A crowd of just over 300 returned to the Belmont for the start of the 2023-24 pre-season campaign and saw an entertaining game against Isthmian North Division Basildon United who made the trip from Essex to the north Kent coast. The Whitstable team that included plenty of familiar faces and a few new additions began brightly and a great strike by Josh Williams put them ahead in the 5th minute. Williams asked lots of questions of the Basildon defence before departing with an injury late in the first half, but his replacement Josh Oliver finished off a good move just before the break to make it 2-0.

Whitstable continued to play some good football in a second half that saw numerous changes by both managers. Steadman Callender added a third from the penalty spot in the 59th minute after Oliver was fouled in the box and Tom Mills headed in an Oliver corner to make it four in the 67th minute. Oliver swept in a Gus Barnes cross in the 79th minute to make it 5-0, but when substitute Jeffrey Oredein was kicked off the ball, his retaliation led to a red card. Basildon created a few late chances, with one effort scraping the bar before a mistake in the home defence gifted a consolation goal to Samir Ali from close range in the 86th minute.

Whitstable next host Ashford United on Tuesday evening.

Whitstable Town
Dan Eason, Jake Mackenzie, George Sheminant, Harry Gamble, Will Thomas, Tom Mills (c), Tyler Anderson, Liam Gillies, Steadman Callender, Ashley Robinson, Josh Williams.
Substitutes: Ed May, Jacob Couzens, Dean Grant, Harry O’Donnell, Eri Oluwa Akintimehin, Gus Barnes, Jeffrey Oredein, Josh Oliver, Ashley Sheppard, Josh Robson.
Goals: Josh Williams 5, Josh Oliver 45+1, 79, Steadman Callender (pen) 59, Tom Mills 79.
Red card: Jeffrey Oredein 85

Basildon United
George Marsh, Callum Burkey, Ed Sata, Alfie Osborne, Callum Thompson, Ellis Ashworth, Kai Brown, Callum Bloss, Callum Fitzer, David Knight, Ben Allen.
Substitutes: Samir Ali, Sam Brogan, Clyde Semazzi, Billy Marsh.
Goal: Samir Ali 86

Attendance: 303
Referee: Ben Marshall
Assistants: Amarachi Okamgba & Tom Amber