Whitstable recorded their biggest FA Cup win since beating Wick 6-0 in 2004, as they comfortably brushed aside a poor Haywards Heath team. First half goals by wingers Josh Williams and Tyler Anderson, whose pace was too much for the home defence, put Whitstable in command at the break. The tie was effectively over when Steadman Callender raced clear to add a third soon after the restart and the Whitstable number nine later went on to complete his hat trick with two close range finishes. In truth, the margin of victory could have been greater, with two efforts being ruled out by tight offside decisions, but Whitstable had done enough to book a visit to VCD Athletic in the next round.

Haywards Heath and Whitstable were Isthmian League rivals until recently, but both have suffered relegations in the past two seasons and will be looking to climb back up the football pyramid quickly. Heath had started life back in the Southern Combination Football League with two 1-1 draws, while Whitstable arrived having beaten Erith Town 2-0 in their only league fixture. The two teams had met just once before in the FA Cup, in 1980, when Whitstable lost 1-0 in West Sussex. Whitstable handed a debut to Ben Cheklit, but Harry Gamble was still unavailable.

There was an early sight of goal for Charlie Pitcher, who worked himself into a shooting position, but Jake Mackenzie got back to divert the ball to goalkeeper Dan Eason. Whitstable were soon ahead, in the 8th minute, when a clearance was flicked on by Steadman Callender and Josh Williams raced past a labouring Max Glencowe and although his first shot was saved by Alfie Jones, he followed up to fire in the rebound. Shortly afterwards, an attempted clearance by George Brown went straight to Josh Oliver whose 20 yard shot flew just over. A well-timed tackle by Liam Gillies on Hayden Skerry led to a tussle when the Whitstable midfielder appeared to be struck, but after a lengthy delay, play resumed with no further action being taken by the referee. In the 21st minute, Eason was called upon to make a good save when Brown got his head to a George McCarthy corner. Oliver tried his luck with a 30 yard free kick, but Jones saved. Whitstable made it 2-0 in the 32nd minute when a loose pass was intercepted by Gillies who found Callender and he sent Tyler Anderson away on the left and the winger skipped past two defenders before rolling the ball past Jones. Heath won a couple of corners and an overhead kick by Pitcher sailed over the bar, but the last action of the half saw another Oliver free kick saved.

The rain had been falling steadily, but the second half began in better conditions. Whitstable scored a simple third in the 50th minute when Tom Mills played the ball up to the centre circle where Oliver flicked it on for Callender who outpaced the defence before slipping the ball past the stranded Jones. Jake Legrange and Anderson were both shown yellow cards following a bit of pushing and shoving. Whitstable made their first two changes in the 57th minute, introducing Jack Palmby and Eri Akintimehin, then Oliver got through the home defence again, but his low shot was saved. There was then some controversy when Brown went into Oliver off the ball in an incident that the officials failed to spot. When play eventually resumed Williams released Oliver on the right and he was given the time and space to cross for Callender to head in from a couple of yards out to make it 4-0 in the 66th minute. Harry O’Donnell replaced Sheminant in the 72nd minute. Oliver went into the book for a foul before he was involved again, setting up Akintimehin who shot into the far corner of the net, but was ruled just offside. The fifth goal arrived in the 81st minute as Akintimehin collected another Oliver pass on the left and delivered a low cross for Callender to score his third. With Whitstable now in complete control, the ball was soon in the Heath net again when Williams set up Oliver to finish, but the flag was up again, so the score remained 5-0 when the referee called a halt.

Whitstable now return to league action with a trip to Glebe on Saturday, followed by a midweek home game against Lordswood. The next round of the FA Cup is on 19th August, away to VCD who beat Sandhurst Town 2-1.

Haywards Heath	Data	Whitstable
1	Shots on target	9
4	Shots off target	1
0	Shots blocked	1
8	Corners	1
16	Fouls conceded	11
3	Offside	3
0	Penalties	0

Haywards Heath Town
Alfie Jones, Jake Legrange, Dan Cadman, Max Blencowe (Mark Zydonik 84), George Brown, Cameron Dobell, Hayden Skerry, Ashley Wadhams, Charlie Pitcher, George McCarthy, Adrian Britton (c) (JJ Minty 62).
Subs (unused): Callum McVicar, Jay Lovett.
Yellow cards: Charlie Pitcher 45, Jake Legrange 54.

Whitstable Town
Dan Eason, Jake Mackenzie, George Sheminant (Harry O’Donnell 72), Ben Cheklit (Jack Palmby 57), Will Thomas, Tom Mills (c), Tyler Anderson (Eri Akintimehin 57), Liam Gillies, Steadman Callender, Josh Oliver, Josh Williams.
Subs (unused): Josh Robson, Rodney, Eruotor, Dean Grant.
Goals: Josh Williams 8, Tyler Anderson 32, Steadman Callender 50, 66, 81.
Yellow cards: George Sheminant 48, Tyler Anderson 54, Josh Oliver 76, Harry O’Donnell 84.

Attendance: 284
Referee: Jamie Wells
Assistants: Sam Rumble & James Slaney