Whitstable Town 2-3 Eastbourne Town - Battling qualities will help us beat drop, says Seager

But goals from Luke Denton and Liam Baitup, with virtually the last kick of the game, denied the Oystermen, at very least, the point that their display, on a heavy Belmont pitch, more than warranted.

Make no mistakes, the visitors returned to east Sussex after claiming the points in what one of their players was heard to describe as a “smash-and-grab raid.”

Not that, that was any consolation at all to Seager afterwards.

“We were that close to winning the game I still can’t quite believe it,” he moaned, when speaking to www.kentishfootball.co.uk.

“I told the players beforehand just how important winning today was, as with these three points, we could’ve gone as high as fifteenth.

“But whilst I’m desperately disappointed, I can’t be completely downhearted as it is still very close at the foot of the table.” - just six points separate Croydon Athletic in fourteenth and the Oystermen, who courtesy of this defeat are back in the relegation zone.

After the ground staff performed miracles just to get the game on, the clubhouse side of the ground was underwater following heavy rain on Friday, this was always going to be a battle and war of nutrition rather than a footballing fest.

That said, the 90 minutes entertainment for the 170 crowd was strangely mesmerising.

And you have to feel particularly for Whitstable skipper Liam Quinn and for striker Jon Neal, who was making his second home debut for the Oystermen, having rejoined from Kingstonian ten days ago.

With the pitch cutting up badly, even in the early stages, it was Whitstable who had the early chances.

On six minutes, Sam Denly headed over from a corner, following Neal’s nick flick, and then the industrious Tom Parker shot straight at Eastbourne goalkeeper Russ Tanner after Quinn’s block tackle won the ball for Whitstable on the edge of the 18-yard box.

As both sides gamely struggled to play any sort of football on the increasingly sticky surface, Danny Tipple produced a moment of magic 18 minutes from half-time, which broke the deadlock.

Released by full-back Gary Sayer, Tipple beat his man and put over the perfect cross for Quinn, arriving late at the far post, to power the ball into the net with a bullet header.

It was so nearly two, just seven minutes later, when Neal’s 20-yard drive ricochet of a defender’s shin, only to fly inches wide of Tanner’s left post.

Although the visitors’ had plenty of the ball, Whitstable keeper Kevin Fewell made his first real save of note on 37 minutes, smartly saving low to his left from Baitup’s shot after Denly had twice blocked efforts from Gregory Manton.

Baitup, though, was to have the last laugh. Nine minutes after half-time, the visitors’ were level with a goal that unfortunately set the tone for Whitstable’s second half defensive display.

Substitute James Norwood picked the ball up wide on the left and his pull-back somehow, courtesy of a couple of ricochets, found its way to Baitup, who gleefully rammed home the equaliser.

The game now really was end-to-end through the mud.

From a Tipple corner, Denly saw a thumping header flash just too high, whilst at the other end, Norwood was denied by a smart save from Fewell.

On 66 minutes, Baitup missed a glorious chance to put the visitors’ into the lead, but after beating the offside trap the Eastbourne number nine fired into the side netting, when perhaps he should have done better.

With just 18 minutes to go, the Oystermen retook the lead, courtesy of a goal straight off the training ground.

A free-kick from the largely ineffective Marcos Perona was headed down by James Campbell and Quinn, arriving with an Eastbourne defender, claimed the final touch as the ball flew into the roof of the net.

It was so nearly 3-1 just a couple of moments later, when Eastbourne keeper Tanner saw a clearance charged down by the hardworking Ian Pulman.

But unfortunately for the home side, Pulman was the only red shirt within 20-yards of the ball.

With the home side edging closer to the points, disaster struck on 85 minutes.

Denton was allowed room in behind Sayer and the Eastbourne right-back fired the ball low across Fewell and into the far corner of the net.

It was a strange goal for the normally reliable Fewell to concede as the crowd were left divided as to whether the keeper had slipped or simply had allowed the ball to squeeze through his hands.

The momentum had now shifted to Eastbourne. With two minutes remaining, three Eastbourne players beat the offside trap, but as Norwood laid the ball back to Jamie Salvidge, he was denied by a fabulous Campbell block.

As 90 minutes elapsed, Pulman blasted an effort onto the roof of the flats behind the goal.

Deep into stoppage time, and with literally the last kick of the game, the visitors’ stole the points as the Whitstable defence hesitated when a corner was taken quickly and allowed Salvidge to find Baitup, who netted his second and Eastbourne’s third.

It really was tough luck on Whitstable, who came so close to a deserved three points.

But whilst the division is this close at the foot of the table, the Oystermen must not get disheartened.

Indeed, weather permitting, Seager will be at Sittingbourne's Bourne Park on Monday night, to asses their next opponents, Leatherhead.

The Whitstable boss, though very disheartened, knows that his side are capable of escaping the drop.

“There were times today when we really dug in and we’re going to need those qualities if we’re going to stay up,” he said.

“The boys really responded after the disappointing end to Folkestone last week and I’ve got to be honest when you look at the way some clubs have seen an exodus of players after having their wage bill cut, I must admit to being very proud that since ours was cut, no player has left.”

And that’s sort of fighting spirit that will surely see the Oystermen to safety, all they need now is a break on the playing field.

Whitstable Town: Kevin Fewell, Gareth Cornhill, Gary Sayer, James Campbell, Marcos Perona, Sam Denly, Tom Parker, Liam Quinn, Jon Neal (Dave Cory 75), Ian Pulman, Danny Tipple.
Subs: Clint Gooding, Dan Wisker, Mark Munday, Dylan MacVickar.

Goals: Liam Quinn 27, 72

Booked: Sam Denly 25, Liam Quinn 46, Jon Neal 49

Eastbourne Town: Russ Tanner, Luke Denton, Paul Richardson, Adam Davidson (Simon Catt 80), Ben Putland (Jamie Salvidge 75), Peter Fetherstone, Danny Simmonds, Gregory Manton, Liam Baitup, Danny Williams, Ethan Strevett (James Norwood 41).
Sub: Lloyd Anthony.

Goals: Liam Baitup 54, 90 Luke Denton 85

Booked: Gregory Manton 19, Danny Williams 22

Attendance: 170
Referee: Mr Tony Goddard (Dagenham, Essex)
Assistants: Mr Harry Hill (Dartford) & Mr Martin Lehane (Bexleyheath)