LARKFIELD & NEW HYTHE 3 WHITSTABLE TOWN 2
The DFDS Kent Senior Trophy Final
Sunday April 13 2025 14.00

The long unbeaten run finally came to an end for Whitstable in the Kent Senior Trophy final on Sunday. Larkfield & New Hythe, playing in their first senior cup final, looked like the hungrier team for the first hour and established a 3-0 lead. Tyler Ibe scored from a free kick and penalty either side of half time, although Whitstable were very unhappy with the awarding of both by the referee. A good piece of skill by "player of the match" Ibe then set up Tyrell Richardson for an easy finish to give Whitstable a mountain to climb. The introduction of Robbie Rees sparked a fightback however and his corner was pushed into his own net by goalkeeper Carter Sullivan, then Jake McIntyre made it 3-2 from the penalty spot. Whitstable pushed hard for an equaliser in the twenty plus minutes that remained, but were unable to find their way through the Larks defence again and they held on to deservedly collect the trophy.

This was the seventh Kent Senior Trophy final for Whitstable and they were hoping for a fourth win in the competition. Larkfield & New Hythe were here for the first time. The teams met recently at Larkfield in a league fixture that Whitstable won 2-1 to continue their late run for a play-off spot, that is now out of reach for a Larkfield team that has however enjoyed a good season including a 4-1 win at Whitstable back in September. There were changes once again to the Whitstable team with some players cup-tied, injured or rotated to manage the demands of a heavy fixture schedule. A good crowd of 1.036 was at the Gallagher Stadium in Maidstone to watch the final, the majority hoping to see the Oysters lift the trophy.

Chances in the early stages of the first half were few, with Matt Day's shot over the top being just about the only attempt until Whitstable won the game's first corner in the 16th minute and Fin Cotton's delivery was headed wide by Dean Grant at the near post. Tyler Ibe shot wide and Ross Ibbertson's shot was blocked before a Cotton free kick led to a mad scramble in the Larkfield penalty area on 25 minutes. Harvey Smith, Connor Wilkins and Grant all had efforts blocked by some desperate defending, with a huge shout for handball at one point, but somehow the ball was kept out of the goal. Shortly afterwards, Ronald Sithole and Smith tried to find a way through, but their shots were comfortably held by the goalkeeper. Grant collected the ball on the halfway line and made a good run to the edge of the box before shooting, but Carter Sullivan made a good save low to his left.

Whitstable had to make a change in the 38th minute when right back Ricardo Thompson, who had collected an ankle injury in an earlier challenge, had to be replaced by Jake McIntyre, with Finn O'Mara moving out to right back. Larkfield had always looked a threat from the wide areas without creating many clear chances, but should have done better when a right wing cross was headed back by Fraser Walker for Day who was unable to steer the ball into an inviting goal. The crucial first goal was scored by Larkfield in the second minute of added time when the referee felt Mikey Dalton had fouled Ibbertson about 25 yards from goal, although plenty felt he had won the ball fairly. Ibe stepped up to hit a great free kick over the wall into the top corner and give his team a 1-0 half time lead.

Sithole had the first attempt of the second half, but his shot lacked the power to trouble Sullivan. Whitstable fell further behind in the 54th minute when referee Ben McDonald awarded a very questionable penalty for handball. Day's high cross from the right was volleyed towards goal by Ibe and the ball struck O'Mara who was a couple of feet away and had no time to react. Ibe powered the spot kick past Dan Colmer to double the lead. Before Whitstable had time to regroup, a moment of quality by Ibe led to a third goal. He managed to burst past two defenders by the left corner and send over a low cross that was put into the net by Tyrell Richardson to make it 3-0 in the 56th minute. Colmer saved a Day shot before O'Mara did well to get in the way of another Ibe shot following a mistake by the pressured Whitstable defence.

Robbie Rees was introduced for Sithole as Whitstable tried to turn the tide and they managed it in the 67th minute. A cross from the right reached Connor Wilkins in the box and his shot on the turn was saved before the ball was put behind for a corner that was swung in by Rees and Sullivan inexplicably pushed it into his own net. Just three minutes later, Smith was brought down by Jahmahl King in the box and McIntyre fired the resulting penalty into the top corner to make it 3-2. The momentum was now with Whitstable who still had about a quarter of the game left to find an equaliser, but play became quite scrappy as a determined Larkfield defended well and Whitstable struggled to find the necessary quality to break them down. The referee's card count increased as frustrations grew. A dangerous ball across the Whitstable box was missed by all and Smith shot wide at the other end. Whitstable were denied a free kick when Grant was felled just outside the box and there was some late pressure without much direct threat on goal. Numerous delays meant over eleven minutes were added, but Larkfield hung on to win their first Kent Senior Trophy that their performance during the first hour deserved.

Whitstable still have plenty to play for as they continue their chase for a play-off spot as well as an FA Vase final at Wembley to plan for. A busy time lies ahead, with Lydd Town at home next up on Tuesday evening, then Lordswood away on Thursday before a trip to Rusthall is scheduled for Saturday.

Larkfield & New Hythe
Carter Sullivan, Ross Ibbertson, Nathan Gordon, Jahmahl King, Nathan Daly, Jay Wade (Kieron McCann 76), Ben Davisson, Fraser Walker (C), Matt Day (Bryan Zepo 76), Tyrell Richardson-Brown (Clark Woodcock 81), Tyler Ibe (Harrison Carnegie 83).
Sub (unused): Luke Russell
Goals: Tyler Ibe 45+2, (pen) 54, Tyrell Richardson 56.
Yellow cards: Matt Day 72, Nathan Gordon 78, Ben Davisson 86, Fraser Walker 86, Bryan Zepo 90+9.

Whitstable Town
Dan Colmer, Ricardo Thompson (Jake McIntyre 38), Adedapo Olugbodi (Albie O’Mara-Knapp 87), Mikey Dalton (Will Thomas 90+3), Jamie Coyle, Finn O’Mara (c), Ronald Sithole (Robbie Rees 63), Fin Cotton (Ashdon Day 88), Dean Grant, Connor Wilkins, Harvey Smith.
Subs (unused): none
Goals: Carter Sullivan o.g. 67, Jake McIntyre (pen) 70.
Yellow cards: Mikey Dalton 51, Finn O’Mara 78, Robbie Rees 86.

Attendance: 1,036
Referee: Benjamin McDonald
Assistants: Henry Saxton & Tyler Diminieux
Fourth Official: Mitchell Bush