There will be no FA Cup run for Whitstable this season as Sevenoaks Town did just enough to earn themselves a home tie against Leatherhead in the next round. A fine early strike by Kiye Martin gave the hosts the perfect start, but a smart break led to Jerson Dos Santos bringing the scores level. The Whitstable defence then went missing as Rodney Eruotor was given the space to put his team back in front with just 20 minutes on the clock. Sevenoaks had looked the more threatening for the majority of the first half, although there were no further goals and Whitstable came out with more purpose after the break, but were unable to make the most of their opportunities. Sevenoaks offered little attacking threat in the second half, but as the game grew increasingly scrappy, were able to hang on to book their place in the Preliminary Round.

When the draws for the early rounds are made, an away tie against a team from a higher league would not be what most clubs hope for, so a visit to Sevenoaks looked a tough challenge for Whitstable, but this one looked particularly intriguing as it would be the first competitive match for Marcel Nimani as Sevenoaks manager following his departure from Whitstable towards the end of last season. With several players on each team facing their former clubs, a closely fought encounter seemed likely. Jerald Aboagye and Josh Oliver, who both missed Whitstable’s opening game at Sutton Athletic were named in the starting eleven. Former Oystermen, Jordan Perrin, Jahmal Howlett-Mundle, Rodney Eruotor and Jefferson Aibangbee were in the Sevenoaks squad. There were a good number of Whitstable supporters amongst the crowd of 253 on a pleasant afternoon.

Sevenoaks started well and opened the scoring in just the 4th minute after Warren Mfula won possession and found Kiye Martin who passed to Eruotor on the right and when he received the ball back, he was given the space to curl an unstoppable shot into the top corner from 22 yards. Former Sevenoaks goalkeeper Dan Colmer got down to save a long range shot from Sammie McLeod a couple of minutes later. The home team continued to attack, winning three early corners, but the last of these was played short and Ali Fofahan intercepted the ball before passing it to Josh Oliver who swept a diagonal pass across to Jerson Dos Santos on the left and he cut inside two defenders before beating Perrin at his near post with a low strike from just inside the penalty area to make it 1-1 in the 15th minute. Having got themselves into the game, Whitstable would have been very disappointed with their defending when they soon conceded again in the 20th minute. Sevenoaks worked the ball through midfield before Ayominde Majekodunmi slipped it across to a completely unmarked Eruotor on the right and he carried it into the box before smashing it past Colmer into the roof of the net from a tight angle.

The game became more even for the remainder of the half. Dos Santos was fouled 25 yards out, but his free kick struck the defensive wall. Salim Futa fired over following a promising run, then Fofahan created an opportunity for Oliver who shot well over the bar from outside the box. Whitstable almost scored again in the 38th minute when Aboagye received a long pass from Jake McIntyre and did well to play the ball across to Fofahan whose rising shot from 18 yards looked destined for the top corner, only to be deflected behind by Ryan Sawyer. Mike West took the resulting corner, which reached McIntyre whose shot was saved by Perrin. A frantic finish to the half saw Colmer help Martin’s rising free kick over the bar, then just before the break, Mfula looked sure to score when he broke through and went past Colmer, but hesitated enough for Finn O’Mara to get back to clear, then a quick Whitstable break led to Harvey Smith shooting just wide at the other end. The score remained 2-1 at half time.

A partially fit Oliver was replaced at half time by Omotunmise Akanni and Whitstable were much better after the restart and had some good chances to get something from the game, whereas Colmer had no saves to make in the second half. Akanni shot over from 20 yards as Whitstable pushed forward, then a good build up released Karn Miller-Neave on the left and his cross towards Smith at the back post was palmed away by Perrin although the ball went straight to Dos Santos whose shot was too close to the Sevenoaks goalkeeper who clung onto the ball. Whitstable had an even better chance to equalise in the 59th minute when a free kick on the left was curled in by West and met the run of O’Mara on the six yard line, but his header went straight into the hands of the grateful Perrin. Another West free kick picked out Smith who turned smartly and shot, but Perrin saved again.

In the 69th minute, Sevenoaks had perhaps their best chance of the half when Gael Kileba carried the ball across the pitch before setting up substitute Aibangbee on the left and he bent his shot just wide of the far post. Martin then lifted a free kick over the bar a few minutes later. The last 15 minutes or so passed without much threat to either goalkeeper, with a number of delays in play as Whitstable struggled to maintain the pressure that they had built up earlier in the half. The excellent referee called a halt to proceedings after nearly seven added minutes with Sevenoaks progressing to the next round.

Whitstable will try to bounce back on Saturday when league points are at stake in their first home fixture of the season against Rusthall.

Sevenoaks	Data	Whitstable
3	Shots on target	5
5	Shots off target	5
3	Shots blocked	2
8	Corners	2
18	Fouls conceded	17
4	Offside	2
0	Penalties	0

Sevenoaks Town
Jordan Perrin, Ryan Sawyer, Salim Futa, Jack Bath (c), Jahmal Howlett-Mundle, Sammie McLeod, William Efambe (Gael Kileba 52), Ayominde Majekodunmi, Warren Mfula, Rodney Eruotor (Jefferson Aibangbee 67), Kiye Martin (Danny Divine 90+1).
Sub (unused): Andrew Norburn
Goals: Kiye Martin 4, Rodney Eruotor 20.
Yellow card: Ryan Sawyer 58

Whitstable Town
Daniel Colmer, Jerald Aboagye, Karn Miller-Neave, Mitch Chapman, Finn O’Mara, Jake McIntyre, Josh Oliver (Omotunmise Akanni 46, Marvin Herschel 75), Mike West (c), Harvey Smith, Jerson Dos Santos, Ali Fofahan (Jayden Boulton 58).
Subs (unused): Josh Robson, Kai Jeffrey, Will Thomas, Reece Gillies.
Goal: Jerson Dos Santos 15
Yellow cards: Jake McIntyre 40, Omotunmise Akanni 63, Mitch Chapman 75.

Attendance: 253
Referee: Stephen Hughes
Assistants: Steve Roots & Reanna Rhodes