Cloke sets up home victory

SCEFL round-up

Whitstable Town returned to winning ways in the Southern Counties East League, Premier Division on Saturday.

After three league defeats on the spin, Scott Porter’s side needed a result against Bearsted to stop them falling even further adrift of the leading sides.

They took the lead on 29 minutes when a corner dropped for Craig Cloke, who fired the ball through a crowd of players into the back of the net.

Seven minutes later it was 2-0. Danny Williams headed a long ball down for Charlie Smith and, despite Bearsted’s appeals for offside, he ran on to finish well. Half-chances came and went in the second half before Whitstable made the points safe with a third goal seven minutes from time.

Williams latched on to a goal kick and fired the ball into the right-hand corner.

Bearsted almost pulled a goal back late on but Dan Eason dived to keep William Jones’ free-kick out of the top corner.

Canterbury City warmed up for their FA Vase second round tie at Westfield on Saturday by holding Corinthian to a goalless draw at Gay Dawn Farm.

A poor game produced little in the way of goalmouth action and the stand-out moment of the first half was a melee involving most players after several strong challenges went unpunished.

The visitors went close before the break when Matt Martin was fouled just outside the box.

Dave Pilcher got the free-kick on target but Corinthian keeper Aiden Prall managed to fist it away.

Pilcher shot wide after the break before Laurence Harvey saved his team with a brilliant clearance to lift the ball over his own crossbar.

City’s last chance to win it saw Martin chip the keeper but fail to hit the target.