Bottom of the table Whitstable Town hosted fellow Kent strugglers Chatham Town at a wet and windy Belmont on Saturday afternoon.

The Oysterman started the game brightly and were the first to create a chance on 3 minutes. Smith capitalised on Knight’s short back pass, held up on the boggy surface and squared for right back Hussain all on his own inside the box.

Bradshaw in the Chatham goal did well to save with his feet and put the ball behind for a corner. Mistakes were a plenty with the rain coming down sideaways and Chatham right back Davies almost scored a comical own goal 2 minutes later when he sliced a clearance towards his own goal which Bradshaw dived low to his left to stop Smith from tapping in from close range.

Chatham offered very little in the opening 15 minutes but were denied by a fantastic last ditch challenge by Whitstable captain Bewick which prevented Medley from being through on goal from a long clearance from the Chatham keeper.

After a scrappy 15 minute spell, both sides sprang into action. Hussain hitting the bar for the home side after cutting in from the right and unleashing a 25 yard piledriver.

Chatham then countered and after a nice bit of skill by Jeffrey had fed Gacheru out on the right, his cross just evaded Jeffrey in the middle but Medley forced a low save after reaching the ball 8 yards out from the left hand side and cutting in and shooting low towards the near post.

In a half of very few opportunities, Wilson was to curl an effort just wide off the Chatham goal from the edge of the area after 40 minutes as the pitch began to resemble a mud bath.

On the stroke of half time, Chatham were just inches from taking the lead. Jeffrey was once again instrumental in the attack, crossing for Gunery to head 6 yards out which the keeper saved low to his right.

As we reached stoppage time, the visitors were to take the lead. Davies strode forward from right back before passing to Gacheru whose low cross caused havoc and Gunery stabbed home past two players on the line to give the visitors a half time lead.

The pitch was beginning to cause more problems as the second half started. Half time substitute Obasa raced through on goal for the visitors, but the mud forced him to travel towards the byline instead of on goal.

His cross found Gunery in front of goal however, but the mud in the goalmouth caused him to slip and clear the ball from danger instead of putting into the net.

On 51 minutes, Whitstable went close. Smith did well to get to the byline and cut back for the on rushing Conlan to clip an effort just over the bar.

Ten minutes later, the hosts were gifted a chance to score, Chatham central defender, Hickley cleared the ball straight to Grant and the Whitstable front man went inches wide of the right hand post from 20 yards.

Whitstable were pressing for an equaliser as the game headed into the final 20 minutes. Grant was found in acres of space from the right wing cross and headed against the base of the post.

This sprung the visitors into life and they extended their lead on 74 minutes. Gunery was found in space down the right and he whipped in a fabulous ball for sub Obasa to head home with a magnificient diving header into the Whitstable net to give the visitors a comfortable cushion to see out the rest of the game.

The visitors nearly extended their lead with 5 minutes remaining in fortuitous circumstances. Bray and Medley combined down the left before Bray overran the ball, the defenders attempted clearance cannoned off Bray and onto the head of Gunery who headed inches over the bar unmarked in the centre.

The visitors played out the rest of the game comfortably to keep the home side rooted to the bottom of the table and ease their own relegation fears as new boss Kevin Horlock’s ideas come into fruition.

Whitstable: Eason, Thompson, Hussain, Conlan, Sayer, Kennett, Wilson, Bewick, Smith, Grant, Stannard (Jackson 65)

Subs not used: Adjej, Punton, Edwards, Brooks

Yellow cards: Kennett 68

Chatham: Bradshaw, Davies, Collins, Loft, Knight, Hickley, Gunery, Osei, Gacheru (Obasa 45), Jeffrey ( Bray 72) Medley

Subs not used: Edwards, Anindugbe, Butler,

Goals: Gunery 45, Obasa 74