That Whitstable Town recorded their third consecutive win was in no small way attributable to the sterling work of a small army of volunteers who worked throughout the morning and up to kick off time to give this game a chance of going ahead.

Even the Chairman, resplendent in wellington boots, was seen on the pitch lending a helping hand prior to the game starting and again at half time.

“Our committee, our volunteers today have got to be thanked enormously” said Whitstable manager Jimmy Ward, “because at other clubs the game wouldn’t have gone on, just wouldn’t have started, and it’s all been worthwhile.”

Even the warms ups pre match took its toll on the Belmont pitch and once the game started it was always going to be the side that mastered the slippery, sloppy conditions and made the least mistakes would come out on top.

The Oystermen got off to the best possible start as early reward for the earlier efforts of the faithful. In the 2^nd minute, Nick Treadwell’s powerful headed clearance arrived at Ian Pulman’s feet on the opposition edge of the centre circle and he strode forward to send a shot slanting across Vokatty in the Redhill goal to give the home side the lead.

6 minutes later, Pulman might have had a second when a powerful run from Kane Rowland through the right channel put the Whitstable skipper in, only for Vokatty to block the shot.

Players slipped and slid, the ball held up in the rapidly more muddy surface, but Whitstable kept their feet and their heads the most. Redhill might have equalised 10 minutes before the break when Watkins advanced from his line only to slip as Connor French rounded him but instead of giving his shot air, the visiting striker chose a ground pass toward the Whitstable net that was a comfortable height to be carved away to safety.

Redhill did equalise, however, four minutes into the second period. With defenders and attackers alike floundering and slipping in the home 6 yard area, first Connor French stabbed at the mud caked ball, then Julian Owusu lashed it into the net. Whitstable struck back, first Scott Heard cut in from the left to bring a finger tip save out of the Redhill ‘keeper, then Luke Girt fired over having been put in by Pulman on 55.

Finally, Whitstable restored their lead. Girt drove powerfully into the right side of the box and was brought down adding mud stain upon existing mud stains.

Ian Pulman made no mistake from the spot kick to score his 18^th of the season. 2 minutes before the end of normal time, Jake Mackenzie capped a good all round personal performance when he matched Scott Heard’s break, the former fed the latter with a flick to his right and the marauding full back sealed the points for the Oystermen.

“We’re building”, said Ward, “we’ll find out how good we are in the next couple of games, we’ve got Folkestone and Faversham. We’re doing well, we’re good to watch, it’s exciting, but we’re not quite there yet!”

Pity the poor groundstaff, though, who now have to repair the Belmont pitch.

 

Whitstable Town: Luke Watkins, Jake MacKenzie, Peter Wedgeworth, Aaron James, Luke Doherty, Nick Treadwell, Scott Heard, Luke Girt, Ian Pulman (Conner Coyne 77), Kane Rowland (Ollie Gray 75), Tom Loynes.

Subs Not Used: Reiss Crimmen, Ollie Lee, Josh Donnelly.

Cautions: Scott Heard   Sent Off: None

 

Redhill: Jindritrich Vokatty, Jack Barton, Bradley Duke (Tyrone Pink 46), Joe Goldsmith, Jack Hope, Shaun Loft, Gustavo Sousa Mota, Joe Bingham, Conner French, Julian Owusu, Reece Hall (Jordon Binns 68).

Subs Not Used: Leyton Regan, John Difford, Rob Hill..

Cautions: Gustavo Sousa Mota, Reece Hall       Sent Off: None

 

Man of the Match: Nick Treadwell (Whitstable Town)

Referee: Aji Ajibola        Assistants: Steve Perry & Joe Kasper

Attendance: 173

 

Whitstable Town (1) 3

Pulman 2, 73 (pen)

Mackenzie 88

 

Redhill (0) 1

Owusu 49

 

Picture supplied by @Trev_GFC