Whitstable Town grabbed a very late winner to deny a battling Sheppey United who played most of the match with 10 men.
With the game delayed by 30 minutes due to bad traffic it was fair to say the middle of the pitch was as congested as the M2 with both sides creating a tight start.
The earliest chance fell the way of Whitstable on 9 minutes when Danny Williams closed down Sheppey keeper Adam Highsted’s clearance but the ball bounced wide of the open goalmouth.
Ten minutes later Whitstable went close again, captain Craig Cloke heading wide of the Sheppey goal. Remell Davis then lead a Sheppey break moments later but was denied – and that was to be his last action on the all after being sent off on 21 minutes for striking an opponent.
Adam Highsted was called into action on the half hour mark to deny the home side again and then on 34 minutes he denied Harry Goodger who spun and shot after trying to spin Luke Girt.
Girt was playing well at the back for Sheppey, having moved from his usual position of midfield to help cover injuries to the likes of Jon Ralph.
10 man Sheppey had the better of the last 5 minutes of the half, Trey Williams winning a corner which Rob Saunders attacked and headed marginally over and then on the stroke of half time Timmy Babbington was booked for handling the ball into the Whitstable net.
Half time : Whitstable Town 0 Sheppey United 0
Sheppey’s man of the match Adam Highsted was again in the thick of the action in the second half, denying Tom Bryant early in the half.
A poor Sheppey free kick was charged down on 59 minutes, which led to Highsted denying Goodger on the break.
The Sheppey keeper looked to have won his team a point in the 85th minute with yet another point blank save but the deadlock was finally broken late in the game.
Whitstable won a contested free kick which Louis Sprosen stuck directly into the back of the net.
Whitstable sub Shaun Welford was denied at the death by Highsted, whilst a late Sheppey attack sure a cross by George Batten float across the Whitstable area but it was just too high for Trey Williams to make any decent connection.
Full time Whitstable Town 1 Sheppey United 0