For this Second Round SCEFL Challenge Cup tie, Whitstable travelled to play First Division opponents Staplehurst Monarchs at their Jubilee Sports Ground in the rural setting of the Low Weald. This game was in complete contrast to the exciting climax to the FA Vase win on Saturday in front of a large crowd and sadly for those Whitstable supporters that travelled, their team’s performance was as cold as the weather. The home team always looked like they wanted it more and a goal by Luke Adams late in the first half was enough to send them through to the next round. Whitstable had to play the second half with ten men after Jake McIntyre was controversially dismissed just before the interval, but despite showing some improvement on the first 45 minutes they were unable to find an equaliser. Josh Oliver did shoot past Steve Lawrence after a quick break, but was denied by an offside flag.

Whitstable are in the middle of a period containing more cup than league fixtures, although having received a bye in the First Round, this was their seasonal debut in this competition, as it was for their First Division hosts. Recent player movements, with some being cup tied in different competitions, has made team selections a bit of a juggling act and Whitstable were unable to play Dean Grant, Jayden Boulton or Kai Jeffrey in this game, but Jake McIntyre and Liam Gillies who both had to miss the FA Vase tie were able to return. Malik Sesay, most recently of Cray Valley, was signed as defensive cover. Staplehurst are currently tenth in their division after losing their last two games. There was a midweek attendance of 91 on a cold, still and misty evening in the heart of the Kent countryside for this game that was played on a grass pitch.

The early minutes saw Whitstable pushing forward, winning a corner and free kicks in promising positions after several agricultural challenges, but without any reward. Harvey Smith lifted one free kick over the bar and then had a goal bound shot well blocked before Liam Gillies fired wide. Staplehurst were given a chance in the 21st minute when the Whitstable defence let the ball run through to Luke Adams on the right, who shot across goal but wide. A high ball was then not dealt with, but Harry Beech was unable to make a proper connection. Jayden Silcott-Brown made a few threatening runs down the right and one cross found Ronald Sithole who turned and shot wide. Liam Gillies tried a long range shot that was safely collected by Steve Lawrence and as Staplehurst broke forward, the Whitstable defence parted obligingly, leaving Adams the simple task of firing the ball past Dan Colmer to open the scoring in the 44th minute. Things got worse for Whitstable in added time when a home player challenged McIntyre on the touchline and after the two players separated, the Whitstable defender was shown a straight red card, to the surprise of their nearby supporters.

Reduced to ten and with a couple of players carrying injuries, Whitstable made two changes at the restart, introducing Mikey Dalton and Josh Oliver, but Staplehurst almost doubled their advantage when a 20 yard shot beat Colmer but struck the right post. A Smith shot was closed down following a Whitstable corner before a speculative shot from about 35 yards by Omar Elmantawy forced Colmer to scurry back to tip over the bar and the Whitstable goalkeeper then saved a Kieran Pallet shot. In the 57th minute, Whitstable briefly thought they had levelled the scores when a quick break led to Smith sending Oliver away on the right and his low shot beat Lawrence at the near post, but the home team’s offside appeals brought a raised flag from the assistant and the effort was ruled out.

Staplehurst used all five substitutes with the space of eight minutes. In the 67th minute, Jerald Aboagye headed a Dalton corner over the bar, then a Staplehurst corner caused a few problems for the Whitstable defence before the ball was safely in the hands of Colmer. Silcott-Brown sent the ball across from right to left for Smith whose low cross was stabbed towards goal by Sithole, but Lawrence gathered comfortably, then. Jack Hyslop broke through and tested Colmer. Whitstable applied some pressure in the later stages, without really convincing that they would be able to force a penalty shootout. A Dalton corner struck the outside of the post, an Oliver cross was headed over by Sithole and there was a late debut for 17 year old Tommy Ansell from the bench. However, Whitstable didn’t do enough overall and Staplehurst’s greater desire across the 90 minutes earned them a deserved place in the next round.

There is a return to league action for Whitstable on Saturday when they visit Glebe.

Staplehurst	Data	Whitstable
6	Shots on target	3
3	Shots off target	7
1	Shots blocked	2
4	Corners	7
13	Fouls conceded	10
2	Offside	1
0	Penalties	0

Staplehurst Monarchs
Steve Lawrence, Toby Sargeant, James Delaney (c) (Callum Gallie 63), Connor Cheek (Connor Watson 61), Brett Ince (Jack Funnell 63), Jack Clark, Harry Beech, Omar Elmantawy (James West 64), Luke Adams, Kieran Pallet, Edward Rosetti (Jack Hyslop 57).
Subs (unused): none
Goal: Luke Adams 44
Yellow card: Callum Gallie 90+1

Whitstable Town
Dan Colmer, Jerald Aboagye, Jake McIntyre, Liam Gillies (Tommy Ansell 90+3), Malik Sesay, Will Thomas (Fin Cotton 89), Mike West (c) (Mikey Dalton 46), Reece Gillies (Josh Oliver 46), Harvey Smith, Ronald Sithole, Jayden Silcott-Brown.
Sub (unused): Dan Eason
Yellow cards: Reece Gillies 39, Malik Sesay 90+5.
Red card: Jake McIntyre 45+3

Attendance: 91
Referee: Ayden Gillespie
Assistants: Andrew Stanford & Katie Allen