Whitstable progressed to the quarter finals of the Kent Senior Trophy with a hard fought win at VCD on a wet and very windy afternoon. The league leaders were the better team in the first half and an early goal by Zak Bryon earned them a narrow advantage at the break. With the wind in their favour in the second half, Whitstable turned things around with a much improved performance. Josh Oliver soon equalised, pouncing on the loose ball after the VCD goalkeeper failed to hold a long range Will Thomas effort. Dean Grant then put the Oysterman ahead and there were chances to make the game safe, but VCD hung on and almost took the tie to penalties in the final minute of added time when the ball struck the post before being cleared.

VCD have enjoyed a great start to the season, losing just once in their first sixteen league games to sit top of the table. They won 1-0 when the teams met at Whitstable the league back in September. In December, each have a home tie in the Third Round of the FA Vase to look forward to, but this game was a chance for one of them to reach the last eight of the Kent Senior Trophy. There were absentees for both managers to deal with, including a late blow for VCD when their captain Ben Fitchett had to pull out shortly before the kick off. Whitstable were without the suspended pair Jake McIntyre and Harvey Smith, while Jayden Boulton was ruled out after playing for Sutton Athletic in the previous round. Manager Jamie Coyle came out of retirement to make his first playing appearance of the season. Veron Nzinga, who played a few games for Whitstable at the end of the 2021-22 season, was re-signed to play at left back and Under 23 player Nico Grierson was also added to the squad. There was a poor attendance of just 65 on an unpleasant afternoon of wild, stormy weather, although the grass pitch was in excellent condition.

Whitstable began positively despite kicking against a very strong, gusty wind in the first half, although Jerald Aboagye seemed very unfortunate to pick up an early yellow card. The home team soon began to ask a few questions of the reshuffled Whitstable defence with Charlie Heatley and Bethel Gboda putting shots wide. A good move then gave Gboda the chance to test Dan Colmer who tipped his shot over the bar for a corner that Whitstable survived, but at the expense of another from which VCD took the lead in the 14th minute. The ball was played short from the left corner to Gboda who picked out the run of Zak Bryon and he curled a left footed shot into the top corner from about 12 yards. The goal scorer had to depart the action shortly afterwards with what appeared to be a shoulder injury.

Whitstable did create a good opening in the 22nd minute when Dean Grant received the ball from right winger Jayden Silcott-Brown, turned and shot just wide. Colmer comfortably collected a Lee Bird shot and VCD kept up the pressure with a series of corners, but were unable to extend their lead. Connor Dymond took out Silcott-Brown off the ball to earn a caution and give Whitstable a free kick in a promising position just before half time, but they were unable to make anything of it and so trailed 1-0 at the interval.

There was a Whitstable change for the restart as Fin Cotton replaced Mike West, with Will Thomas taking the captain’s armband and it was the new skipper that created the equalising goal in the 47th minute. Receiving the ball from Coyle, Thomas took it across the halfway line before hitting a speculative shot that skidded off the wet surface and rebounded off goalkeeper Toby Waller out to where Josh Oliver was the first to react to make it 1-1. A few minutes later an Oliver pass found Silcott-Brown whose shot was saved, leading to two Whitstable corners and the ball was subsequently put into the VCD net again, but ruled out for offside. Cotton, who was a key factor in helping to turn things around, set up Grant who was denied by Waller, but Whitstable did score again on 62 minutes. Michael Fenn tried to deal with a long clearance by Colmer, but only managed to head the ball straight to Liam Gillies who played in Grant to shoot past Waller.

The momentum was now with Whitstable and a Cotton pass almost put Gillies through, then a mistake in the VCD defence gave an opportunity to Silcott-Brown whose shot was saved. Colmer was called upon to save a Bird shot after a high cross curled out to him in the swirling wind, then after a cross was headed down, Bird lifted another effort over the top. There were a couple of late yellow cards for home players as frustrations grew, but with just over six added minutes already played, Whitstable had a very late scare when they failed to clear a long throw leading to a chaotic last few seconds. VCD kept the ball alive and Connor Kelly delivered a low cross from the left to the near post where Ollie Freeman slid in, but Colmer came out to meet him and the ball squirted across to the back post where Bird was on hand, but the post came to the rescue and the ball rebounded to safety and the sound of the final whistle. A dramatic penalty shootout had been avoided and Whitstable were into the quarter finals.

Whitstable are back at home on Saturday after three games on the road. Erith and Belvedere are the visitors for a SCEFL Premier Division fixture.

VCD	Data	Whitstable
5	Shots on target	6
5	Shots off target	2
3	Shots blocked	3
8	Corners	6
11	Fouls conceded	9
0	Offside	6
0	Penalties	0

VCD Athletic
Toby Waller, Harry Lawrence, Tom Cousins (George Whitelock 76), Connor Dymond (c), Bethel Gboda, Michael Fenn, Charlie Heatley (Richard Jimoh 71), Zak Bryon (Kwasi Amoah 17), Ollie Freeman, Lee Bird, Connor Kelly.
Sub (unused): Ben Fitchett
Goal: Zak Bryon 14
Yellow cards: Connor Dymond 42, Michael Fenn 90+2, George Whitelock 90+3.

Whitstable Town
Dan Colmer, Jerald Aboagye, Veron Nzinga, Mikey Dalton, Jamie Coyle, Will Thomas, Josh Oliver (Kai Jeffrey 90+6), Mike West (c) (Fin Cotton 46), Dean Grant (Ronald Sithole 90), Liam Gillies, Jayden Silcott-Brown.
Subs (unused): Dan Eason, Nico Grierson.
Goals: Josh Oliver 47, Dean Grant 62.
Yellow cards: Jerald Aboagye 4, Veron Nzinga 37.

Attendance: 65
Referee: Ayden Gillespie
Assistants: Martin Belsom & Tyler Diminieux