A KARL Dent goal eight minutes from time was enough to give Sittingbourne a 1-0 win away at Whitstable last night in a competitive East Kent derby that threatened to boil over towards the end.

Dent, celebrating his 18th birthday, fired home from outside the Whitstable box after defender Steven Lloyd scuffed his clearance.

The closest Whitstable came to scoring was a first half header from Tom Parker which came back off the Sittingbourne crossbar.

The result moves Sittingbourne up to seventh in Division One South and, with games in hand on the two sides immediately above them, is a timely boost to their play-off hopes.

Whitstable remain second from bottom, a point behind Eastbourne Town but with three games in hand.

With both sides suffering recent postponements the matches will now come thick and fast.

Sittingbourne host Chipstead tomorrow night and league leaders Folkestone Invicta on Saturday.

Whitstable, meanwhile, will be looking to bounce back at the weekend when they are away to fellow strugglers Whyteleafe.