AFC WHYTELEAFE 1 WHITSTABLE TOWN 2 (1-1 after 90 minutes)
The Isuzu FA Vase Final
Wembley Stadium
Sunday May 11 2025 12.15

Whitstable Town's epic FA Vase journey ended in triumph at Wembley Stadium on Sunday when they managed to edge out AFC Whyteleafe 2-1 after extra time in an entertaining final. The teams were on the pitch for around 145 minutes on a warm afternoon, with an incredible atmosphere created by both sets of fans. Whitstable made a promising start, but it was the Leafe that opened the scoring with a well-worked goal by Daniel Bennett in the 17th minute. The team from Surrey then began to dominate possession and Dan Colmer had to make a couple of vital saves to ensure there was only one goal between the teams at half-time. Whitstable returned with much more purpose after the break and Harvey Smith drew them level with a shot from outside the box in the 52nd minute. The Oystermen then took the initiative although both teams had opportunities to settle the game in 90 minutes, with Rodney Eruotor going close to a late winner when his shot cannoned off the bar. However extra time was needed and it was Whitstable that looked the more likely winners and after Ronald Sithole had hit the post with the goal gaping, he made amends shortly afterwards by firing an unstoppable shot into the roof of the net to complete the turnaround. As players from both teams began to feel the pace in the closing stages of an end to end game on the large Wembley pitch, Whitstable saw the game out to be crowned FA Vase winners for the first time in their history. An estimated 9,000 supporters had made the trip to the national stadium to cheer on Whitstable in their historic Wembley appearance and there were some great, and emotional, celebrations as captain Jake McIntyre lifted the trophy.

The waiting was over and Non-League Finals Day was here. The Isuzu FA Vase decider began at 12.15, followed by the FA Trophy final, which resulted in a 3-0 win for Aldershot Town against Spennymoor Town. The overall attendance on the day was reported as 38,600, although many watched just the one game. Based on the numbers of ticket sales and others in attendance around the ground, there were probably 9-10,000 at Wembley hoping Whitstable of the Southern Counties East Football League would become just the second Kent team to win the FA Vase after Deal Town who won the famous trophy 25 years earlier. Their opponents AFC Whyteleafe, are a relatively new club, re-formed following the demise of the original Whyteleafe who were often rivals of Whitstable in the Isthmian League a few years ago. They have had a great season in the Combined Counties Premier Division South and will possibly be crowned champions, subject to outstanding appeals about points deductions for others in that division. They beat Andover New Street in the semi-final to reach Wembley. Whitstable had already knocked out three teams from the Combined Counties Premier Division South during their run to the final: Corinthian-Casuals, Jersey Bulls and Fleet Town. Record home crowds had helped them through difficult quarter and semi-final ties against Whitchurch Alport and Hartpury University to book their place in the final.

To reach Wembley, Whitstable had beaten nine teams from around the country and utilised a big squad to do so. This meant a difficult team selection for the big occasion, although a number of other squad members travelled to Wembley to be a big part of the weekend. In the end, Whitstable made just one change to the team that had played in the semi-final, with a return at left back for the experienced Jake McIntyre, who wore the captain's armband. There were a few familiar faces in the Whyteleafe team, including former Oysters, Helge Orome and Rodney Eruotor.

The game kicked off on a warm, sunny afternoon and Whitstable were first to attack. The young Leafe goalkeeper George Hill had to claim a looping Connor Wilkins header from a first minute corner. A Ronald Sithole lay off on the 18 yard line gave Nathan Jeche the chance to shoot, but the ball flew wide. Neither team then really carved out any good chances until Whyteleafe took the lead in the 17th minute. Craig Braham-Barrett on the left played the ball inside to Gaspar Mico whose neat footwork gave him the opportunity to pick out the run of Daniel Bennett who neatly lifted the ball over Daniel Colmer.

The goal appeared to settle Whyteleafe and they began to threaten with some quick passing through midfield. A ball into the box reached Aaron Watson who turned and shot, but Colmer reacted quickly to turn the ball around the post. A couple of low shots were blocked by the Whitstable defence as the pressure increased, but they went close themselves on 30 minutes when Sithole won the ball on the right, but his cross was just out of the reach of Harvey Smith. Finn O'Mara then headed a Fin Cotton corner over the bar. Ryan Gondoh was causing some problems, running at the Whitstable defence, but O'Mara and player manager Jamie Coyle stood firm. In added time however, Whitstable were grateful for a timely interception by Mikey Dalton. A late challenge had left Wilkins struggling and although he wanted to continue, he was eventually substituted by Robbie Rees who immediately made a good run down the right, but his cross was cut out by Hill and the score remained 1-0 at half time.

