the box before pulling the ball back for Grant who took a touch then smashed it into the net. Among the late substitutes, there was a first team debut for under 23 player Nico Grierson. Whitstable saw out the remaining time without difficulty and almost added a fourth, but Ronald Sithole's cross was just behind the waiting Grant, although they had done enough for a deserved and very welcome three points in what was only their second home league win of the season.

The league campaign takes another short break on Saturday when Whitstable entertain Jersey Bulls in a much anticipated FA Vase Third Round clash. Due to the travel arrangements of the Channel Islanders, the game kicks off at 12.30 pm.

Whitstable	Data	Erith & Belvedere
9	Shots on target	2
1	Shots off target	5
4	Shots blocked	3
7	Corners	6
7	Fouls conceded	6
5	Offside	1
1	Penalties	0

Whitstable Town
Dan Colmer, Jerald Aboagye, Jayden Boulton, Mikey Dalton (Mike West 84), Jamie Coyle, Will Thomas (c) (Kai Jeffrey 90+2), Josh Oliver (Harvey Smith 58), Fin Cotton, Dean Grant, Liam Gillies (Nico Grierson 90+1), Jayden Silcott-Brown (Ronald Sithole 87).
Subs (unused): none
Goals: Josh Oliver (pen) 11, Liam Gillies 47, Dean Grant 86.

Erith & Belvedere
Charlie Cottrell, Joe Chalker, AJ Morrison, Ryan Fowler, Rob Strachan (c) (Donnell Anderson 84), Freddie Cray, Tyller Davis-Whitlock, Ladic Melconian (Luca Sanford 87), Dieko Falade (Sam Smith 73), Tommy Whitnell (Freddie Baker 68), Ronnie McClean (Rob Curtis 63).
Subs (unused): none
Yellow card: Rob Strachan 74

Attendance: 400
Referee: Mitchell Jukes
Assistants: Michael Marsh & Vincent Bottacchi