FA Vase quarter finalists Whitstable Town eased past Snodland Town and within six points of the SCEFL Premier Play Off places with a 3-1 triumph at the Belmont. 

First half goals from Bradley Schafer at either end of the half gave the home side a comfortable advantage which was threatened for a while just after half time when substitute Bailee Cain pulled one back for Snodland, the visitors sensed a recovery – a recovery that was short lived as Jake McIntyre rifled home a free-kick that flew into the top corner of the visitors’ net and secured the points. 

Snodland started brightly and but from a really good save from Dan Colmer, they would have had the early lead even before Schafer took advantage of some dreadful third minute defending to drill the home side into the lead, a lead that Colmer protected again with another really fine save to deny Kayden Turner. 

Ronald Sithole went down in the Snodland box only for referee Bone to caution the striker for simulation. Harvey Smith then went close for the home side drilling just too high and that was followed by the move of the match where Dean Grant crossed from the left and the slightest of touches from Sithole’s back-heel crashed against the foot of the post before rebounding into Shaun Wicks’ arms. 

Deep into first half stoppage time, the lead was doubled as Schafer was allowed to run at the Snodland defence and invited to shoot which he duly did crashing the ball past Wicks. 

The visitors responded well after the break and enjoyed their best period of the game, topped off when following a terrific ball in from Turner, substitute Cain rammed home the lifeline that Snodland were looking for.

And they so very nearly levelled not long afterwards when another sub – Kaylam Burgess – with his first touch curled a great pull back from Cain a yard wide with Colmer beaten. 

Try as they might Snodland just couldn’t get that elusive second goal, and when the home side were awarded a free-kick on the edge of the box, home skipper McIntyre stepped up and thundered the ball past Wicks and into the top corner of the Snodland net. 

The home side went close again late on with a Josh Oliver run and shot that flew a yard wide but, by then, the points were won and the Oystermen moved to within six points of fifth placed Larkfield, with Jamie Coyle’s side still having four games in hand. 

WHITSTABLE TOWN – Colmer, Aboagye, Boulton, Dalton, McIntyre, Omara, Sithole (Day), Schafer (Gillies), Grant (Oliver), Wilkins (Rees), Smith 

Sub not used – Coyle 

SNODLAND TOWN – Wicks, Wincott, Wright (Burgess), Clark (Cain), Hatton, Jackson, Low, Parle (King), Turner, Thompson (Kenko), Denness (Phillip) 

REFEREE – Mr. Bone