There is a break from league action this weekend because the DFDS Kent Senior Trophy First Round fixtures are being played, featuring 32 teams from the Southern Counties East and Southern Amateur Leagues. There were just four Preliminary Round ties, so this is the start of the competition for most.

Whitstable travel to Hartsdown Park to play Canterbury City, who are currently ground sharing with Margate and the game is taking place on a Friday evening due to Margate having a home league game on Saturday.

Whitstable have won the trophy three times:
2000-01, beating VCD Athletic 10-9 on penalties following a 1-1 draw after extra time in a dramatic game at Sittingbourne, with goalkeeper Lee Hook making some key saves;
2006-07 at Dartford, when a Marlon Button goal was enough for a 1-0 win against Bearsted who were in the Kent County League at that time;
2017-18, when Whitstable won two cups and promotion under manager Scott Porter, the county cup final at Maidstone against Sheppey United ended in a 2-1 win after extra time.

Canterbury play in the division below Whitstable, but have only lost one league game this season, so will be confident of a good performance against a Whitstable team that have recently struggled for consistency, although with a much better record on their travels. The local rivals last met in the 2022-23 season, before Canterbury suffered relegation, with Whitstable wining both league matches, 3-0 away (at Sittingbourne) and 4-2 at home in front of a Christmas holiday crowd of 627.

If the scores are level after 90 minutes, the game will be decided by penalty kicks.

Here are the match details for those travelling to support the team:

Canterbury City v Whitstable Town
The DFDS Kent Senior Trophy First Round
Friday 11th October 2024, 19:45
Margate FC, Hartsdown Park, Hartsdown Road, Margate, CT9 5QZ

Admission: Adults £8, Concessions £5, Under 18s £2, Under 5s free