Broadbridge Heath welcomed Whitstable Town to the Air Engineering Stadium for an Isthmian League Division One SE match, the first ever meeting between the two clubs. Both sides came into the game following midweek wins in the Velocity Cup and hoping they could carry that winning form into their respective league matches.

Heath got off to a perfect start taking the lead on 4 minutes when Ben Royall launched a long throw from the left touchline into the Whitstable penalty area, a goal- mouth scramble ensued ending with the ball coming out to Charlie Connell who hammered a low left foot shot through a crowd of players and past goal-keeper Dan Colmer into the net.

The visitor's hit back within a minute of the restart and before the stadium announcer had a chance to relay the name of the Heath goal-scorer. Colmer received the ball just outside his 18 yard box and played a long ball forward down the left channel to Sempastiam Amatai who took the ball to the goal-line and played a left foot cross to the near-post where it was headed home by Tijan Jadama from close range.

The Oystermen took the lead on 28 minutes with their own long throw from Corey Panter on the right touch-line, Heath goalkeeper Alfie Hadfield and defender Tito Salaam were both wrestling for the ball with neither winning the near-post tussle allowing the ball to miss both players bounce in the 6 yard box onto the goal-post and back straight onto the head of Kenny Aileru who couldn’t miss from a yard out to make it 1-2 at the break.

Broadbridge Heath pushed for a second half equaliser but generally the Oystermen stood firm in defence, Zac Young having the Bears best chance with a left foot shot from distance that Colmer saved brilliantly diving low to his right to push the ball around the post, the corner was played to the far post to Jack Church who headed the ball into the side netting.

From the resulting goal-kick on 81 minutes, Colmer played a long ball straight down the middle of the park, the ball somehow evaded two Heath defenders and found its way to Kane Rowland on the edge of the penalty area who played a deft pass into the path of the onrushing Derek Asamoah who drove into the 18 yard box before firing a right foot shot past Heath goal-keeper Alfie Hadfield to secure the win and make it a happy return for the Oystermen to the North Kent coastal town.

After the match Heath manger Chris Simmons said “We really didn’t get going today and never got out of second gear. They (Whitstable) outfought us, outworked us and fully deserved the win”.

Next up for Broadbridge Heath is a home Sussex Senior Challenge Cup match on Tuesday 6th October Kick Off at 7.45.

Team: Hadfield, Thiselton, Royall (Marino 55), Solecki, Peters, Salaam, Hards, Connell (Church 74), Doughty (Bejashvili 79), Hay (Lorenzo), Young.