Whitstable beat hard-working Southern Counties East Premier Division basement boys Canterbury City on Tuesday to earn manager Marcel Nimani’s first home win with the club.

City opened the scoring in the first period but goals by on-loan Gillingham frontman Ronald Sithole and midfielder Victor Aiyelabola saw the hosts lead at half-time.

The away side, managed by temporary boss Ada Gower, levelled through Seb Rowland after the restart, only for efforts by Harry Gamble and substitute Josh Oliver to prove decisive in the Oystermen's 4-2 success despite Liam Gillies’ penalty miss.

Canterbury made a bright start on the artificial surface at The Belmont in front of a crowd which included more than 600 fans but there was little early goalmouth action.

The hosts felt they should have been awarded an 11th-minute penalty as the derby sprung to life. Full-back Bleu Landau challenged Aiyelabola who had cut off the left and went to ground, only for referee Kieran Cox to dismiss the appeals.

Moments later, young striker Archie Hatcher went down in the Oystermen’s penalty box. Once again, though, Mr Cox was unmoved.

Whitstable goalkeeper Dan Eason made his first save with 15 minutes played to deny left-back Nico Cotton.

Midfielder Gillies then tried his luck, his long-range drive going over, before Aiyelabola sent a free-kick narrowly wide on 21 minutes.

Nimani’s men appeared to have found some rhythm and Rodney Eruotor cut off the right flank before he missed the target.

Just before the half-hour mark, however, a bad error by Eason proved costly and allowed Canterbury to break the deadlock.

Even Henry Arnold couldn’t believe his luck when he let fly with what looked like a fairly tame shot. But the ball - somehow - squirmed under the experienced shot-stopper to find the net.

That advantage didn’t last long, though. Youngster Sithole coolly lifted over visiting goalkeeper Lee Kidman after a left-wing cross with 32 minutes played to level.

And six minutes before the break, the Oystermen went in front. An away defender made an initial block, however he could do nothing about Aiyelabola’s drive which emphatically flew in.

The 44th minute saw away left winger Harry O’Donnell put a shot wide when he perhaps had better options.

At the start of stoppage time in the first half, City continued to threaten. Frontman Rowland had a good opportunity but also failed to hit the target while centre-half Will Thomas blocked O’Donnell’s goal-bound strike, although the hosts led at the interval.

Canterbury equalised, six minutes after the restart. Eason made a good stop to thwart O’Donnell but Rowland poked in from close range at the far post.

They almost re-took the lead in the 57th minute, too. Henry Arnold weaved his way into the area before blasting narrowly over.

At the other end, just after the hour, Aiyelabola made a great run forward, only to be met by a crucial challenge by 17-year-old Landau.

But it was the Oystermen who scored the fifth goal. Winger Gamble did what his name suggests from a Gillies corner to find space to nod home from yards out.

As the rain came down, the away side went in search of another equaliser but Sithole almost added his second and his team’s fourth of the afternoon, eventually being denied by Kidman’s legs in the final 10 minutes.

Whitstable were awarded a penalty in the 83rd minute when the influential Sithole poked past City’s goalkeeper and one of his home team-mates was fouled by Landau who was booked for his challenge. However Gillies sent the spot-kick blazing well over.

It didn’t matter, though. Two minutes from time, Oliver sent a free-kick into the bottom corner to see the Oystermen finish a tough 2022 in style.

There was a Whitstable debut from the start for Sithole - the younger brother of Bolton striker Gerald - on loan from the Priestfield outfit.

Teenage winger Sammi Takalobighashi, meanwhile, was on the Oystermen’s bench having joined on dual-registration from Ramsgate. He came off the bench in the second period for his bow.

Popular Gower was in charge of first-team affairs after the departure of Keith Bird as City’s boss shortly before Christmas.

Experienced Danny Keyte skippered the away team from the heart of defence.

Whitstable Town: Eason, Mackenzie, Sheminant, Nelder (Deakin 58mins), Thomas, Mills, Eruotor (Grant 60mins), Gillies, Sithole, Aiyelabola (Takaloo 68mins), Gamble (Oliver 76mins). Sub not used: Fitzgerald.

Canterbury City: Kidman, Landau, Cotton, Keyte, Weston (Strouts 88mins), Johnstone (Burgess 69mins), Grieson (Obubanjo 81mins), Hatcher (Gaschiev 85mins), Rowland, Arnold (Ruler 70mins), O’Donnell.

Referee: Kieran Cox.

Attendance: 623.