This Kent derby was played on a pitch that resembled those from the seventies as there were more mud patches than green, but no blame is attached to the groundstaff of Whitstable as conditions did not help.

Whitstable came out determined to get the result to help them in their relegation struggle against a side looking for a playoff place & in the 6^th minute Steve Hafner was put in by Dave Raggett but his weak shot from 15 yards was easily saved by Tim Roberts.

Folkestone nearly took the lead when sought after striker Johan Ter Horst received the ball on the right & his low cross to strike partner Paul Booth saw his shot hit the cross bar & go out for a goal kick.

Another half chance came Whitstable’s way in the 16^th minute when Scott Heard on the left received the ball then cut in but his shot from 15 yards was saved by Roberts.

The game went quiet for the next fifteen minutes with both sides having trouble keeping the ball, then in the 30th minute Jake MacKenzie running from halfway saw his shot from 18 yards go wide.

A minute later it was Folkestone’s turn as Booth passed to Ter Horst who from an acute angle saw his shot saved by Luke Watkins.

Folkestone took the lead in the 37^th minute when Dane Luchford returning to one of his old haunts went down the left wing & crossed into the area for Ter Horst whose sliding effort saw him shoot past Watkins.

Whitstable had two half chances to level the game when in the 43^rd minute a free kick into the area finally fell to Joe Kane & his volleyed shot went past the far post & then in the 45^th minute a ball into the area found Scott Heard whose side foot effort went over the bar.

The second half could not have started better for Whitstable as in the 46^th minute a cross into the area was flicked on by Raggett for Heard on the far post & from 8 yards he shot past Roberts.

This got Folkestone going & in the 48^th minute a free to the back post found Liam Friend & his header from 8 yards beat everyone but the corner of the post & crossbar.

The game was now getting stretched as both sides went for victory & in the 74^th minute a ball came out to Hefner in the area & his shot was saved by Roberts then a minute later Ter Horst in the area saw his shot deflected for a corner & from the corner Frankie Chappell rose & saw his header go just past the post.

Another glorious chance fell in the 80^th minute when a free kick into the Whitstable area found Substitute Michael Yianni in space but his header was well saved by Watkins.

The last chance of the game came in the 88^th minute when Luchford in the area saw his shot saved by Watkins.

The final whistle went & both sets of players should be applauded for the effort they put in on a heavy pitch.

WHITSTABLE TOWN:

1. L.WATKINS  2.  A.SIMPSON  3. S.HAFNER  4. O.BROWN  5 .L.HARVEY   6. J.KANE  7. S.HEARD

8. D.KEYTE  9. D.RAGGETT  10. C.SMITH (67)  11. J.MacKENZIE (76)

SUBS USED: 16. J.LESTER (67)  17. M.DAWODO (76)

SUBS NOT USED: 12. C.MacGUIRE  14. B.COBB  15. W.HUMPHREY

BOOKING: 3.S.HAFNER (36)

FOLKESTONE INVICTA:

1. T.ROBERTS  2. J.VINCENT  3. C.ELLIOTT (86)  4. L.FRIEND  5. F.CHAPPELL  6. M.NEWMAN

7.  D.LUCHFORD    8. N.BLANKS  9. J.TER HORST  10. P.BOOTH   11. M.EVERITT (72)

SUBS USED: 12. P.STEVENSON (86)  15. M.YIANNI (72)

SUBS NOT USED: 14. R.EDGE  16. C.COYNE  17. S.AUSTIN

BOOKING: 5. F.CHAPPELL ( 90+2 )

REFEREE: Mr. S.RUBERRY

ASSISTANTS: Mr. S. BROWN & Mr S.FINNEGAN