It was another frustrating afternoon for the home supporters, who once again turned out in good numbers, as a crowd of 346 watched Whitstable slump to their fifth home defeat in six games on the new Belmont pitch. It was also the third cup competition that they have exited at the first stage this season. An early Harry Day goal was enough for Stansfeld, although they had to survive some late Whitstable pressure. The visitors would have had a much more comfortable passage to the next round but for some heroics from goalkeeper Dan Eason and wasteful finishing.

Once again, there were several changes to the Whitstable team for this Kent Senior Trophy tie, with Tom Mills returning from illness, new signing Dean Grant and Kyron Lightfoot replacing Alfie Prior, Stephen Okoh and the cup-tied Sam Stace. James Huggins and Joe Nelder were among the substitutes, having served one match bans. Newly promoted Stansfeld have enjoyed a promising start to life in the Premier Division and this was the first time the teams had met since November 2017 when Whitstable won 2-0 in this competition on their way to winning the trophy.

Whitstable began well, passing the ball around quickly, with Josh Oliver the first to test Charlie Cottrell in the Stansfeld goal in the 7th minute. It was a false dawn however and some sloppy play let in Lee Friend whose shot was parried by Eason, who then denied the same player again when he tried a shot from 18 yards. Stansfeld scored in the 11th minute when a cross was delivered from the left and Dan Parkinson was able to collect the ball on the right side of the penalty area before pulling it back for Day to slot in at the near post. A long pass over the top then sent Day clear, but Harry O’Donnell got back just in time to poke the ball behind, although a goal kick was mysteriously awarded. Whitstable won a free kick in a dangerous position when Dean Grant was fouled, but Kyron Lightfoot’s effort was deflected behind off the defensive wall. The home defence was nowhere to be seen as Friend raced clear again only to fluff his shot wide, then Max Conor found himself with just Eason to beat, but the goalkeeper made a great save. Jake Mackenzie and Oliver both picked up harsh bookings before Grant and George Sheminant had attempts blocked and Friend hit a snap shot wide at the other end. In the 34th minute, after another Whitstable free kick was deflected behind, Will Thomas got his head to the corner, but the ball was hacked away. Grant was brought down by Billy Parkinson as he was about to break into the box and there were several late attempts to equalise before the interval, but Stansfeld deservedly led at half time.

Soon after the second half began, two Whitstable defenders got in each other’s way on the halfway line, allowing Friend to break away, but he was forced wide by Eason and his cross went right across goal and a good chance had gone. Freeman Rogers was unable to cut out a Joe Borland pass and Friend was in again and this time chipped over the bar. Eason then saved from Tommy Whitnell when he shot on the turn from the edge of the box. Grant had an opportunity for Whitstable on 60 minutes, but Cottrell saved low at his near post. Whitstable began to exert a little more pressure, winning several corners, without being able to find a way through as Stansfeld defended well. Both managers made substitutions, but it was only in the 90th minute that Whitstable almost forced extra time. A Tom Mills cross found Mackenzie on the right and his cross was met by James Jeffrey, but Cottrell somehow managed to push the ball onto the post and out to see his team safely through to the next round.

The fixtures have given Whitstable an early chance of turning the tables on Stansfeld as the teams meet again next Saturday in a league game at their shared home, Glebe FC, but they will require a better performance over ninety minutes to do so.

Whitstable	Data	Stansfeld
5	Shots on target	5
5	Shots off target	5
7	Shots blocked	1
10	Corners	3
9	Fouls conceded	14
4	Offside	2
0	Penalties	0

Whitstable Town
Dan Eason, Jake Mackenzie, Tom Mills, George Sheminant, Freeman Rogers (c), Will Thomas, Harry O’Donnell (Joe Nelder 62), Josh Oliver (James Jeffrey 84), Matt Gething, Kyron Lightfoot (Stephen Okoh 71), Dean Grant.
Subs (unused): James Huggins, Tom Roberts.
Yellow cards: Jake Mackenzie 18, Josh Oliver 26, Dean Grant 53.
Sin bin: Josh Oliver 45

Stansfeld
Charlie Cottrell, Joe Borland, Frankie Beale, Ezekiel Miller, Billy Parkinson (c), Harrison English, Max Conor (Ollie Milton 72), Dan Parkinson, Lee Friend (Ben Fahey 77), Tommy Whitnell, Harry Day (Sam Smith 85).
Sub (unused): Macey Malyon
Goal: Harry Day 11
Yellow cards: Harrison English 45, Dan Parkinson 69.

Attendance: 346
Referee: Nicholas Monkman
Assistants: Thomas Wilkieson & Kiran Bailey