Whitstable took the derby honours at Faversham in Isthmian South East on Monday to ease their relegation fears after back-to-back defeats.

A goal in either half from Stephen Okoh and Kemo Darboe had put them in command before substitute Emmanuel Oluwasemo pulled one back towards the end for Faversham but the away team held on.

The first opportunity was created by the Lilywhites in front of a 527-strong crowd with three minutes played when captain Lewis Chambers fired across the face of goal from the right after his long throw had only been half-cleared.

Four minutes later, the hosts had another opportunity on the bobbly Salters Lane surface as Bola Dawodu, who was employed alone up front at the start of the match, volleyed Sam Bewick’s through-ball narrowly wide.

Whitstable’s first chance came in the 15th minute, which saw the hard-working George McIlory drill narrowly wide.

The Oystermen did break the deadlock on 21 minutes, though. Harry Goodger managed to find Okoh after battling for a loose ball and Okoh shot past Faversham keeper Patrick Ohman in emphatic style for his second goal for the club this season.

Just after the half-hour mark, the away team had a golden chance to double their advantage. Jake Mackenzie’s first strike was saved by Ohman before Mackenzie fired wide with the rebound from a matter of yards out.

The next opening fell to Faversham in the 41st minute, Benedict Bioletti drilling over after he had got onto the end of an Eddie Allsopp pass.

In the final seconds of the first period, Whitstable’s defence had to withstand a barrage of long throws from Chambers but did so - mainly thanks to some resolute defending from the impressive Goodger.

Faversham manager James Collins made two changes at half-time which saw top scorer Oluwasemo and on-loan Dover man Marshall Wratten come on for Abdul Saccoh and Bewick, while Dawodu dropped back into midfield.

But it was Keith McMahon’s side who had the first clear-cut chance of the second period as Darboe could not quite direct McIlroy’s right-wing cross towards goal.

Soon after, visiting goalkeeper Dan Eason made a vital save to deny Wratten after a Chambers long throw had fallen kindly to him inside the box.

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Eason had to be alert once again in the 57th minute to tip a curling effort from Chambers over the bar, before an Oluwasemo cross just evaded fellow substitute Wratten at the far post.

Midway through the second half, as the home side continued to put Whitstable’s defence under pressure, Chambers headed an Allsopp corner inches over.

But seconds later at the other end, a long free-kick found Darboe who expertly sent a looping effort over Ohman for his fifth goal of the season since joining the club in November.

The Lilywhites were pushing for a goal and Oluwasemo claimed his ninth of the season nine minutes from time after a goal-mouth scramble following yet another Chambers long throw.

Two minutes later, Goodger tried his luck with a 20-yard volley as Whitstable aimed to re-establish their two-goal advantage but his strike was comfortably gathered by Ohman.

As the hosts pushed for a leveller, substitute Muhammed Cham broke through on the counter-attack, only to be denied by Faversham’s shot-stopper.

One final Chambers long throw even saw keeper Ohman be sent forward but, yet again, the visitors held strong.

Whitstable are now 16th, only four points behind 12th-placed Faversham, while they are five points clear of second-bottom Lancing and three ahead of third-bottom East Grinstead.

Faversham made two changes to their starting line-up from the one which drew 2-2 at title-chasing Ashford on New Year’s Day.

Defender Donvieve Jones returned from injury to start for the first time since November while Bewick also came in, with Oluwasemo dropping to the bench and Tyrell Richardson-Brown missed out altogether. Bioletti also took up a more advanced role in midfield.

There was just one change to the Oystermen’s line-up which lost 4-1 to Ramsgate on New Year's Day as former Faversham frontman Goodger came in for midfielder Tom Carlton who dropped to the bench.

Faversham: Ohman, Jones, Ogboe, Bewick (Wratten 46mins), Chambers, Richardson, Bioletti, Woodcock, Dawodu, Allsopp, Saccoh (Oluwasemo 46mins). Subs not used: Eyles, Kemp, Geddes.

Whitstable: Eason, McIlroy (Gaggin 90mins), Mackenzie, Baker, Thomas, Mills, Deslandes, Walder, Darboe, Goodger, Okoh (Cham 71mins). Subs not used: Watts, Griffiths, Carlton.

Referee: Daniel Doyle.

Attendance: 527.