Town on the up as fine run of form continues

Southern Counties East Lge

Whitstable made it eight straight wins and a seventh clean sheet in that run with a 2-0 success at Fisher on Saturday which finally saw them rise above eighth in the Southern Counties East, League Premier Division. After two months without moving up or down, Town took the chance to go seventh, just nine points off the top of the table. After missing some early chances through Kane Rowland, Charlie Smith, Aaron Quain and Connor Hood, Whitstable went in front on 26 minutes as Smith shot past home goalkeeper Nic Taylor after a good pass from debutant Bola Dawodu. A minute later, Quain struck the bar with a free-kick and Rowland fired a chance over and although Oystermen keeper Dan Eason did well to save a Spencer Forte set-piece at the other end, Craig Thompson added a second goal with a cool finish in first-half stoppage-time after a long clearance by Eason. Both teams had their moments in the second half with Monserrat international keeper Taylor pulling off several fine saves in the Fisher goal but Whitstable generally defended well despite picking up a couple more injuries to Quain and Harris Rodgers and ensured the three points which took them above Cray Valley.

Canterbury were beaten 2-0 in the same division by Rochester United at Homelands on Saturday as they were made to pay for missing chances. Rob Lawrence clipped Michael Elder’s bar early on with a header from a Dave Pilcher set-piece and Pilcher saw a goal ruled out for offside soon after following a Lawrence through ball. Laurence Harvey headed another free-kick over and Elder held a long-range Pilcher effort while Steve Rothery fired a rare chance wide at the other end. Elder denied Pilcher and the Spartans survived a goalmouth scramble after a poor Elder punch before the break and the chances continued to flow after the break with Elder denying Pilcher and Pat Nzuzi firing over when clean through. Alex Kendall’s sliding challenge thwarted Chris Webber and as the City chances dried-up, Rochester made them pay. First City keeper Daren Hawkes dived to diver a cross from the left but only presenting substitute Harrison Hume with the chance to score into an empty net. The clincher arrived just four minutes later as a Dan Nash free-kick from 25 yards deflected off the end of the wall and wrong-footed Hawkes.

Pictures: Les Biggs Whitstable’s Kane Rowland looks to find space at Fisher

Whitstable scorer Craig Thompson slides in at Fisher