Whitstable secured their place in the quarter finals of the Kent Senior Trophy with a good 4-1 home win against Bearsted. They made a great start when Emmanuel Oloyede put them ahead inside the first minute and thought they had another when Steadman Callender put the ball into the net shortly afterwards, but the referee thought otherwise and ruled it out. Liam Gillies hit the bar early in the second half and Whitstable were disappointed not to have been given a penalty when Oloyede was pushed over in the box. Bearsted were then awarded a penalty and equalised when Alfie Eldridge followed in after Dan Eason had saved Will Johnson-Cole’s spot kick. Whitstable responded positively though and Harvey Smith headed them back in front before a late Josh Oliver double saw them safely through.

After beating Tunbridge Wells 4-2 at the Belmont in the first round, Whitstable were given a home draw against Bearsted who had progressed with a 5-0 win at Sporting Club Thamesmead. The visitors have started the season well in the league, earning 24 points from their 14 games, but lost to Whitstable 2-1 in the “SCEFL ground hop” game at the Belmont in front of a crowd of 682. Following a heavy schedule and with several players carrying injuries, Marcel Nimani took the opportunity to make a few changes to the Whitstable team for this cup tie. Jake Mackenzie and Tyler Anderson were ruled out while Josh Williams and Mikey Dalton dropped to the bench. Reece Gillies, Steadman Callender and Harvey Smith returned to the starting eleven and Jahmal Howlett-Mundle continued in defence. The attendance on a cold afternoon was 312.

Just 37 seconds had been played when Whitstable scored the opening goal. Liam Gillies swept the ball out to Callender on the right and he sent over a good cross that bounced nicely for Emmanuel Oloyede who arrived to stab the ball past Frankie Leonard. Josh Oliver got back to clear a dangerous cross after a quick Bearsted break, then Robbie Roberts shot over the top. Whitstable were denied a second goal in the 10th minute when Oloyede ran on to a Smith header and dribbled into the box before Ryan Blake slid in and diverted the ball into the path of Callender who rolled it into the net only for the referee to penalise Oloyede for a foul, much to the displeasure of the home bench! There were few clear chances for the rest of the first half, but Whitstable carried the greater threat. Joel Wakefield got back to halt another Oloyede run and Conrad Lee made a timely interception as Callender was about to shoot. In the 42nd minute, Smith put Oloyede through, but Leonard did well to grab the ball as the big striker tried to take it around him. Oliver was twice halted by the assistant’s flag when he appeared to be onside, as frustrations grew, and Whitstable had to settle for a 1-0 lead at the break.

Early in the second half It was the turn of Bearsted to complain when Oloyede was allowed to continue after leaving Daniel Melvin on the ground before pulling the ball back for Liam Gillies whose shot hit the underside of the bar. In the 65th minute, Oloyede raced onto a long ball by Howlett-Mundle and was pushed over in the box from behind by Melvin as he was about to shoot, skewing the ball wide as he went down, but the referee, who will surely have better days, just awarded a goal kick. Alfie Eldridge completely missed his kick when trying to connect with a good left wing cross, but Bearsted were given the chance to level from the penalty spot in the 70th minute when Howlett-Mundle was penalised for a challenge on Wakefield. Will Johnson-Cole stepped up, but his effort was parried by Eason and Eldridge was first on the scene to slot in the rebound.

The equaliser arrived after a good spell for Bearsted, but from that point on, Whitstable took control. Smith headed a corner narrowly wide, then a great run by Oloyede almost brought a goal, but Leonard saved his low shot. A patient Whitstable build up in the 79th minute led to Reece Gillies finding Oliver in space on the right and his deep cross was powerfully headed past Leonard by Smith at the back post. The lead was extended in the 88th minute when substitute Dalton won the ball then Callender and Oloyede worked it to Oliver who chipped it over Leonard into the top corner from 18 yards. More substitutions followed before Whitstable added a fourth deep into added time when Tom Mills sent the ball forward for Oliver, on the left this time, and he cut in to shoot with the ball taking a big deflection off Blake that wrong footed Leonard to make the final score 4-1.

Whitstable now await the draw for the quarter finals as they return to league action on Saturday when they travel to Lordswood.

Whitstable	Data	Bearsted
5	Shots on target	2
5	Shots off target	2
1	Shots blocked	1
2	Corners	4
13	Fouls conceded	7
5	Offside	6
0	Penalties	1

Whitstable Town
Dan Eason, Will Thomas, George Sheminant, Reece Gillies, Jahmal Howlett-Mundle, Tom Mills (c), Steadman Callender (Ed May 90+1), Liam Gillies (Mikey Dalton 81), Emmanuel Oloyede (Eri Akintimehin 90), Harvey Smith, Josh Oliver.
Subs (unused): Josh Williams, Josh Robson.
Goals: Emmanuel Oloyede 1, Harvey Smith 79, Josh Oliver 88, 90+4.
Yellow cards: Harvey Smith 55, Liam Gillies 56.

Bearsted
Frankie Leonard, Dennis Agbudume (Devonte West 64), Conrad Lee, Lewis Neale (Alfie Saunders 56), Ryan Blake (c), Daniel Melvin, Jordan Tingley, Joel Wakefield, Will Johnson-Cole, Nathan Palmer, Robbie Roberts (Alfie Eldridge 56).
Subs (unused): Elyon Marshall-Katung, Callum McCarthy.
Goal: Alfie Eldridge 70
Yellow card: Ryan Blake 84

Attendance: 312
Referee: Jack Mottram
Assistants: Christopher Middleton & Daniel Payton