Jack Nelson’s eighty-sixth minute strike on Wednesday night was enough to take Whitstable Town to the threshold of the SCEFL Premier title as they edged a tough Punjab United side by the game’s only goal.

The Oystermen travelled to Gravesend knowing that they would be in for a tough evening and so it proved as Chipie Sian’s Vase semi-finalists more than matched the League leaders and it took a moment of brilliance from sub-Bradley Schafer who superbly threaded a ball to Nelson to clip the ball past Owen Bushell to deprive Punjab a point their efforts probably just about warranted. 

The first half was a tight and competitive as expected with clear chances very rare. Zak Byron fired over for the home side as a long throw wasn’t cleared; Joe Healy shot wide for the leaders before being denied outside of his box by keeper Owen Bushell, who only started because of an injury to Lewis Briggs in the warm-up. 

Will Johnson-Cole fired over from a home corner, before Whitstable keeper Dan Colmer was almost embarrassed by a poor clearance that fell straight to Byron, but his first time return didn’t have the pace to beat Colmer who gratefully grabbed the ball under the bar. 

Roman Campbell missed the half’s last and by far clearest chance on the stroke of the break. A long throw from Ryan Gill was helped on by Johnson-Cole and Campbell’s header flashed narrowly wide. After the break if it could the game got even cagier and tighter as both sides seemed to be grateful for a point each.

Johnson-Cole’s shot on the turn flew wide before Dean Grant raced through at the other end only to be magnificently denied by Wayne Bushell’s saving tackle.  

As the clock ticked into the closing stages, Whitstable broke the Punjab hearts as a superb Schafer ball fell to Nelson, who couldn’t miss and didn’t! 

Credit the home side though as they piled forward to try and draw level but O’Mara and Will Thomas were immense at the back for Whitstable all night and as a result Punjab were restricted to a Roman Campbell shot that was blocked and right at the end, Harry Ottaway got on the end of Campbell down header from George Monger’s long free kick, but fired over the bar to leave Whitstable on the brink!  

And so, to the weekend and if Jamie Coyle’s side better Fisher’s result against Kennington, when they welcome Chislehurst Glebe to The Belmont Saturday afternoon, the Oystermen will be crowned Champions, otherwise they will surely be an invasion of “Oysters” to Rusthall next Tuesday. 

PUNJAB UNITED – Owen Bushell, Jordan Campbell (Monger), Gill, Wayne Bushell, Barry, Singh (Lewin-Thomas), Bird, Byron, Rowan Campbell, Ottaway, Johnson-Cole (Scudder).

Subs not used – Briggs, Dawson.

WHITSTABLE TOWN – Colmer, Boulton, Currie, Thomas, Chambers, Peters (Schaffer), O’Mara, Hatton, Grant (Splatt), Wilkins, Healy (Nelson).

Subs not used – Osinfolarin, Cotton.