Another record crowd watched Whitstable put in an excellent performance in the first leg of their FA Vase semi-final against Hartpury University. The home team were on top from the start and there were several early chances before Nathan Jeche scored to turn up the volume around the ground. Goalkeeper Stephen Sarkodie kept his team in the tie with some good saves, although was perhaps a little fortunate when he raced out of his area to deny Ronald Sithole with a hint of handball, but the well placed officials let play continue. Whitstable had gone close from a couple of set pieces before Finn O'Mara diverted a corner kick into the net midway through the second half to make it 2-0 and it stayed that way until the end. Dan Colmer in the Whitstable goal did not have a single shot on target to deal with. Everyone connected with Whitstable can be happy with the way the day unfolded, both on and off the pitch, although there may be a little disappointment that the team are not taking a much bigger lead to the second leg after such a dominant performance.

After a busy week of preparations at the club for this Isuzu FA Vase semi-final, the all-ticket official attendance of 2,905 broke all records for a home gate at Whitstable. The Oystermen had won eight matches to reach this stage and now the visitors from Gloucestershire, Hartpury University, were the last team standing in their way of a Wembley final. Top of the uhlsport Hellenic League Premier Division and having already knocked two SCEFL clubs out of the Vase, Hartpury looked difficult opponents, although Whitstable were in top form after a run of 16 games unbeaten. As usual, the Whitstable team had to be reshuffled, with Dean Grant and Bradley Schafer cup tied, and there were one game bans for Jake McIntyre and Jerald Aboagye due to yellow cards picked up in the earlier rounds. New signing from East Grinstead, Ricardo Thompson started at right back and another new face, experienced midfielder Joe Healy was named as a substitute. Fin Cotton and Nathan Jeche returned to the starting eleven.

The game kicked off to a tremendous roar of noisy support around the packed ground and Whitstable almost produced the perfect start with less than a minute on the scoreboard. A long ball forward by Dapo Olugbodi picked out Ronald Sithole who cut inside from the right and curled a low, left footed shot towards the far corner. It looked like a fingertip save by Stephen Sarkodie to divert the ball just wide, but the referee thought he failed to get a touch and awarded a goal kick. A throw into the box was headed on by Finn O'Mara to Harvey Smith whose near post flick was pushed behind by Sarkodie. O'Mara headed a free kick wide as the early pressure continued. The high tempo start by Whitstable was rewarded on 11 minutes when Mikey Dalton knocked the ball on, Fin Cotton challenged and when it dropped, Connor Wilkins hooked it into the box where Nathan Jeche was first to react and darted between two defenders before finding the corner of the net. The excitement grew amongst the crowd and Whitstable almost scored again in the 16th minute. Sithole set up Wilkins whose shot from 22 yards took a deflection off Josh Roney, wrong footing Sarkodie who managed to recover and get across to his left and keep the ball out with the help of the post, injuring himself in the process. There was only one team in it at this point and Wilkins played a neat chip into the path of Jeche who lobbed the ball over the advancing goalkeeper from 12 yards, but it went just over the bar. Some great interplay between Sithole and Wilkins created an opening for Cotton, but his shot lacked the power to beat Sarkodie.

Hartpury could have been in more trouble in the 19th minute when Sithole raced onto a Cotton pass and Sarkodie had to come out of his area to thwart the Whitstable striker's attempt to lift the ball over him. He jumped up and managed to block, but with his arms close to the ball as it hit him, many in the ground shouted for handball and presumably a red card, but the officials gave him the benefit of the doubt as he hacked the ball clear. Hartpury had to make a substitution in the 30th minute when Ben Baxter was replaced by Harry Mackenzie after picking up an earlier knock. Smith collected the ball from Wilkins on the left and got himself into a shooting position, but Sarkodie saved. Hartpury gradually got themselves into the game with a spell of possession and Nathan Jenkins tried a shot from 25 yards that was blocked by O'Mara. In the 45th minute, Wilkins jumped highest to flick the ball on for Jeche who brushed past Owen Giles, but Sarkodie made another stop, grabbing the ball at the second attempt. Whitstable led 1-0 at the break, but it could really have been several more.

The Hartpury goalkeeper denied Whitstable again in the 49th minute when Wilkins headed a throw into the box and Smith held the ball up before setting it back for Cotton whose shot was brilliantly tipped over the bar. Jamie Coyle got his head to the resulting corner, only for Sarkodie to make another fine save before the ball was cleared. Hartpury then created probably their best chance of the afternoon when a cross from the left was headed across goal by Billy Osborn just out of the reach of a stretching Mackenzie at the far post. Another Sithole long throw was headed towards goal; it was blocked, but the clearance went straight to Coyle who nodded it just wide, as the pressure built again on the visitors' goal. Wilkins sent Jeche away on the left and he went past Giles, but Sarkodie was out smartly to smother his shot. Referee Andrew Humphries played a good advantage after a foul on Sithole, who continued his run before shooting over from 20 yards.

Whitstable made their first change when Wilkins was replaced by Robbie Rees and he was quickly into the action when his 69th minute corner was steered into the roof of the net by O'Mara to give Whitstable a deserved second goal. An injured Jeche was then replaced by Ashdon Day. A quick break gave Jenkins a chance to try his luck from 20 yards, but the ball sailed high over the bar to the delight of the home supporters behind the goal. Smith collected a loose clearance and ran across the box to make room for a shot that was deflected fractionally past the far post. The corner was cleared to O'Mara who sent it back into the middle where Rees, in space, nodded it over the top from six yards. Sithole glided past three defenders, but his low cross was well cut out by Sarkodie. Early substitute Mackenzie was substituted himself as Leon Machisa came on for the last few minutes, then Healy replaced Sithole and Hartpury made a final change, introducing Tomos Shyamapant. Day had a shot on the turn blocked, as Whitstable looked for a late third goal, but 2-0 it stayed and Hartpury have goalkeeper Sarkodie to thank for giving his team a chance to turn things around in the second leg.

The return leg at Hartpury University will be played on Sunday, when Whitstable will kick off with a two goal advantage, with the big prize of a Wembley final against AFC Whyteleafe or Andover New Street for the winners.

Whitstable	Data	Hartpury University
11	Shots on target	0
6	Shots off target	1
3	Shots blocked	2
6	Corners	3
9	Fouls conceded	6
3	Offside	0
0	Penalties	0

Whitstable Town
Dan Colmer, Ricardo Thompson, Adedapo Olugbodi, Mikey Dalton, Jamie Coyle, Finn O’Mara (c), Ronald Sithole (Joe Healy 90), Fin Cotton, Nathan Jeche (Ashdon Day 73), Connor Wilkins (Robbie Rees 68), Harvey Smith.
Subs (unused): Jayden Boulton, Will Thomas.
Goals: Nathan Jeche 11, Finn O’Mara 69.

Hartpury University
Stephen Sarkodie, Sol Kent, Drew Robinson, Owen Giles, Josh Roney, Kian Kang (c), Louis Manning, Nathan Jenkins, Billy Osborn (Tomos Shyamapant 90), Luke Salter, Ben Baxter (Harry Mackenzie 30, Leon Machisa 85).
Subs (unused): Cheick Kone, Alex Kovacevic.

Attendance: 2.905
Referee: Andrew Humphries
Assistants: Alex Mathieson & James Hurst
Fourth official: Adam Merchant