The combination of numerous cup fixtures and some indifferent early season league form had left Whitstable badly needing to build on their recent improvement to lift them from 14th in the table and in this last game before Christmas, they put in a determined performance to beat Kennington 3-0. Despite missing an early penalty, Josh Oliver headed Whitstable in front midway through the first half. Kennington occasionally threatened on the break, but Whitstable will feel they probably should have been more than one goal ahead at half time. However, a fast start after the break saw Ashdon Day extend the lead following a corner before Oliver curled in his second of the afternoon to put his team in a commanding position. The rest of the game was played out with few concerns as Whitstable comfortably held on for three valuable points.

Following the excitement of the FA Vase win against Jersey the previous week, Whitstable were back in league action against Kennington, with both teams locked together on 21 points although Kennington had played five more games. Both teams had good recent form with Whitstable having won their three previous games in cup and league, while Kennington were unbeaten in their last six matches. A single, very late, goal was enough for Whitstable to win the reverse fixture in September. Sadly, there are no Boxing Day SCEFL fixtures, so this was the closest home game to Christmas for Whitstable and there was a great attendance of 583 on a dry, but breezy afternoon. Whitstable made two changes to their starting eleven from the Jersey game, with the cup tied Liam Gillies and Dean Grant returning. Young Dartford loanee Ashdon Day started on the right in a front three. Fin Dent, who made six appearances in a brief spell at Whitstable earlier this season, is now back at Kennington and was in their team for this game.

In just the 2nd minute, Josh Oliver had a shot blocked before Fin Cotton put the rebound wide. Alfie Giles tried a long shot at the other end that proved an easy save for Dan Colmer. Referee Matt Jackson became the centre of attention when handing Whitstable an early Christmas present in the 12th minute, pointing to the spot when goalkeeper Joe Mant came out to meet the run of Grant, appearing to clear the ball before bringing down the Whitstable striker who had run on to an Oliver pass. After the vociferous protests had died down, Oliver stepped up, but in the true spirit of the festive season, hit the post with his penalty kick and the ball was cleared. If the Kennington bench had reason to complain about that decision, their behaviour was less excusable just afterwards, calling for a red card for Jayden Boulton following a challenge on Dent. The referee who initially raced purposefully towards the incident, checked with his assistant before deciding, seemingly correctly, that no further action against the Whitstable left back was necessary. The impressive Cotton then set up Oliver whose shot was well blocked by Ed Miller, before Mant had to save a chipped effort by Jerald Aboagye. Dent made a good run down the right before cutting in and testing Colmer, who couldn't hold the shot, but Aboagye was on hand to put the ball behind for a corner. Whitstable were soon back on the attack and Oliver shot over after a promising move.

The first goal was scored in the 24th minute when Mikey Dalton headed the ball out to Day on the right and he managed to work a shooting position on the 18 yard line, but his effort was deflected off a Kennington player and looped over two defenders in the box, leaving Oliver a free header at the back post and he made no mistake. Whitstable went looking for more goals and the ball flew across the area with nobody able to apply the finish on a couple of occasions. Good approach play on the right by Kennington gave Kimsley Gatakata a chance to shoot, but he put the ball wide. Euan Biggleston hauled down Grant to earn a yellow card and give Whitstable a free kick just outside the area, but Day's shot was saved. Boulton shot over from 25 yards, then Day laid the ball back for Gillies whose shot was well saved by Mant. Just before half time, Gatakata had an opportunity to shoot from a tight angle on the right, but Colmer saved at his near post and the score remained 1-0 when the teams left the pitch

Kennington had shown enough to suggest they were capable of finding a way through the home defence, so Whitstable's failure to add to their advantage left their supporters hoping for an early goal after the restart and they very nearly got one. Oliver found Grant on the right and his low cross was inches in front of the stretching Day in the middle. Grant then crossed from the left for Day whose header was just tipped over the bar by Mant. The resulting corner from the right was taken by Oliver and headed back across goal by Jamie Coyle to Day who brought the ball down before firing a left footed shot into the net from six yards to give Whitstable their second goal in the 53rd minute. Giles and Adam Phillips both tried long range shots that failed to trouble Colmer, then Oliver's left wing cross was headed wide by a diving Grant before the visitors made a double substitution.

Whitstable all but made the game safe when they scored again in the 65th minute. Aboagye threw the ball to Cotton in space and he passed it across to the left corner of the box for Oliver who curled a shot through the crowd into the far corner. Kennington were then forced to play for ten minutes with a player short when Charlie Owen was ordered to the sin bin. Grant was fouled, but the referee played an advantage, which gave Day the chance to set up Grant whose low shot was kept out by Mant. Whitstable made all five substitutions in the time that remained and a cross by Harvey Smith almost found Oliver. Colmer caught an overhead attempt by Teddy Deverson under the crossbar, but the destination of the three points was by then not in doubt and after nearly five minutes of added time, the home fans were able to celebrate with their players and cast their minds ahead to Christmas and the big local derby on the following Saturday at Faversham.

Whitstable	Data	Kennington
9	Shots on target	4
9	Shots off target	2
2	Shots blocked	2
2	Corners	3
6	Fouls conceded	9
3	Offside	0
1	Penalties	0

Whitstable Town
Dan Colmer, Jerald Aboagye, Jayden Boulton (Jake McIntyre 90+4), Mikey Dalton, Jamie Coyle, Will Thomas (c), Josh Oliver (Adem Ramadan 88), Fin Cotton, Dean Grant (Jayden Silcott-Brown 90+4), Liam Gillies (Nico Grierson 90+1), Ashdon Day (Harvey Smith 76).
Subs (unused): none
Goals: Josh Oliver 24, 65, Ashdon Day 53.

Kennington
Joe Mant (c), Ed Miller, Lucas Mvongo, Adam Phillips, Euan Biggleston, Charlie Owen, Rajan Sahni (Harry Linch 63), Alfie Giles, Fin Dent, Kyron Lightfoot (Teddy Deverson 63), Kimsley Gatakata.
Subs (unused): Max Sutton, Bradley Walledge, Sam Wright.
Yellow cards: Euan Biggleston 38, Charlie Owen (sin bin) 67.

Attendance: 583
Referee: Matt Jackson
Assistants: Jeffrey Davis & Danny Horwood