Academy striker Muhammed Cham struck a midweek winner for Whitstable Town deep into injury time at Three Bridges.

Lloyd Blackman’s side were trailing 2-1 heading into additional time but Aaron Millbank’s second of the match levelled it up before a sublime finish from Cham won it for the Oystermen.

“It was really pleasing and what we deserved,” said an elated Town boss Blackman.

“I felt it was only a matter of time before we got the equaliser. I didn’t expect it to be that late but to have then got the winner with almost the last kick of the game was testament to the players how they stuck to the task and kept going right to the end.

“Muhammed has been involved a few times, involved in pre-season and there is no doubting the kid’s ability, especially the ability to nick a goal, he has got that quality. With time running out I felt if anyone was going to get a half chance you wanted it to fall to young Muhammed.

“He took his goal perfectly, guiding it into the far corner on the half volley from the edge of the box. It was an amazing finish.

“I don’t think there would be many players who would have been able to produce the finish he did.

“It shows the quality the lad has infront of goal. He had one chance and stuck it into the top corner, a real difficult finish.

“I was really pleased for the kid and from the team perspective we were all extremely delighted. The scenes afterwards showed what it meant to us.

“It was a difficult fixture on a Tuesday night, away, especially after coming off the back of another difficult game away to Haywards Heath, another physical game, but the boys stuck to the task really well.”

Whitstable had gone 2-0 down in the Isthmian South East match against Three Bridges but Blackman’s men grew into the game as the first half went on. Aaron Millbank pulled one back from a free-kick just before the break to set up the second half.

The manager said: “We had been unable to get any cohesion in our passing going and we lowered ourselves to a level. Three Bridges were scrapping for their lives, they are a really strong, physical outfit and we stood up to the physicality, I just thought we were unable to implement what we wanted to do. We should have kept the ball better and it took 35-40 minutes for us to do it.”

Six yellow cards between the two teams in the opening half suggested what a battle it was but the game was finally settled with a touch of class.

Blackman said: “Second half we were at least worthy of a point but to get three in the end was credit to the boys. They listened and took it onto the field second half. We showed our quality in areas we didn’t in the first half.”

Victory meant back-to-back success for Town, putting behind them defeats from their first two games. On Saturday, first-half goals led them to a 2-0 win at Haywards Heath. Ollie Rowe and Tijan Jadama were on target.

Blackman said: “It was a case of rolling our sleeves up and making sure that we came away with a result.

“A clean sheet was nice and the two goals scored were pleasing, things we’ve worked on, a set-piece and a counter attack.

“To have had two physical battles away from home back to back makes waking up on Wednesday with a spring in your step.”

Those league wins set Town up nicely for successive home games, playing Burgess Hill Town on Saturday and then welcoming Hythe Town for a Tuesday night fixture.

Blackman said: “There are no easy games and you only have to look how the results have been in the first three or four games. It is a very competitive league. A couple of wins is nice but I still feel there are improvements to come.”

Defender Simon Kabamba has joined from Herne Bay and he’s started the last two games, performing very well in both according to his new manager. George Stannard is a young prospect who has also been involved but will have to be patient.

The Whitstable boss commented: “George will get involved when the time is right but the boys have done alright since he came in. He understands that. George and Simon are welcome additions to the group.”

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