Whitstable once again played a team from the Isthmian Premier League, having previously lost to Cray Wanderers, Folkestone Invicta and Margate, all from the same division. Newly promoted Essex team Bowers and Pitsea comfortably won the North Division last season, so provided another difficult test for the new look Whitstable side. The home team were again missing a number of players, although recent signing Aaron Millbank started for the first time and there were three young trialists on the bench.

The home defence began a little hesitantly, conceding a couple of early corners, but Whitstable gradually managed to get into the game and Liam Gillies shot wide following a corner in the 14th minute. Bowers almost scored just afterwards when a good cross was curled in from the right and met by Kenzer Lee, but Dan Eason made a great save, tipping the ball over the bar at full stretch. After a quiet period, Whitstable lost the ball in midfield in the 29th minute and it was played through to Bradley Warner who rolled it past Eason for a neat finish, whilst the home defence appealed in vain for an offside flag. Danny Patterson tried his luck with a long distance volley after a Whitstable free kick had come back to him outside the box, but it was well wide. On 33 minutes, the visitors made it 2-0, when possession was again lost in midfield, Dan Trendall ran down the right before crossing for Warner to score at the back post. Bowers had two further opportunities before the break, firstly when David Knight lifted a free kick on the 18 yard line well over the bar and then with almost the last action of the half, Trendall cut in from then right and shot wide. The score remained 2-0 to Bowers at half time, despite some casual play at times by Whitstable.

The second period began in similar fashion, with Eason having to save a long range effort from Ben Sartain after a misplaced pass by Patterson. Bowers added a third goal in the 53rd minute when Eason got down to save a low Warner free kick and from the resulting corner, Jamie Dicks headed in despite the efforts of John Walker on the line. The usual pre-season substitutions then started, with Walker the first to be replaced. Whitstable won several corners, but failed to really test Callum Chafer in the Bowers goal, as Tom Bryant headed one wide and then Alex Anderson almost pulled a goal back when he curled a right footer just past the far post from tight angle. Chafer then dropped a cross under pressure and the ball fell to Anderson, who lifted his shot over the bar. Bowers brought on three substitutes and then had a couple of off target attempts, before Knight turned and shot past Eason, but it was ruled out for offside. Both teams made further changes, as the game drifted to a close. Whitstable had rarely looked like scoring and a blocked shot by Muhammed Cham was the closest they came to getting a late consolation goal.

Whitstable now have two pre-season games left to play, with a Bromley XI visiting on Tuesday, followed by a newly arranged game at home to New Romney on Saturday, with the first league match against Sittingbourne fast approaching.

Whitstable Town
Dan Eason, Jake Mackenzie, John Walker (trialist 59), Danny Patterson, Marcus Evans, Tom Bryant (c), Liam Gillies, Osman Proni (Owen Fitt 72), Marcus Elliott (trialist 80), Aaron Millbank (Muhammed Cham 85), Alex Anderson (trialist 85).

Bowers & Pitsea
Callum Chafer (Tom Ballard 83), Tom Hine, James Thomas, Martyn Stokes (c), Kenzer Lee (Lewis Clark 74), Callum Leahy, Dan Trendall (Quentin Monville 68), Ben Sartain (Max Cornhill 74), Bradley Warner, David Knight, Jamie Dicks (Tom Stephen 68).
Goals: Bradley Warner 29, 36, Jamie Dicks 53.

Attendance: 115
Referee: Simon Finnigan
Assistants: Jack Watson & Morgan Davis