WALSHAM LE WILLOWS 1 WHITSTABLE TOWN 1 (after 90 minutes – no extra time)
Whitstable Town won 3-2 on penalties
The Isuzu FA Vase Fourth Round
Saturday January 18 2025 15.00

The many Whitstable supporters that travelled to Suffolk were rewarded with a gritty display by the Oysters that eventually saw them beat a good Walsham Le Willows team after a penalty shootout to reach the Fifth Round of the Isuzu FA Vase for the first time in 28 years. Missing several first team regulars, the team battled hard in unfamiliar conditions to edge a tight game that might have gone either way. There were few clear chances in an even first half, with Whitstable's best opportunity probably a Harvey Smith header that went wide just before the break. Whitstable began the second half well and Ronald Sithole soon put them ahead from a corner kick. Walsham then began to dominate, but were denied by a determined defensive display and one great save by Dan Colmer to deny Kieran Twinn. Just when it appeared time was running out for the hosts, Ethan Garcia took advantage of an unfortunate slip to equalise with just minutes remaining. Even then, Whitstable nearly stole a late winner twice in added time, but penalties were needed. Both teams scored their first two and both missed their next two, but after Colmer made his third consecutive save, Josh Oliver stepped up to send the Oysters through and make the long journey home a happy one.

Whitstable had already played five games to reach this stage of the competition, with the dramatic late win in the last round against one of the favourites Jersey Bulls, who were previously unbeaten this season, probably the highlight. One more win would see them match the club's achievement in 1996-97 when they reached the last 16 before losing 1-0 at North Ferriby United. Walsham Le Willows, currently seventh in the Thurlow Nunn (Eastern Counties) League Premier Division had been exempt until the Second Round as a result of reaching the Fourth Round last season before losing 1-0 at home to Tilbury. Wins against Potton United and Brantham Athletic had therefore been enough for them to match last season's FA Vase run.

The Whitstable team had to be reshuffled due to Dean Grant and Liam Gillies being cup-tied, with also Will Thomas suspended and Ashdon Day injured. Mikey Dalton was deemed fit enough to play, Jake McIntyre returned to the stating eleven for the first time since mid-November and there were five players aged 19 or under on the bench. There was great support for Whitstable among the crowd of 267, with two coaches, a minibus and a number of cars making their way from the Kent coast to the Suffolk countryside. The grass pitch was fairly soft and playing conditions were in marked contrast to the 3G surface at Whitstable's home ground.

There was an early scare for Whitstable when they lost possession and Ethan Garcia had a chance to shoot but a good block by player manager Jamie Coyle denied him. Ronald Sithole was having some joy on the right hand side and one of his crosses was headed into the hands of goalkeeper Ryan Dunne by Harvey Smith. Cameron Nicholls won a free kick just outside the area, but Scott Chaplin lifted it over the bar. In the 24th minute, a right wing cross by Jerald Aboagye was pushed out as far as Josh Oliver whose shot struck Sam Nunn before the ball rebounded to Dalton who shot over. A Nicholls cross from the right was met by Harvey Hubbard but his looping header was easily caught by Colmer. Nicholls then made a good run into the box from the right hand side before finding Kyran Cooper whose shot was saved. As half time approached, a cross by Sithole, with the outside of his right foot, found the run of Smith at the near post, but he directed his header wide. Whitstable won a corner that was only cleared as far as Adem Ramadan who hooked the ball back into the box where Sithole had a shot blocked and Dalton fired the rebound high and wide. The final action of the half saw Garcia cross from the left for Twinn whose well struck shot went straight into the arms of Colmer and the teams went in with the score still goalless.

Whitstable won a corner at the start of the second half that was cleared, but Ramadan then sent Oliver away down the right and his low cross looked destined for Smith at the near post, only for Reece Lanchester to slide in to clear and concede another corner that brought the opening goal in the 48th minute. Several Whitstable players attacked Oliver's delivery with McIntyre perhaps getting a slight touch before the ball reached Sithole in space and he chested it down before shooting low through the crowd into the net to spark celebratory scenes amongst the away supporters behind the goal. That sparked a reaction from the home team and they began to cause more problems for Whitstable's defence. Colmer got down to save a Nicholls shot at the near post, then after a period of sustained pressure George Bugg's shot was blocked by McIntyre. Walsham almost levelled in the 63rd minute when Nicholls won a corner on the right and Chaplin's delivery was met by Twinn, but his close range header was acrobatically tipped over the bar by Colmer.

An Oliver free kick reached Smith in space a few yards from goal, but he was unable to get a good connection, so Dunne was able to gather. After Ramadan was booked for testing the excellent referee's patience, he was replaced in midfield by Kai Jeffrey in the 73rd minute. Walsham won a free kick just outside the area, which Garcia blasted into the wall before Nicholls curled the rebound wide of the far post. Walsham then made two substitutions and shortly afterwards they finally scored the goal that their second half performance probably deserved, although it was a blow for Whitstable who had held their lead until the 87th minute. An attack down the right sent the ball into the Whitstable penalty area and as Fin Cotton tried to intercept, he slipped over and the hard working Dalton's attempted clearance only found Garcia on the edge of the box and he fired the ball past Colmer to bring the scores level.

Cooper then sent a cross-shot just past the far post, but in added time it was Whitstable that had the chances to win the game. Oliver released Sithole on the right and his first time cross picked out Smith in space on the far side and his volley just cleared the bar. Smith then nodded the ball on for Sithole whose low cross went just behind the waiting Oliver at the far post. In the final minute, Smith was brought down on the left edge of the box and Oliver's free kick was put behind for a corner that was met by Coyle at the far post and his header was saved on the line by Dunne with the ball dropping for Sithole, but his shot was deflected over the bar before the referee blew the final whistle to signal penalties.

The shootout took place at the end where a lot of the Whitstable fans had assembled and their team went second. The first four spot kicks were all successful, with McIntyre and Sithole replying to Chaplin and Hubbard. Colmer then took centre stage by saving the next three, from Reon Huckvale, Ollie McKenzie-Vince and Ryan Clarke. The Oyster fans were kept waiting nervously though as Smith's effort was saved and Dalton struck the bar before Oliver sent Dunne the wrong way to book his team a home tie against Fleet Town.

Whitstable have another cup game on Tuesday evening when they travel to Faversham to play their rearranged Kent Senior Trophy Quarter Final.

Walsham Le Willows
Ryan Dunne, Kyran Cooper, Ollie McKenzie-Vince, Harvey Hubbard, Reece Lanchester, Sam Nunn (c), Scott Chaplin, Kieran Twinn, Ethan Garcia, George Bugg (Ryan Clarke 84), Cameron Nicholls (Reon Huckvale 86).
Subs (unused): Isaac Moss, Jesse Wyatt, Connor Lewis.
Goal: Ethan Garcia 87
Yellow card: Reece Lanchester 66

Whitstable Town
Dan Colmer, Jerald Aboagye, Jayden Boulton, Mikey Dalton, Jamie Coyle, Jake McIntyre (c), Josh Oliver, Adem Ramadan (Kai Jeffrey 73), Harvey Smith, Ronald Sithole, Fin Cotton.
Subs (unused): Tagan Kray, Josh Robson, Alfie Mantle, Nico Grierson.
Goal: Ronald Sithole 48
Yellow cards: Jayden Boulton 56, Adem Ramadan 72, Josh Oliver 81.

Attendance: 267
Referee: Benjamin Bowles
Assistants: Isabel Chaplin & Matthew Fear
Fourth official: Paul Staddon