A slow start by the home side saw Tom Chapman give Ramsgate an early lead, but on a difficult pitch, Whitstable gradually improved and went on to have the better of the second half. Their only reward was a perfect, long distance free kick by Harry Stannard that found the top corner. Charlie Burns, in the Ramsgate goal, saved well from John Ufuah and Leo Mazzone, whilst Dan Eason was relatively untroubled and the teams had to settle for a point each.

This was the third meeting between the teams so far this season, with the first two matches at Southwood resulting in a 2-0 win for the Rams in the Velocity Trophy and a 1-1 draw in a league game, during which Dan Eason saved two penalties in three minutes. Ramsgate however have struggled for most of the season after making a lot of changes in the summer and arrived at the Belmont with only 14 points from 24 games and only winless East Grinstead below them in the table. Their line up for this game included former Oystermen James Morrish, playing in a new role at the heart of the defence, Kane Rowland and Ashley Miller, with Nick Treadwell among the substitutes. There are now also a number of ex-Ramsgate players at Whitstable, together with their former manager Lloyd Blackman, to add some further interest to the occasion.

Heavy overnight showers left the pitch very soft in places, but on a fine afternoon 502 turned out to watch. It was the visitors that pushed forward in the opening minutes, although Whitstable had several chances to send the ball into the box from free kicks and a corner and one cross by Ufuah was gently headed into the hands of Burns by a stretching Marshall Wratten. In the 16th minute, Chapman scored to give his team hope of a much needed win. New signing Henry Arnold played the ball in from the right to Chapman, whose touch was a bit heavy, so Eason came out to intercept, but slipped on the surface, allowing the Ramsgate forward the simple chance to take the ball past him and roll it into the net. Encouraged, they looked to extend their lead and had a near post attempt blocked following a corner, then Chapman pulled the ball back for Rowland who lifted a good opportunity over the bar.

Whitstable began to see a lot more of the ball and on 23 minutes Luke Girt won possession for Tijan Jadama to hit a great shot from 25 yards that beat Burns, but came back off the crossbar. A few minutes later, a low left wing cross by Wratten was flicked just over the bar by Aaron Millbank at the near post. Ramsgate looked to have carved out a good chance from a right wing cross, but the ball was stabbed just wide, although the offside flag had already been raised. A Wratten free kick was not held by Burns and the ball dropped to Stannard at the back post, but he shot over from close range. On 40 minutes, Jude Arthurs was booked for pulling back Jadama and from the free kick the ball eventually reached Ufuah whose cross was headed over the bar by Ollie Rowe. Aaron Simpson tested Eason with a low shot that was comfortably held and Ramsgate still led by the one goal at the break.

The home supporters did not have to wait long for a second half equaliser when Phil Starkey pushed Millbank just over 30 yards from goal in the 49th minute and Stannard hit a great free kick into the top left corner, out of the reach of Burns. Rowland almost got an opportunity at the other end, but Eason was quickly out to collect. Mazzone replaced Wratten in the 64th minute and was soon in the action when sliding into a challenge in the penalty area as Arthurs threatened. Ramsgate appealed for a spot kick, but the referee felt that he had played the ball off the Ramsgate player and awarded a goal kick.

Ufuah and Simpson were having a good battle down the Whitstable right and Ufuah got past him in the 71st minute, before having his low shot saved by Burns. Ufuah was as it again a few minutes later as he cut inside and tried a left footed shot that was pushed around the post by the goalkeeper. Stannard had a shot blocked from the short corner routine that followed. Ramsgate created their only goal attempt of the second half when Rowland fed Chapman whose low shot from the edge of the box was easily saved by Eason. In the 80th minute, a quick sequence of passing by Whitstable eventually saw Jake Mackenzie knocked over off the ball, but the penalty appeals were waved away. Both managers made changes, with Jay Hards coming on for his second Whitstable appearance and Mazzone was then involved at both ends of the pitch, making a good interception at the back, before being set up by Mackenzie, only to be denied by Burns. The resulting corner was hooked over the bar by Rowe. There was a late booking for Girt, but no more chances and the game ended 1-1.

Ramsgate remain second from bottom, now six points above East Grinstead who collected their first win at Three Bridges. Whitstable are tenth and next face away trips to Phoenix Sports and VCD.

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

Whitstable Town
Dan Eason, Jake Mackenzie, James Brown, Luke Girt, Ollie Rowe, Tom Bryant (c), John Ufuah, Tijan Jadama, Aaron Millbank, Harry Stannard (Jay Hards 83), Marshall Wratten (Leo Mazzone 64).
Subs (unused): Josh Spencer, Charles Etumnu, Liam Dickson.
Goal: Harry Stannard 49
Yellow card: Luke Girt 90+1

Ramsgate
Charlie Burns, Michael Turner, Aaron Simpson, Harry Norman, Phil Starkey, James Morrish, Henry Arnold, Jude Arthurs, Kane Rowland (c), Tom Chapman (Nick Treadwell 82), Ashley Miller (Tyrell Mitford 89).
Subs (unused): Josh Oliver, Farzad Haidary, Matty Robinson.
Goal: Tom Chapman 16
Yellow card: Jude Arthurs 40

Attendance: 502
Referee: Joe McKay
Assistants: Joseph Dann-Pye & Dan Blades