Manager Jamie Coyle had asked the Whitstable fans to make the atmosphere at this away semi-final feel like a home game and they certainly did that, forming a large proportion of the crowd in south east London. Those that travelled had very few anxious moments as their team scored three goals without reply to book their place in the Kent Senior Trophy final in April. Dean Grant nodded in the first after a couple of defensive lapses by Stansfeld and Whitstable could really have been out of sight by half time, but only had the one goal lead to show for their efforts. Ashdon Day fired in a second soon after the restart and Grant rounded goalkeeper Hugo Webb to make it 3-0. That is how it stayed, although Stansfeld did win a few late corners and one effort flashed across goal, but Whitstable goalkeeper Dan Colmer had a quiet afternoon as his team eased through to face Larkfield and New Hythe in the final.

Whitstable were hoping to reach the Kent Senior Trophy final for the seventh time in their history, having lost their first three finals before winning their most recent three. This season has not been an easy passage, with away draws in every round, to Canterbury City, VCD Athletic, Faversham Town and now Stansfeld. The teams were meeting for the third time this season, each winning their home games in the league. Jayden Boulton and Bradley Schafer were ineligible for Whitstable, so there were a few changes to the team with Jake McIntyre shifting to left back and manager Jamie Coyle returning in central defence alongside Finn O'Mara. Fin Cotton and Ashdon Day were also back in the team, which was reshuffled once more during this busy schedule with interest still remaining in three competitions. There was great away support on an increasingly wet afternoon at the Artic Stadium, the home of Cray Valley.

There could have been a very early Whitstable goal when Cotton collected a throw in and crossed for Connor Wilkins whose header was just off target. Stansfeld briefly threatened, but Jack Calvert was closed down on the edge of the box as he tried a shot, although the game was mostly being played at the other end. A long ball gave Day the chance to run into the box before he was denied by a good defensive tackle. Ronald Sithole found Cotton on the left and his cross was glanced just wide by Wilkins. Dean Grant crossed for Sithole whose effort was saved by goalkeeper Hugo Webb. Whitstable continued to dominate and Webb dropped a ball which was retrieved by Cotton, but eventually an offside flag relieved the pressure. The breakthrough finally arrived in the 30th minute when Cotton was involved again and as Webb failed to gather cleanly, Grant was left with the simple task of nodding the ball into the net.

Sithole shot wide from distance and a Day header was saved by Webb, then from a Whitstable corner, Grant's shot was blocked and O'Mara lifted the rebound over the top. Stansfeld did create an opportunity in the 41st minute when Rob Hughes delivered a good cross from the right but it was headed well wide at the back post. Whitstable had a couple more chances to extend their lead before the break when Day's shot from a tight angle was saved and then Wilkins headed wide. Finally, a corner taken by Cotton was headed towards goal by Coyle and saved low down by Webb, so the teams went in with Whitstable leading 1-0 and hoping they would not later regret their inability to convert more of their chances.

Whitstable won two corner kicks early in the second half and following the second of them, the ball reached Grant on the left of the penalty area and although he went down, he managed to play the ball across for Day who turned and shot in from the six yard line to make it 2-0 on 50 minutes. After both teams had made changes, a Cotton corner was headed back across goal and just past the post by Coyle. There was almost a spectacular goal in the 69th minute when O'Mara, who had enjoyed a solid game at the back, tried a lofted effort from the centre circle that was just clawed out from under the bar by a back peddling Webb. The home team won their first corner in the 70th minute, quickly followed by another, but Whitstable scored their third immediately afterwards when a long ball forward released Grant who took the ball around the exposed Webb and rolled it into the empty net.

Further substitutions followed, with the game now effectively over. A clearance by Dan Colmer reached Grant, who battled for the ball before poking a shot towards goal that was saved by Webb and then Smith followed up with a deflected shot that was also kept out. In the 88th minute, Stansfeld almost grabbed a consolation goal when Chris Alhassan fired a dangerous ball across from the right only for it to be deflected out to the other side and the Whitstable defence were relieved to see a well struck shot fly just past the far post to ensure they kept a clean sheet.

So, the 2024-25 Kent Senior Trophy final will be between Whitstable and Larkfield & New Hythe who came through a penalty shootout to win at Bearsted. The game will be played at Maidstone on Sunday 13th April, at 2 pm.

Meanwhile, Whitstable next face two away trips in the search for more league points, at Bearsted on Tuesday then Rusthall on Saturday.

Stansfeld	Data	Whitstable
0	Shots on target	10
2	Shots off target	6
2	Shots blocked	4
4	Corners	7
6	Fouls conceded	10
1	Offside	8
0	Penalties	0

Stansfeld
Hugo Webb, Archie Panyi, Frank McCormack, Ollie Andrews (c) (Greg Williams 75), Nathan Asiedu, Ibrahim Barrie, Jack Calvert (Teddy Green 75), Rob Hughes, Jack Mahon (Jimmy Shepherd 59), Chris Alhassan, Harrison English (Abdul Turay 60).
Sub (unused): Billy Shinners

Whitstable Town
Dan Colmer, Jerald Aboagye, Jake McIntyre (c), Mikey Dalton, Jamie Coyle, Finn O’Mara, Ashdon Day, Connor Wilkins (Liam Gillies 78), Dean Grant (Albie O’Mara-Knapp 90), Fin Cotton (Robbie Rees 86), Ronald Sithole (Harvey Smith 60).
Sub (unused): Will Thomas
Goals: Dean Grant 30, 71, Ashdon Day 50.

Attendance: 150 (tbc)
Referee: Howard Collins
Assistants: Graham Smart & Thomas Colyer
Fourth Official: Paul Agyei-Tabi