FOOTBALL Three vital points secured Bostik League Ditton carries on scoring form Canterbury Under-16s

Sam Ditton scored his fifth goal in three games as Canterbury City’s under-16s beat Kennington 3-1 in the East Kent Division 1 at Victoria Rec. Archie Tennant and Jack Nickolson also got on the scoresheet as City sealed their third successive win and they have now lost just once in their last eight matches. City did well to absorb some early pressure from the visitors, with the back four of captain Ben Malone, Alfie Ashdown, Patrick Higbee and Bailey Whitely standing firm. Their efforts were rewarded late in the first half when Ditton prodded home following play between Dan Newton and Ben Wiebe-williams. Kennington equalised on the stroke of half-time. Ditton was involved again following the restart as he Whitstable picked up three points for the first time since Boxing Day as they beat relegation rivals Guernsey 3-1 at The Belmont on Saturday.

Stuart West and Stephen Smith scored either side of striker Harry Stannard, who registered his first goal since re-signing for the club from Ramsgate.

Town were punished for squandering a string of early chances when Matt Loaring converted from the penalty spot on 33 minutes to give the visitors a 1-0 lead.

Goalkeeper Dan Eason was called into action shortly after the restart when he produced a double save to keep the deficit to just one.

Scott Porter’s men persisted in their search for an equaliser and were rewarded just after the hour as West turned home from close range following Smith’s initial cross. Stannard completed the turnaround with a quarter of an hour remaining when he met

Smith’s shot at the back post for 2-1.

Smith himself secured the points two minutes from time with a clever header after reacting first to Frank Tobin’s poor clearance.

The result leaves Whitstable three-points ahead of 18th-placed Guernsey and one behind Faversham with a game in hand.

Elsewhere Herne Bay played out a 1-1 draw at East Grinstead Town to take another step away from the relegation battle.

Harry Redknapp and Hayley Mcqueen were in attendance to see Town go down to 10 men after 18 minutes when keeper Brannon Daly received a red card.

Bay then lost Ronald Sobowale five minutes later as he was sent to hospital for treatment on damage to his mouth following a collision with the hosts’ back-up shot-stopper.

Despite their numerical advantage, Bay fell behind in the 23rd minute when Lee Prescott fired home following a one-two between Orlando Smith and Jerson Dos Santos.

Stand-in keeper Leo Mazzone t then invited Bay back into the game when he mishandled Alex Mulrooney-skinner’s shot into the path of Connor Wilkins, who made no mistake.

Faversham meanwhile continued their hunt for survival with a goalless draw at home to Phoenix Sports.

Town had an early injury setback when Liam King was forced off after five minutes, replaced by Donvieve Jones.

Dave Cook missed a glorious opportunity to put his side ahead when he skied his closerange effort over an open net after Ashley Miller’s shot was parried into his path.

Miller later went close again when his driven effort agonisingly hit the post, before keeper Will Godmon made a fine save to tip a close-range header to his right-hand side.

Faversham would have been ahead shortly after the break had it not been for a superb block on the line by a recovering Phoenix defender.

Phoenix had a goal ruled out in the latter stages for offside after turning home the rebound from a well-saved header.

Both sides had glimpses of goal in the closing exchanges but neither could find the breakthrough.