The miracle is still on as Whitstable won their second game in a row for the first time this season. 

The game actually started well for Chatham as in the 2^nd minute a long throw to Josh Bray who knocked it back for George Humber whose first time volley went just past the post.

The game went quiet for 15 minutes then sprung into life as in the 17^th minute Luke Medley received the ball 10 yards inside his own half & ran forward beating two defenders & once in the area saw his shot saved by Dan Eason, then Whitstable had their turn as in the next minute Stuart King in the area cut inside & his shot from 8 yards was pushed around the post by Jack Bradshaw & in the very next minute King was put in by Aiden Blanchard but again Bradshaw was able to push his shot round the post.

In the 22^nd minute Chatham took the lead when William Johnson-Cole got to the by-line & his low cross found Medley 8 yards out & he went sideways before shooting into an empty net.

It was nearly two in the 24^th minute when Medley on the edge of the area saw his curling effort go just past the post.  The game was ebbing & flowing & in the very next minute Whitstable equalised when Sam Bewick’s long throw into the area was controlled by Charlie Smith & he turned & shot home from 6 yards.

Three minutes later a Whitstable free kick into the area was half cleared to Blanchard whose shot from 20 yards was deflected goal wards but Bradshaw saved it.

In the 31^st minute Chatham nearly took the lead again when Joe Loft’s cross to the back post was retrieved by Humber who back heeled it for Medley & his shot from 8 yards was saved by Eason & in the very next minute Whitstable took the lead when a long ball forward found King in the area & he coolly shot past Bradshaw.

The rest of the half saw both sides giving the ball away & not causing any problems for the defences.

The second half was very scrappy with Chatham having most of the possession & few chances. In the 63^rd minute Khari Oriogun tried his luck from 25 yards & saw his shot go just past the post.

Three minutes later King in on goal & his flicked shot was deflected for a corner. In the 70^th minute Chatham had a glorious chance to equalise when Humber in the area latched onto a loose ball but saw his shot beat Eason but Joe Kennett hacked clear.

Whitstable defended for their lives & maybe some of their supporters wished they had done this earlier in the season & in the 88^th minute they nearly increased their lead when Michael Yianni was put through by King but from 10 yards his shot was saved by Bradshaw’s legs.

After 4 minutes off added on time the final whistle went & all those connected to Whitstable were ecstatic  &  this victory made sure they were still in with a chance of avoiding relegation.

 

CHATHAM TOWN:

1. BRADSHAW 2. K.OSEI  3. L.COLLINS  4. J.LOFT  5. J.DIFFORD  6. L.HICKEY  7. W.JOHNSON-COLE (82) 8. J.BRAY (75) 9. G.HUMBER  10. A.EDWARDS (36)  11. L.MEDLEY

SUBS USED:  12. K.ORIOGUN (36)  14. J.GIBSON (75)  16. J.SCOTT (82)

SUBS NOT USED:  15. J.FRIEND  17. K.SUTTON

BOOKINGS:  NONE

 

WHITSTABLE TOWN;

1. EASON 2. O.BROWN  3. S.PUNTON  4. G.McLLHERON  5. J.KENNET 6. A.BLANCHARD  7. M.YIANNI  8. S.BEWICK 9. S.KING 10. C.THOMPSON (82)  11. C.SMITH (89)

SUBS USED:  12. H.RODGERS (82)  15. J.FREGENE (89)

SUBS NOT USED: 14. C.IVES  21. H.BROOKS

BOOKINGS:  8. S.BEWICK (90+1)

 

REFEREE:  Mr N.DUNN

ASSISTANTS:  Mr R.JOSS &  Mr J.STOKES

ATTENDANCE: 143