A dramatic second half on a wet and windy night at Rusthall saw Whitstable earn the point they required to ensure they would finish as champions of the SCEFL Premier Division this season and gain promotion back to Step 4.

Whitstable shaded a relatively quiet first half that ended without a goal or any indication of the excitement that would follow. Jack Nelson fired Whitstable ahead soon after the restart, only for Jack Kirby to equalise for the play-off chasing hosts shortly afterwards. Nelson then collected two quick yellow cards to leave the Oystermen with ten men from the 57th minute onwards. Things got worse for the visitors when Dan Colmer failed to catch an inswinging corner in the gusty conditions leaving Thompson Adeyemi with a simple finish to give the Rustics the lead. Whitstable then showed why they have been unbeaten in the league since September 23rd and Will Thomas headed in a Bradley Schafer free kick to tie things up at 2-2. Home goalkeeper Serine Sanneh prevented Schafer from restoring Whitstable's advantage, but the rest of the game was mainly a determined defensive performance by the ten men to secure the point needed to spark the celebrations with the large contingent of Oyster supporters who had made the journey to see their team win their first league championship since 2007.

A match report and more details will follow.

It has been an incredible two seasons for the Oystermen.
2024-25:
Third place in the league before losing the play-off semi final on penalties
Kent Senior Trophy runners up
A historic FA Vase win at Wembley in May
2025-26:
SCEFL Premier Division Winners and promotion (with five games still to play)
A record breaking run to the FA Cup Fourth Qualifying Round, knocking out three Step 3 teams
The last 16 of the FA Vase
Another Kent Senior Trophy final (to play Punjab United in April)
Home crowds averaging over 700