Whitstable were made to work hard to reach the Second Round of the Isuzu FA Vase by a big and strong Virginia Water team. A great early strike by Josh Oliver gave his team the perfect start and with the pace of Jayden Silcott-Brown on the right causing problems for the visitors, there were a few other opportunities to extend the lead. Waters were always in the game though and might have done better when mistakes in the home defence gifted them a couple of good chances, but the extraordinary long throws of Chris Ellis were always a major threat. The Whitstable defence held firm against the aerial bombardment, with Dan Colmer making a couple of vital saves as Waters piled on more pressure in the second half. There were several opportunities on the break for Whitstable to ease the nerves with Silcott-Brown hitting the post and Oliver twice being denied by Matt Jones, but in the end one goal proved to be enough.

This was the first ever meeting between Whitstable and their visitors from the Combined Counties League Premier Division North. Virginia Water have made a promising start to their league campaign, currently sitting in sixth place, although strangely like Whitstable, have a much better record away from home. Experienced defenders Dan Bailey and Chris Ellis were both part of the Ascot United team that won the FA Vase in 2022-23, defeating the previous year’s winners Newport Pagnell Town 1–0 in the final at Wembley Stadium. Whitstable were forced into some team changes for this match, with Fin Dent, Dean Grant and Liam Gillies all cup-tied and Archie Johnson injured, but Jake McIntyre was fit to return and Jayden Silcott-Brown made his first start. Manager Jamie Coyle named himself as a substitute and there was also a place on the bench for under 23 player Harry Baptiste. The morning rain cleared in time for the kick-off and a crowd of 365 were in attendance.

There was an early sign of things to come in the opening minute when an Ellis long throw from just inside the Whitstable half was headed towards goal and caught by Dan Colmer. McIntyre found Silcott-Brown with a long ball out to the right and his cross was met by Harvey Smith whose header was saved by Matt Jones. Colmer got down to save a low shot after Waters won the ball on the edge of the area and his clearance immediately led to Whitstable taking the lead in the 9th minute when Pierce McNamara could only divert the ball to Smith in the centre circle and he chipped it on for Josh Oliver, who brought it under control and made the space to power a shot into the top left corner from 20 yards. Whitstable then successfully dealt with several long throws into their box before a one-two between Silcott-Brown and Mike West gave the young winger the chance to shoot, but his effort was blocked. West then sent Silcott-Brown away down the right again where his pace took him past his marker and Smith arrived to meet his cross, but headed over the bar. Virginia Water could have equalised when a long ball into the Whitstable penalty area was left by Will Thomas, seemingly unaware that Mark Bitmead had made a run in behind and found himself with just Colmer to beat, but he put the ball wide.

In the 24th minute, Colmer sent a long ball down the right and his opposite number Jones came to clear, only to find West on the right touchline and his long range attempt at the unguarded net curled wide. Later in the half, it was Colmer’s turn to misdirect a pass out, as the ball went straight to James Goodey who shot just wide of the far post. A great run by Silcott-Brown almost led to a second goal when his low cross was put in at the back post by Oliver, who had strayed offside to cut short the celebrations. In the time added on, Silcott-Brown sped past the left back again before firing the ball across where it appeared to hit an arm, but the referee showed no interest in the penalty appeals, but he did pull out a yellow card in the last action before the break when Smith collided with the goalkeeper as he challenged for an Oliver cross.

Waters made a change at the start of the second half, introducing Freddie Solly, but there were a couple of early chances for Whitstable. Oliver found Silcott-Brown who pulled the ball across for West, but his shot was saved, then Smith released Silcott-Brown and his shot came back off the post. The visitors began to look more threatening and when two Whitstable players tried to clear the same ball, it fell kindly for Bitmead whose close range shot was well saved by Colmer. As the clock ticked past the hour mark, a Jack Mills shot was blocked, then a cross was scooped over the top by Bitmead. Waters used all five substitutes as they attempted to find a way through and one of them, Josh Andrew gave Bailey a chance to test Colmer, who got down to save. In the 68th minute, Colmer did well to push a Mills free kick around the post.

Oliver showed plenty of pace to get into the box on the left, but his shot from a tight angle was saved. Whitstable used just the one substitute, as Archie Hatcher replaced Silcott-Brown in the 80th minute. There were late chances at both ends as both teams fought hard until the final whistle. Colmer dealt with a Bailey header, a Mikey Dalton cross almost found the head of Smith then two more enormous throws by Ellis were kept out. Oliver almost settled things in the 93rd minute when running onto a Fin Cotton pass, but his shot was well saved by Jones. There was one final long throw to survive and then the last chance to force a penalty shootout fell to Andrew whose promising run took him to the edge of the area, only to shoot harmlessly wide and Whitstable were through to await Monday’s draw. Credit must go to both teams for an entertaining FA Vase tie, with special mentions to Colmer, Thomas, McIntyre and Finn O’Mara for clearing plenty of high balls and of course to Oliver for the decisive goal.

League action returns for Whitstable after a three week break when they travel to Tunbridge Wells next Saturday.

Whitstable	Data	Virginia Water
5	Shots on target	7
3	Shots off target	5
2	Shots blocked	3
0	Corners	5
14	Fouls conceded	4
6	Offside	2
0	Penalties	0

Whitstable Town
Dan Colmer, Jerald Aboagye, Jake McIntyre, Mikey Dalton, Finn O’Mara, Will Thomas, Josh Oliver, Mike West (c), Harvey Smith, Fin Cotton, Jayden Silcott-Brown (Archie Hatcher 80).
Subs (unused): Jamie Coyle, Dan Eason, Jayden Boulton, Harry Baptiste.
Goal: Josh Oliver 9
Yellow cards: Harvey Smith 45+2, Jake McIntyre 84.

Virginia Water
Matt Jones, Pierce McNamara (Ash Hitchinson 66), Chris Ellis, Jack Mills (c), Dan Bailey, Sean McGuinness (Albie Nolan-French 87), Adrin Tajik (Saaim Rafi 79), Jamie Di Giuseppe (Freddie Solly 46), Mark Bitmead, Cal Hamilton, James Goodey (Josh Andrew 63).
Subs (unused): none

Attendance: 365
Referee: Matt Charles
Assistants: Connor Cornell & Phil Hadler