Dalton was shown a yellow card for an early foul in the second half, but Whitstable were back on terms in the 52nd minute. A ball down the left was held up by Jeche who then passed it inside to Smith and he tried a shot from 20 yards that appeared to deceive goalkeeper Hill and the ball hit the back of the net to make it 1-1. Whitstable were now in the ascendancy and a good build up on the left saw Cotton fouled and Orome cautioned, but the floated free kick was too close to Hill. Whitstable kept up the pressure, but Whyteleafe almost scored on the break just before the hour mark. A Gondoh pass sent Watson clear of the Whitstable defence, but Colmer denied him and Gondoh's follow up shot was also saved. Back at the other end, a low Sithole shot was deflected wide and when the corner kick came out to Coyle, he volleyed over.

The end to end action continued and O'Mara did well to block Watson’s shot, then Whitstable found themselves two on one, but Sithole's cross was just the wrong side of Jeche. Bennett curled a shot over before more substitutes were introduced. In the 75th minute, Smith made a galloping run down the left, skipping past several challenges, and crossed to Rees who took the ball in his stride, but Hill made a good save. O'Mara headed a long throw over the top. Whyteleafe had the ball in the net when Colmer got his attempted clearance wrong, but Jamie Mascoll was penalised for a foul on Aboagye before rolling the ball into the net. Nearly thirteen minutes were added and both teams tried to find a winner before extra time was required. Smith headed a Cotton corner just the wrong side of the near post, then Sithole's pace got him into a promising position, but after choosing to shoot, his effort was comfortably saved. Whyteleafe nearly snatched a goal when Eruotor got free just outside the box and curled the ball past Colmer, but the bar came to Whitstable's rescue and when the ball rebounded to Mascoll, his shot was kept out by Colmer's legs. Whitstable pressed forward in the closing moments and Albie O'Mara-Knapp looked like he might be the hero, only for Aaron Goode to get back and make a crucial tackle. The final whistle eventually blew with the teams still level at 1-1, meaning another 30 minutes for some tiring legs.

Whitstable seemed to have the fitness edge in the later stages and began well when play resumed. Hill saved from both Sithole and Smith in the opening minute. The tireless Rees then sent O'Mara-Knapp away on the right and his cross found an unmarked Sithole a few yards out, but as the massed Oyster fans got ready to celebrate, his shot struck far post and although he put the ball into the net when it was returned to him, he was denied by an offside flag. He would soon have another opportunity though and scored the goal that proved the winner in the 100th minute. The former Gillingham youngster ran on to an O'Mara pass and although Hill initially made a good save, he retrieved the ball and took a couple of touches before powering it into the roof of the net, raising the noise levels in one end of the stadium. For the remainder of the half, the Whitstable defence managed to prevent any shots testing Colmer, with Aboagye making one vital clearance just before the teams changed ends, and they knew they were just 15 minutes away from taking the Vase back to Kent.

There were few real moments of concern during the last period of play, but substitute Eric De Melo had a couple of attempts for Whyteleafe. Whitstable had a great chance to settle the game just before the end when Cotton and O'Mara-Knapp combined to put Joe Healy through on goal, but his dinked shot curled past the post. It didn't matter though and as a final Whyteleafe shot sailed high and wide, referee Ruebyn Ricardo called time and the party could begin.

The Isuzu FA Vase was back in Kent for the first time since Deal had won it in the last final at the old Wembley stadium. Smith was presented with the player of the match award on the pitch, but the whole team will long be remembered by Whitstable supporters for their history making success.

AFC Whyteleafe
George Hill, Helge Orome (c) (Eric De Melo 79), Daniel Bennett (Zak Ansah 90+9), Corey Holder, Gaspar Mico (Jamie Mascoll 72), Aaron Watson (Rodney Eruotor 85), Alton Leeward (James Teodorescu 90+10), Craig Braham-Barrett, Ryan Gondoh, Aaron Goode, Jordan Johnson-Palmer.
Subs (unused): none
Goal: Daniel Bennett 17
Yellow cards: Helge Orome 55, Eric De Melo 113.

Whitstable Town
Dan Colmer, Ricardo Thompson, Jake McIntyre (c) (Jerald Aboagye 70), Mikey Dalton (Joe Healy 105), Jamie Coyle, Finn O’Mara, Ronald Sithole, Connor Wilkins (Robbie Rees 45+2), Nathan Jeche (Albie O’Mara-Knapp 85), Fin Cotton, Harvey Smith (Will Thomas 116).
Subs (unused): none
Goals: Harvey Smith 52, Ronald Sithole 100.
Yellow cards: Mikey Dalton 48, Albie O’Mara-Knapp 103.

Attendance: 38.600 (Total for Non-League Finals Day); 13.000 (estimated from FA Vase ticket sales)
Referee: Ruebyn Ricardo
Assistants: Emily Carney & David Harrison
Fourth official: Zac Kennard-Kettle