Whitstable showed no sign of a hangover from the 5-0 midweek drubbing by Croydon Athletic to beat Merstham 2-1 in the Ryman League Division 1 South on Saturday.

Whitstable’s Dan Whisker experienced a match of mixed fortunes as he opened the scoring in the 41st minute with a glancing header from Gareth Cornhill’s cross.

The Oystermen increased their lead on the hour when Jake Gess took advantage of good work down the right by Stuart Vahid (pictured) to score from close range. Whisker’s afternoon went from good to bad in the 75th minute when he was sent off following an altercation with Merstham captain Craig Vernon.

The visitors made every effort to make their numerical advantage tell and Tristan Frontin scored a consolation goal in the 88th minute. But it was too little too late.

Whitstable play a Kent derby away to Folkestone on Tuesday evening.